The Great Commission and Generational Ministry

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The Mission Field

This Mission Field is wherever we are.

This Mission Field is Where ever we are-

Kids - school

Adults - Work

Adults - Work

Adults - Work

Retired Adults - Maybe at a  Javita party (Plug for Judy)….

Retired Adults - Maybe at a  Javita party (Plug for Judy)….

Wherever you are you are on the mission field.

There is no "magical age" to begin sharing your faith or serving.

-Today we need everyone to do their part. Get off the bench!

Today we need everyone to do their part and get off the bench!

Present Study on the Great Commission - Barna Study

Knowledge of The Great Commission

Baseline-

Gen Z - 1999-2015

Millennials - 1984-2002

- 1965 - 1983

Boomers - 1946 - 1964

Elders - Prior to 1946

Knowledge of The Great Commission

Knowledge of The Great Commission

Have Heard Of The Great Commission

Elders - 29%

Bomers - 26%

%

Millennials - 10%

Have Heard of But Can’t Recall The Great Commission

Elders - 13%

Boomers - 16%

%

Millennials - 41%

Correctly Identify The Great Commission From A List

Elders - 43%

Boomers - 42%

41%

Millennials - 34%

Do Not Know The Great Commission

Elders - 48%

Boomers - 56%

53%

Millennials - 41%

 The Passion Translation (TPT)

 The Passion Translation (TPT)

 The Passion Translation (TPT)

📷

 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Great Commission

16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples heard the wonderful news from the women and left for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. 17 The moment they saw him, they worshiped him, but some still had lingering doubts.

18 Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to me. 19 Now go in my authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 20 And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”

This isn’t a suggestion. It is a command!

Instead of the Great Commission it has become "The Great Omission"

Why has the Great Commission gone out the window??

Lack of Discipleship and Generational Ministry.

Biblical Illiteracy.

No one is reading their Bible and churches are doing a poor job of teaching people how to read their Bible’s 

Instead of Parents Discipling their kids it has become the sole job of the Children's Pastor.

-Instead of Parents Discipling their kids it has become the sole job of the Children's Pastor.

Sports, TV, and the like have taken the priority off Church.

-Sports, TV, and the like have taken the priority off Church.

-The family unit is in shambles.

The family unit is in shambles.

There is no sharing of faith with friends as we are afraid to be called a bigot.

-There is no sharing of faith with friends as we are afraid to be called a bigot.

-We decide it is someone else's job to do. I have served my time.

We decide it is someone else's job to do. I have served my time.

I could go on and on……..

-I could go on and on……..

Are you uncomfortable? 

What has changed?

“first century churches were multigenerational entities, with children present for worship, healings, prayer meetings, even perhaps when persecutions were perpetuated.” - Intergenerational Christian Formation, Holly Allen and Christine Ross (2012)

 In other words EVERYONE was involved!

-In other words EVERYONE was involved!

Jesus was a common topic at home.

-Jesus was a common topic at home.

Kids weren't seen as a burden at church.

-Kids weren't seen as a burden at church.

People didn't retire from serving.

-People didn't retire from serving.

EVERYONE took part. Every person, every generation.

-EVERYONE took part. Every person, every generation.

What does the Bible Say?

What does the Bible Say?

  New Living Translation (NLT)

 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Notice it says "repeat them again and again to YOUR children. talk about them when you are at HOME"

This means a measure of discipleship should be done at home by the family.

-This means a measure of discipleship should be done at home by the family.

We Need A New Normal

Regular discussion of Jesus and, Bible reading needs to be the new normal at home.

Regular witnessing of our faith needs to be the new normal in life.

Service in church and being an active part of the body needs to be a norm in all of our lives.

Praying and Interceding is service!

If we don’t disciple our kids and those who make decisions around us the world will!

It is up to each one of us. No one is exempt from The Great Commission!

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

24 Discover creative ways to encourage others[a] and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.

We are meant to be in a community and help each other.

We are better together.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

4 Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.

4 Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.

What Does Generational Ministry Look Like?

“In the religion of Israel, all ages were not just included, they were drawn in, assimilated absorbed into the community with a deep sense of belonging.” - Holly Allen and Christine Ross

“In the religion of Israel, all ages were not just included, they were drawn in, assimilated absorbed into the community with a deep sense of belonging.”

Each generation needs to pass down their faith to the next generation.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

4 Generation after generation will declare more of your greatness and declare more of your glory.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

Love in Our Families and Workplaces

6 Children, if you want to be wise, listen to your parents and do what they tell you, and the Lord will help you.

2 For the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached: 3 “You will prosper and live a long, full life if you honor your parents.”

4 Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, but raise them up with loving discipline and counsel that brings the revelation of our Lord.

Every generation needs to be represented in the local church body.

This means there should not just be a church full of boomers, or millennial’s, or elderly people.

All parts of the local body should interact

Generations should intermingle in activities and life, and should consider each other in all things.

Older folks showing an interest in the kids. Praying for them instead of scolding them on Sunday morning.

Kids respecting older folks enough to know they shouldn’t run in the church (out of respect).

Kids go up to an adult and pray for them.

Adults go to a kid sitting down and talk to them, and show you are interested in their life.

Show Dennis The Menace Video

What did you notice?

Dennis wasn’t trying to ruin anything.

Even not intending to he did.

He did what he did for the right reasons but his past destruction overruled that.

Wilson said some hateful hurtful things.

Have we ever witnessed anything similar in our church or family?

Tell Story About Collin and Bob

Words have power and we need to use them carefully. Love your kids, grandkids and really any kid around you! Even if they are stinkers every now and then. Kids respect your parents and any other adult around you. When an adult asks you something it is yes sir or mam not “yeah”.

How much could we change in our culture by just having respect across any generations?

How much could we change if every generation worked together. (Yes a senior citizen could be a barista at starbucks)

Challenge

Pray about your mission field and those you encounter in it every day. Resolve to carry out the great commission at any cost!

Consider how you can serve. What way can you get off the bench and get involved in your local body?

Resolve to talk about Jesus at home not just at church. HELP your Kid’s Pastor by discipling kids at home.

Consider how you can get involved with generations other than your own. Especially in the church body.

Altar Time