Next Generation Sunday

When it comes to mornings like this some of us might be wondering what role do I play when it comes to the next generation?

You may not have kids

Your kids are grown

You don’t particularly care for kids

All of us who are a part of the church have an important part to play when it comes to the next generation.

Psalm 145:1-4

A Song of Praise. Of David.

1 I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you

land praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,

Main Point

Investing in our Next Generation of children and students is not an obligation but a part of our worship.

In our worship of God we all have a responsibility to the next generation to praise the work of God to the next generation.

The next generation needs to hear and know about how great our God is and what he is capable of.

Sub point One

What we as a church value in our worship will be what the next generation values in their worship.

What are we unknowingly passing down to the next generation?

what we proclaim the loudest will be what our next generation will end up valuing.

Do we proclaim things like what David is proclaiming in this text?

We will praise God every day and forever or we will only praise God on the days we find convenient?

Do we proclaim that God is good and worthy of all praise or are we proclaiming that God is good and worthy of praise only if I get to praise him the way I want?

Do we proclaim a God that is greater than we could ever imagine or are we proclaiming a God that only exists to meet our personal wants and desires?

What we convey through our worship (by the way we live for Christ) will determine whether or not the next generation will connect in church and pursue the Lord.

Sub point Two

As we set an example in worship we have to teach our children and students to proclaim God’s Kingdom not Protect God’s Kingdom.

What do I mean when I talk about God’s Kingdom

1. The rule of Jesus Christ on earth and in heaven

2. The blessing and advantages that flow from living under Christ's rule

3. The subjects of this kingdom, or the Church

To Proclaim God’s Kingdom is to

Proclaim The Gospel

Proclaim The reign of Jesus here and now and in the future

Proclaim that a life in Christ is worth living

Proclaim that we belong to something bigger than ourselves (the church)

“This unshakable kingdom is not rocked by the politics or darkness of this world. It is not made from the stuff of our lives, and nothing that is done here can add or take away from its existence, power, or purpose.” -Vincent Donnachie, Pastor, RCC

It is not our responsibility to establish God’s kingdom

because God has established his kingdom.

We do not need to rescue God’s kingdom

because it is not in need of rescuing.

Protecting and establishing God’s Kingdom is saying that God is insufficient to maintain his kingdom on his own.

Our part in the Kingdom of God here on earth is to Proclaim the Kingdom

We have confused proclaiming the kingdom with fighting particular battles

Proclaiming the kingdom of God is to letting others know that God’s Kingdom is here

It has come through Christ.

and they can be a part of it through submitting to Jesus as Lord.

When we proclaim the kingdom

We are teaching the Next Generation that the most important message is Christ

Not protecting preferences and privileges.

LANDING

There are generations that will not step foot into church because previous generations focused on petty difference rather than living lives of worship.

Because historically the church has spent more time representing things like

Hypocrisy

fighting

Drama

Authority struggles

instead of living lives of worship Worshipping declaring the greatness of God.

Let’s not repeat history. Let’s be different. Let us all influence the next generation by keeping the main thing the main thing.