I have noticed an interesting development in the formation of local churches in recent years namely the number of congregations these days that are made up almost solely of young single/married people around the age of 18 to 35. Some of these go even further by being made up exclusively with young professionals. I went to a church like that in London recently and it was not exclusive of older people, it was just that their style and way of doing things was attractive and geared to that younger generation.

 

Then there is the opposite end of the spectrum with small churches that are made up with a congregation of entirely older people. These have been in existence for many years.  They started out by being intergenerational and even predominantly young families, but the children have grown up and moved on, often going to university and they never came back.

 

Although I understand why this has happened, I think that such churches are INCOMPLETE. Society is made up by people of all ages. In each century there are approximately four overlapping generations.  We could call them the GREAT GRAND PARENTS, the GRAND PARENTS, the PARENTS and the CHILDREN. Each generation is the product of the one before but there are differences between them and in the world, there can also be great conflicts and disrespect between them.

 

Surely to reach the whole of society the best ideal is for local churches to show the world how all ages and all classes of people can love and respect, value and be enriched by each other in and through Christ.

 

Have you ever wondered why so much space is given in the Bible to GENEALOGIES? I think most of us skip over them, but they are important because they are the record of how one generation leads to the next generation. Starting with the genealogy of Adam (Genesis 5) and going on to Abraham’s generation which led to Isaac and the next generation was Jacob, eventually leading to David, all moving toward the coming of God’s own Son, the Son of David.

 

Just as the generations brought forth Jesus in the perfect timing of God, so people are born again to serve the purpose of God in their generation, just as David did (Acts 13:36).

 

From the beginning, God had plans for the generations.

God still has plans for each generation moving towards the second coming of His Son.

 

God's purpose for each generation in the Church, and through us to the world, is:

 

TO ESTABLISH HIS THRONE AMONG US 

“You, Lord, reign forever your throne endures from generation to generation.” (Lam 5:19)

As we worship, He builds His throne among us (Psalm 22:3). Each generation will do that in their own style but worship is not about the kind of music we enjoy, it’s about bowing our lives before His throne and as we do, His throne is established among us.

 

FOR US TO PASS ON THE NEWS OF HIS SALVATION

"My righteousness will last forever, My SALVATION through all generations" (Isaiah 51:8)

Each generation is needed to share the gospel in a way that is relevant to their generation.

 

TO ESTABLISH HIS NAME IN ALL THE EARTH THROUGH US

"You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your NAME to all generations." (Psalm 102:12)

 

TO DISPLAY HIS FAITHFULNESS AMONG US

"Your FAITHFULNESS continues through all generations" (Psalm 119:90)

 “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4)

Young people should be encouraged to ask the older generation to tell them what God did for them and the older generation should rejoice in what God is doing among the younger ones.

 

TO WORK OUT HIS PLANS THROUGH US

"The PLANS of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations" (Ps 33:11)

 

Each generation has a responsibility to know God’s heart and

live out His plans for their generation.

 

The mission of each local church is to make disciples and the older generations can and should be involved in doing this, but discipleship is not only about instructing new believers in what we believe and how we should behave as Christians (although that is important). It's about becoming involved in the outworking of God's plan of the ages. It's one generation handing on the baton to another (as they do in a relay race) until we get to the end - which is GLORY for all true disciples!

 

Within a Christian family discipleship starts with the parents to their children as the beginning of the process for the next generation.  Other members of the church can get involved as appropriate, but the family is where it should begin.  

 

Obviously for those from non-Christian homes, discipling will be done by those who are established in the Faith however old they may be, but input from the older generation of believers is vitally needed and should be encouraged in the local church.

 

Examples of the older generation discipling the younger:

 

Moses and Joshua:

Joshua had been a faithful disciple and could therefore take over from Moses as the next leader.

 

Naomi and Ruth:

God is looking for the older generation to create in the next generation such a desire that they say:

'Where you go, I will go: Your God will be my God.'

 

The grandmother and mother of Timothy:

Timothy had been discipled in his family by two generations. Timothy's family were his primary disciplers and Paul built on that foundation.

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Paul and Timothy

Paul discipled Timothy in the apostolic, something his family could not do, thus showing the need for the church to add to what the family had begun.

 

Here is the challenge to each generation:

 

We all need each other and if there is love and respect between them it is very enriching.  In the Church the older generation has so much to pass on to the next generation and the next generation can carry that forward even further - if they are discipled correctly!

 

The older generation needs to be such an example of obedience to Jesus and love for Jesus, that the younger ones will be inspired to follow Him with passion too.  And of course, the older generations will be blessed and challenged if they see them doing that!

 

As young ministers, you may be the last generation before He comes - and if not, you will pass on that progress to the next generation until He does!

 

“My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth with a parable;

I will utter hidden things, things from of old

—things we have heard and known,

things our ancestors have told us.

We will not hide them from their descendants;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders He has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,

which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

 

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget His deeds but would keep his commands.”

 

Psalm 78:1-7 (NIV)

 

 

FOOTNOTE

 

For some of the thoughts in this message I am indebted to Radical Discipleship a book by Daphne Kirk