The Next Generation
The Future of the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsKids are the future of our church and of the church. The next generation of Pastors and Missionaries is meeting in our children and youth areas of our church.
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“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Babylon
There is a season in a person’s life when they are most open to learning what it means to trust God.
There is a season in a person’s life when they are most open to learning what it means to trust God.
It’s a season—sometime between 4-14—when people are more moldable than they will ever be at any other point in their lifetime.
It’s a season—sometime between 4-14—when people are more moldable than they will ever be at any other point in their lifetime.
Nearly 80% of people in our churches today decided to follow Jesus before age 18.
Nearly 80% of people in our churches today decided to follow Jesus before age 18.
50% of them decided to follow Jesus before age 12.
50% of them decided to follow Jesus before age 12.
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
What is rooted in the heart of a child is almost impossible to uproot in the life of an adult.
What is rooted in the heart of a child is almost impossible to uproot in the life of an adult.
I love this quote by
Henrietta Mears said,
When you look at most churches–their programming, their staff, and their budgets–it appears that children must first become prodigals, then we will go about putting together elaborate programs and events to save them.
Opening comments from each person on stage about why the next generation is so Important to you.
Why is the next generation so important to you?
Why is the next generation so important to you?
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
From this passage, how important should children be to us?
From this passage, how important should children be to us?
Youth and Children’s ministry seek to place the life-changing message of Jesus in a context designed specifically for kids.
Youth and Children’s ministry seek to place the life-changing message of Jesus in a context designed specifically for kids.
What types of challenges exist in your specific area that make it difficult to minister to the next generation?
What types of challenges exist in your specific area that make it difficult to minister to the next generation?
What joys do your receive from ministering to the next generation?
What joys do your receive from ministering to the next generation?
How can the “church” help to accomplish the task of reaching the next generation?
How can the “church” help to accomplish the task of reaching the next generation?
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
How can we as a church, protect and encourage our children?
How can we as a church, protect and encourage our children?
Think about all of the money, volunteers and resources we put behind outreach events for adults.
What if we changed this?
What if we changed this?
What would that look like? What would you do if you had more resources?
Will there come a time that resources will not help as much as time would? And, have we reached that time?
Will there come a time that resources will not help as much as time would? And, have we reached that time?
Hypotheticals
What if an adult Sunday school class that has been meeting for the last ten years, took all of that knowledge and wisdom they acquired and committed to investing in a small group of kids every week for an entire year?
What if a group of adults that normally meet on a Wednesday night, committed to pray, call and visit families during their regular times on Wednesday?
Isn’t that the kind of small group leader or Sunday school teacher we all want for our kids?
Some people have called the season of moldability
The 4-14 Window
The 4-14 Window
How many adult problems would be solved if every preschooler who entered our churches left knowing they have a Heavenly Father who loves them?
Or what if every elementary child left knowing they can place their trust in Jesus for every area of their lives?
Or what if every High School student left knowing their place in God’s story and having made a lifetime commitment to serving Christ?
What if every college ministry developed that calling to life service?
What if everything we did for children focused on winning them to Christ?
Jesus put the child in the midst of His ministry and therefore we should put the child in the midst of the church. Not only do I believe that God blesses this, but if we were really honest this would be the most strategic use of our resources and it would bear the most fruit for the Kingdom of God in the future.
Really, all of this is about discipleship.
Disciple-“A committed follower of Christ that grows intentionally with the purpose of achieving the fullness of Christ in such a way as to guide and teach others to do the same.”
Disciple-“A committed follower of Christ that grows intentionally with the purpose of achieving the fullness of Christ in such a way as to guide and teach others to do the same.”
Put simply, spiritual formation is the process of being changed to be more like Jesus. Yet as the apostle Paul explains in this passage, there is more to it than that.
Expressed more fully, spiritual formation is:
Expressed more fully, spiritual formation is:
an ongoing, gradual process of glorious transformation into the image of Jesus by the Spirit of God that is available to every believer as a result of honestly and intentionally seeking the face of God.
an ongoing, gradual process of glorious transformation into the image of Jesus by the Spirit of God that is available to every believer as a result of honestly and intentionally seeking the face of God.
Let’s take that knowledge and invest it back into our kids.
Let us invest in our children, our future, and the kingdom of God.
Let us invest in our children, our future, and the kingdom of God.
Pray with me that we, as a church, will always seek to make disciples and never forget the value of our children in the eyes of God.
Pray with me that we, as a church, will always seek to make disciples and never forget the value of our children in the eyes of God.
How will you help this church reach the next generation?
How will you help this church reach the next generation?