Generational Christianity

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Outline

Soul Responsibility

Forgotten Identity

Introduction

As we see the events of the end times rapidly approaching, we have a choice if we are going to stand on the promises of God, and prepare for Christ's coming or we can foolishly stand by and idly watch.

The Book of Deuteronomy is a sober reminder that we have a serious responsibility to ourselves and the next generation after us, to preach the faith, and to continue in it.

Soul Responsibility

the root-word for the phrase "take heed" is found 65 times in Deuteronomy alone. The root word is found twice in verse 9.

1. "take heed" - take heed to thyself

2. "keep" - keep thy soul diligently

the word in Hebrew esentially means - beware, be careful, to watch, or to guard

God is using Moses to give extra caution to the new generation that is going to enter into the promised land.

Moses is focusing them on their responsibilities (r-word)

Parents talk to teens before driving

Father talks to son about firearms or knives

Many people want to focus on their rights

Sad how many people don't take heed to themselves - they don't respect their own lives. DANGEROUS and RECKLESS.

Youtube has a channel called: PoliceActivity

Application:

1. We are going to give an account for our actions, words, and attitudes.

We are accountable to God

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

This is a personal accountability, we must do it ourselves. What we have done, or what we have failed to do, we will be held accountable for it.

As a pastor, it is my job to help you to be successful and fruitful on judgement day.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

We are accountable for EVERY word we use.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Lose lips sink ships

Hostler your tongue

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

PROBLEM of society: Irresponsible Men

1. Problem when men don't work

2. Problem when men don't come to church

3. Problem when men don't train their sons

4. Problem when men don't provide for their families

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Soul Responsibility is taking your life and future seriously, living as if Jesus is coming back soon.

Listening to Reproof and God's Word

Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Proverbs 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

Wrong Friends

Proverbs 29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

Making Money

Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Soul Responsibility

Forgotten Identity

This is the new generation, the old generation died after wondering in the wilderness for 38 years.

The teachings of the Torah were meant to be generational and perpetual, so the Israelites would know their history, and background, and faith. The problem arose when Moses and Joshua left the scene.

Judges 2:8-15 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. 11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

A forgotten Identity is what happens when believers don't add to their faith!

2 Peter 1:3-9 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Application:

Discipleship is one of the ways that we solidify our faith in Christ. It helps us to build upon that foundation of faith, so that we won't forget or have doubts later on.

2. One of the best ways to remember something is to teach it to someone else...

Generational Christianity

Sad truth: Churches all a-crossed America closing their doors. I have heard of churches closing down and later the builing becomes a Mosque, or bar, or a building for a cult.

How does it happen...?

Failure to transmit the faith of one generation to another.

Children need their parents and other adults in their life to MODEL Biblical Christianity. There is no substitute for that.

Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Just like new believers, children need to be mentored and discipled in their faith.

Everyone needs a mentor and disciple.

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Generational Christianity is the result of both, teaching the younger generation the Biblical doctrines and practices that we were taught, AND winning new converts that are baptized and discipled.

Where are you in the process?

Have you been discipled?

If you have been discipled who are you discipling?

What are you doing to communicate your faith to the next generation?

What are you doing to win souls for Jesus?

Luke 18:8 "...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

Conclusion

Prayer

With ever head bowed and all eyes closed, no one looking around...

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