Reaching the Next Generation - Father’s Day

Introduction: Amen.

Turn in your Bibles to the book of Psalms 78.

Which for this Father’s Day message, will inform us that each generation has been give a responsibility to teach the next generation about God.

This is a challenge of not only Father’s, but also mothers.

This is a challenge for the church, as we envision how we will do ministry here.

But also a challenge for children and youth, to take your faith seriously.

The things you have learned, live out. Live for Jesus with great passion.

But recognize, it will be you one day, reaching the next generation.

Now, that is the title of THE MESSAGE, REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION.

But it is especially relevant for us as a church this time of year.

Although, we have things like Sunday school, and Wednesday services for our kids, we had children at church camp two weeks ago, and we had VBS this week past week, and we have youth camp this coming up week.

And I am coming out of this week of VBS, so encouraged. So filled with joy.

And I can’t help but think, why can’t we do this every week?

What’s keeping us from reaching the kids in our community in this manner on a consistent basis, instead of once a year?

And so if we believe that our children ought to be reached, taught the Bible, and equipped to grow spiritually, then we must have ministries strategically formatted to do just that.

And I find here in Psalm 78, this challenge for all of us, to reach our children for Christ.

Let’s read Psalm 78:1-8.

Psalm 78:1–8 “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

Let’s Pray: Father, we love you and adore you. We thank you for being our example of how a Father should be. Loving, kind, provider. I pray as we turn to you word, that you will instruct us. Help us to know, understand, and live out what we learn from you. I pray you will save anyone lost in this place. Forgive me of my sins, in Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction: This week, I read this story of two men who lived in the eighteenth century. One man, Max Jukes, was an atheist. The other man was Jonathan Edwards – a preacher. Edwards was everything Juke was not: hardworking, God-fearing and Bible believing. Edwards "was a godly minister who was credited with igniting The Great Awakening through his sermons. He served for a brief period just before his death as president of what is now known as Princeton University. He believed in leading by example. He authored two books on the subjects of physical fitness and kindness. Mr. Edwards later became involved in teaching people to be responsible for their daily actions."

Certainly Juke and Edwards had an impact on their immediate families, but what about the generations to follow? Here's what happened in the years after Juke and Edwards died:

Of 1026 descendants of Max Juke, 300 were convicts, 27 were murderers, 190 were prostitutes and 509 were either alcoholics or drug addicts. It is estimated that the Jukes family had cost the State of New York almost $1.4 million dollars to house, institutionalize and treat this family of deviants. By contrast, the 929 descendents of Jonathan Edwards included 13 college presidents, 86 college professors, 430 ministers, 314 war veterans, 75 authors, 100 lawyers, 30 judges, 66 physicians, and 80 holders of public office, including three U.S. Senators, seven congressman, mayors of three large cities, governors of three states, a Vice-President of the United States, and a controller of the United States Treasury.

These are the descendants of an atheist and then a preacher.

Now, this morning, I will be talking about our responsibility to reach the next generation, but this is also about the spiritual legacy we have with our families.

But also the spiritual legacies we will leave we are leaving with our church, with the the vision and purpose of impacting Christians for generations.

Now, Psalm 78 is the second longest Psalm, so I’d ask you read the rest of it in your own time.

But the author, Asaph, writes about the nation of Israel, and her failures.

And in response to Israels failures, Asaph gives this profound challenge.

Although we will see it is simple, but the appropriate way we can continue the faith throughout the future.

Let’s look at verse 1.

We will see:

The call (to the people)    Faithfulness to God’s word

Psalm 78:1 “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!”

Asaph says = Give ear - This is the Hebrew word to listen. Like a parent who is getting their children’s attention.

Hey, listen to me.

But this word, listen also has a meaning of incline your ear to me.

It’s an active listening.

Don’t just let the words go in one ear and out the other.

No, Asaph tells them, lean forward, pay attention, pay attention to every word, and grasp what I am telling you.

This is good

What He is teaching the people is so important, they needed to take it all in and take these words seriously.

But isn’t this true of all of us though, when the word of God is taught and preached?

Asaph, words, is the inspired word of God. And we have this book. God’s word.

And it’s so easy to passively listen. Just ignore or Judge the teacher and preacher.

To have our minds wonder to others things. Sunday morning in church, and minds on the game, or minds on the casserole or about the line at Texas roadhouse. We can let our minds wonder.

But what would happen if God’s people.

Gave ear to his word. Sat forward, longing and awaiting and anticipating His word, to take it in and apply it to our lives.

Now that is truly important, but also I’m not sure there is anything as important to our generation than what Asaph is going to tell us.

We need to listen to What God is saying to us about reaching the next generation.

We cannot be casual bystanders in this mission, but active participants.

We can’t pass the buck.

Fathers, parents, your are the first line of defense. The Bible informs us that the discipleship of children is your responsibility.

so listen, give ear.

just think for a moment, How does God look at and instruct us?

God’s plan for the family and the Church is not limited to us and not confined to this generation. God does not see humanity through this moment, alone. It is a vision of generations to come. So we must prepare and work to that end.

I remember a track meet in Johnson Bayou, I ran the 400 meter relay. We did well, but I recall over and over my track coach would tell us the most important thing is passing the baton. Transitioning the baton from one hand to the other. It makes all the difference.

And we as parent and the church, we are in a genertional race, whether we want to admit it or not.

We can mess this up or we can do this well.

We can fumble the baton, or we can stumble and fall.

We can fail to even pass the baton and keep it to ourselves (as he said in verse 4).

But rest assured, Christian you have a baton in your hand, figurately, of course.

And don’t be like many who think, well I’m running my race. I’m living a godly life, so I’m good.

Please don’t think that way, because faithfulness to God, is not just being a good person.

Faithfulness to God, is fulfilling the Great Commission and therefore, therefore we must pass this baton of faith to the next generation.

If we fail in this, the consequences and repercussions are monumental

But if we do well, surely we will be found faithful in these things.

Now, Notice what Asaph informs us he is going to do.

Psalm 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,”

Psalm 78:3 “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.”

Psalm 78:4 “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

What Asaph is going to do, especially toward the end of this chapter is use israel as a parable. and as an example.

He will recount the history and failures of Israel from the events of the exodus and in the wilderness.

And the devastating consequences of exile.

And although in Psalm 78 - we are reminded Israel has a sad history.

We have are left with a hope for the future.

And look with me

THE METHOD: HOW WE ARE TO REACH THE NEXT GENERATION.

The method    Teach them to know God    Teach them to know God’s word

Psalm 78:5 “He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,”

Psalm 78:6 “that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,”

Asaph tells us, the way we are to reach the next generation.

Teach. He says Tell them.

So what is the Christian parent, what is the church supposed to tell children.

We need to teach them to Know God.

We need to teach them to Know God’s word.

Now, those things are not synonymous.

One can know God’s word and not know God. Because to know God is not mere intellectual accent.

To know God is about relationship.

Yet, we do teach recognize, we teach God’s word, with the purpose, that one will Know God.

That’s because faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.

This is the method. Teach them.

vs 4 the wonders and deeds of God and the word of God.

Tell them, of the glorious things God has done in your life.

Friends, has God been good to you. Has be blessed you?

Surely, that something we can tell our kids.

But more importantly, His word, given to us, to guide us. to direct us, to bless us. It’s so rich.

We need to read this and teach this to our kids.

There’s not doubt about it.

- This is disicpleship, this is the great commission.

He says, we will not hide them, but tell of the glorious deeds of God.

Church.

Children are a priority to God, so they should be a priority to us.

Parenting was no harder 2000 years ago than it is now.

The parenting plan was no different 2000 years ago than it is now.

The same hope for parents in the past is the same hope we have now.

And so there is a Responsibility to parents. Teach them.

But also a Responsibility to the church. to teach them.

FBC Pollock.

- Let me share the demographics of our church.

In 2023, there were 6948 people within a 5 mile radiius of our church. In 2028, there will be 7475. Within 5 mile radius of our church.

5 mile radius. That’s a lot of people to reach, and that’s alot of kids.

   Teach them to live for God

So we want to teach them to Know God. to be saved.

We want them to know God’s word.

But we also need to teach them to live for God.

Psalm 78:7 “so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”

Psalm 78:8 “and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

- Asaph tells us, we teach so that the will hope in God, not forget, and keep his commandments.

in short, to live for God.

God’s word is not something to be dismissed.

It is to be remembered.

It tells us to set our hope on God. That he is the center of everything.

And by knowing God’s word, we are to live it out.

Be not hearers of the word only, but doers of the word.

There are far to many, who hear but not do.

We need to teach our kids to do what this book says.

Friends, we can teach our kids alot of things.

But this is most important.

We can teach our kids to work hard, but without God. We will have a hardworking generation headed for hell.

We can teach our kids to have good morals, but without God.. Although all morals are borrowed from a biblical worldview, we would have a morally good generation headed for hell.

we can teach our kids to be smart and get and education, but without God. we will have an educated generation headed for hell

But if we teach them to Know God, to know God’s word, and to live it out.

We will have a faithful generation whose hope is in God.

That’s what we need.

And in reality, a Christian generation is the best generation of all.

Because Christains are hardworking. because they do all unto the Lord.

Christians have high morals, because God has called us to be holy.

And so no matter what your children’s occupations are, that they will live lives of faithful obedience to God.

Oh, that we will reach our kids.

This is the purpose.

To make disciples of the next generation.

Father, there is hope. Mother, grandparents, there is hope.

Our society may seem like it’s falling apart.

But I know , MY GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.

FRIENDS, HE IS ABLE.

THE HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION is the - in the home and in the church, we will be faithful to reach the next generation by teaching and showing our children God’s word and God’s works that they will live a life of with hope in God.

parents, Teach them, teach them teach them. you may not feel equipped, but God will help you.

And Church, we need to embrace this.

We need to embrace next gen ministries.

I want the next generation to be better than this generation.

There is hope for this in our church.

If we miss the mark on anything, I hope and pray it’s not reaching our children.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Can we say? Can we commit to telling the next generation.

Because, I tell you what? I’m willing to go all in on this!!!

If we went all in, even if it were one singular weekly service committed to children/youth.

In closing:

May each of us set our hope on God.

And that blessed hope is found in Jesus.

If you are here this morning, and you are not a Christian, I want to encourage you to be saved today.

Jesus has provided the way of salvation, to cleanse us of our sins, by his death on the cross.

And Jesus offers salvation, if we would but repent and have faith in God.