08/01/2024
Jesus and Next Gen.
I just turned 50 years old. I’ve done the math. I’m now much closer in age to senior citizens than I am to seniors in high school. But I’m daily dreaming about ways for multiple generations to connect and grow forward together. I connect with Acts 2:17 when it says, “Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” I have dreams of churches full of young and old men and women who see each other through the lens of making disciples who make disciples. My dream is to see the “Next Generation” of Christian disciples readied and empowered with real attention, connection and purpose.
I tend to cringe when someone says, “I believe the next generation is the church of the future.” I cringe a little bit because even though this sentiment about the next generation is partially true, this sentiment also skews toward an entitled mindset that allows older people to keep younger people in a sort of holding pattern. The next generation is basically required to wait their turn until they can have any real attention, connection and purpose in the life and vision of the Church.
Real Attention - If you’ve attended just about any church for a few months, you have likely heard the desperate requests for more workers in the children’s ministry and more volunteers for the youth events. I have often been one of the people making the desperate requests. Do you know one of the most frequent excuses I heard for not giving more attention to next gen ministries? Often times, I would hear something along the lines of, “I’ve already done my time.” This excuse makes next gen ministry sound like something to be endured and done. But, what if ministry with the next generation is much more than that? Jesus provides numerous examples of real life situations when he gave real attention to the next generation. Perhaps most notably is the story found in Mark10:13-16 when the disciples closest to Jesus were the farthest from understanding Christ’s heart for the next generation. The disciples attempted to keep the children away from Jesus in order for more attention to be given to more important people such was those who were more grown. But Jesus got indignant and said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” None of us wants to be the reason for Jesus to get indignant. All of us would do well to give more time and attention to those who Jesus gave his time and attention to. I dream of serving with other disciple-makers who make the time to see and listen and give real attention to the next generation.
Real Connection - Imagine you go to a party where you don’t know anyone or feel connected with anyone. How long would you stay? If you are like me, you would probably sneak out without even saying, “Good bye.” The next generation of students is somewhat doing the same thing. We see some high school seniors at the end of May for “Graduation Sunday” then it’s, “See ya.” (We might see half of those students again once they start raising their own next gen.) Now, imagine a party where everybody know’s your name and they’re always glad you came and you have genuine conversations and real connections. How long would you stay? If you are like me, you would stick around and stay a while and even help other people get connected so they would know they are wanted and they belong. Jesus Christ was really good at inviting people to the kind of party where they felt seen and connected. Jesus invited people from all walks of life. Jesus invited people who couldn’t walk until he healed their feet. Jesus invited people who’s feet had taken them down some dark paths. But all heaven erupts into a party when wayward sinners turn to Jesus as their Savior. This Jesus party has been gathering momentum for over two thousands years now. I am part of the party because of people like Fern, Steve, Rolando, Morris and so many more people who placed imperative importance on genuine conversations and connections with the next generation. I dream of serving with other disciple-makers who make a priority to nurture real connections with the next generation.
Real Purpose - What if you were a part of a team where you were noticed and connected but you had no real purpose or reason to be there? Real attention is important. Real connection is imperative. But real purpose will make the difference in whether or not our disciple-making efforts continue with and through the next generation. I remember vividly when I was a little boy and I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I remember how I was immediately filled with a spirit to serve others. It would have been a tragedy if I had grown up in a church that restricted my spirit to serve until I was grown up. What if all new Christians and the next generation were bubble-wrapped and preserved until they were considered old enough/big enough/smart enough to serve? How many of the stories in the Bible would be missing if children and teenagers were never given real purpose and opportunities to serve and lead? The Bible is replete with stories of young underdogs utilized by God. Consider David when he was not old enough to go to war but God used this young shepherd boy to slay a giant warrior. Consider also Joseph, Jeremiah, Ester, Miriam, Mary, the lunch boy in the New Testament and so many other young people given opportunities and a purpose to serve the kingdom of God. Our awesome God has blessed me with so many opportunities to serve with students like John, Scott, Chris, David, Alison and many more. I consider it one of the greatest joys of my life to have a real purpose in the kingdom work to which God has called me.
I dream of continuing to serve along side other disciple-makers who make opportunities for the next generation to discover their purpose in the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
