The Next Generation Needs You

We can think of things we were responsible for that go way back to making sure we took out the trash before mom got home and to things now like paying bills before the due date. We think of things like making sure everything is ready to go for the new week ahead before Monday starts. We think of things like getting ready for a party we are responsible to host.

On the flip side of that, most of us probably know what it’s like to be responsible for something and not do it. We’ve all gotten in trouble for not doing our chores, right? To be honest, we’ve all probably been responsible to relaying a message to someone, and when we get around that person completely forgot! I’ve been there. So what do you have to do: text them. Ha ha.

Here’s what I’m trying to say - When someone gives us responsibility, it’s our job to be accountable of that responsibility.

As we dive into the book of Psalms today, our topic is about responsibility. As a Christian, you and I have been entrusted with something and if we neglect this responsibility, the consequences are huge because the consequences affect people, literally. We cannot afford to ignore the responsibility we’ve been given as Christians.

Psalm 78:1–3 ESV

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.

Psalm 78:1-

Asaph, the author, means it. He wanted his readers to listen up,

Ken Gore illustration

In the same way, what the psalmist had to say was not anything new them to his audiences, but something they’ve already knew.

But, what they knew was too important to be complacent about, because they they knew mattered greatly.

Psalm 78:4–8 ESV

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. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 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.

The theme of is the importance of the next generation.

Church, the next generation needs you.

Here’s what’s going on — The nation Israel’s previous generations failed to follow God throughout history. The psalmist seems to be using the past to teach the current generation. There was something very foundational they did not do. The ways of God were not taught to children. Generations past grew complacent and had the next generation at their disposal and did not obey God’s command to disciple their children in the Lord. God used Moses in Deuteronomy to instruct the nation of Israel these words,

Deuteronomy 6:5–7 ESV

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

It matters what we do now with the next generation, because the next generation MATTERS.

In Deuteronomy, God gave parents the primary responsibility in teaching their children the ways of God & their testimony of the presence of God, so that they would know God and love God only. But what did they do? They failed. They strayed away from God to serve the idols of their culture and their kids did likewise. If you read the next 64 verses of , you see that. All of that happened because adults did not own their faith, which resulted in the generation after them not owning theirs. Asaph spells it out.

The priorities of us who are parents will become our children’s priorities. Simple as that. Now I want to show a 4 minute video that illustrates just hat. Watch how this father’s faith in Jesus was lived out before his son. You might need a Kleenex.

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It matters what we do now with the next generation, because the next generation MATTERS.

Parents, I’m just going to be real honest - the most significant and important relationship your kid will ever have is you. Sometimes, I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true - you are the most important relationship in their life when they are 5, 13, 18, 30, or 60.

Everything a child participates while at church should act as supplementary to what is already happening at home. If our homes are Christ-centered, our world will begin to look Christ-centered. God has given parents the primary responsibility of teaching our children the ways of our great God and His wonders.

Parents, when was the last time we told our kids what God is doing in our lives? When’s the last time we told our kids the how God gives us hope?

If we do not show and vocalize the real hope of God in us as parents, then our children will most likely settle for whatever false hope the world is offering.

Your hope in God will be contagious to your kids. We all know that kids watch their parents’ every move. If that’s true, then they will see their parent’s hope in God too.

During adolescence, they are current exploring the world, trying to figure out “why” in everything. A individual’s worldview is beginning to be shaped during the teenage years.

We as parents are the ones primary responsible for implanting and demonstrating a worldview that results the Bible, not the culture. Christians should not reflect the culture, but should stand out in the midst of the culture, which makes Christianity attractive — Let your light shine before others.

Independent Contractor Vs. Partnership

A lot of times, we view the church’s role in the discipleship of the next generation as that of a independent contractor. An independent contractor is someone that is hired by a company to do a particular task for X amount of money for X amount of time. That’s not God’s design for the discipleship next generation.

God’s design for the church’s role in the discipleship of the next generation is that of a partnership. Partners are on the same team working towards the same goal for long term. God’s design for the church is to come alongside of parents by equipping, encouraging, & supporting them.

Parents, when was the last time we told our kids what God is doing in our lives? When’s the last time we told our kids the how God gives us hope?

If we do not show and vocalize the real hope of God in us as parents, then our children will most likely settle for whatever false hope the world is offering.

Your hope in God will be contagious to your kids. We all know that kids watch their parents’ every move. If that’s true, then they will see their parent’s hope in God too.

Next Generation Ministry

Church, just like parents are primary, the church is secondary. The next generation the church.

Church, just like parents are primary, we are secondary. The next generation

If we as the church are not faithful to disciple the next generation, the culture will.

If you want to make a difference in the world around, invest in the next generation. They are all around you. Whether you are 65, 35, 25, or 15 - the generation after you is all around you.

What’s keeping you from investing in them for the kingdom of God?

Why should any of us invest in next generation?

Psalm 78:7 ESV

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

So that they would set their hope in God.

Our church does so much aim towards the next generation (kids & teens). Why? So that they will set their hope in God.

Here’s the tragedy, if we do not show our kids and the next generation of the church the hope of God in us and that’s available for them, then they will settle for the false hope the world is trying to sell.

In Deuteronomy, G oG dGo GodIf you want to

Parents, will you invest in your

If you want to

Important Research from FTI about why teenagers leave the church after high school

Each individual child should have five key-adult relationships apart from their parents

Pastor

Student Pastor

Adult church member - SS teacher

Adult church member - Prayer Mentor

Why five? Because when they go to college, they church hunt. After church hunting they realize that the church’s they visited did not have anything for their age group and are lost. Therefore, they fade out. If they are already used to having meaningful relationships with Jesus-loving adults in the church during youth group, then the nothing will be new, but normal.

Psalm 78:4 ESV

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.

THE NEXT GENERATION NEEDS YOU.

What we do with the next generation now MATTERS, because the NEXT GENERATION MATTERS.

Where are we at? What are we going to do?

Challenge

Tonight — what a incredible opportunity. Lord willing we will have 60-90 PreK-6th grade children at our campus. We have many kids workers that have been working hard for the last few weeks to get ready for the next 5 days. Why? Because the hope of God has affected us, so we want kids to set their hope in God too.

If you’re already volunteering for VBS, awesome!

If you’ve never done VBS before, come on. Be at the door when they walk in at 6 to greet them, come and give a 3rd grader a high five, come and minister to some kids for the sake of Jesus.

Teenagers - the next generation is at your disposal. Invest in a kid younger than you.

Adults - the next generation is at your disposal as well.

The next generation is all around you, no matter age you are.

If we want to make an impact on our world, then we must invest in the next generation, because the next generation matters.

God’s called us to this.

What are we going to do?

Invitation

Gospel response

Psalm 78:37–38 ESV

37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. 38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 78:37-

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