Impacting the Next Generation (Part 2)

Introduction|

Attention:

For just a moment, I want you to think about someone who impacted you for Christ by imparting godly wisdom to you.

Need Element:

With two-thirds (66 percent) of young people leaving the church, it is time for us to impact the next generation before its eternally too late to make a difference in the next generation. Continuing our study of generational discipleship from , want to help us to impart godly wisdom to the forthcoming generations.

Background:

After imparting the wisdom from the previous generation, Solomon urges his son to listen to his instruction and teaching concerning the way of righteousness.

Textual Idea:

Solomon seeks to invest godly wisdom into his son

Big Idea:

God wants us to impart godly wisdom into the next generation

Interrogative:

What can we impart godly wisdom into the next generation?

Outline|

I. We can impart godly wisdom by teaching them to focus their attention (vv. 20-22)

Explanation:

Solomon says to his son: “attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings” (). Once again, we find Solomon trying to his son to focus his attention upon his instruction (e.g., words and sayings). The word attend suggests paying close attention to something or someone. In the context of the passage, Solomon wants his son to pay close attention to his instruction by incline his ear. The word incline is a word picture of bending one’s ear towards someone. It is also a call to “come in close.” Solomon goes on to say: “do not lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart” (, NLT). Solomon moves from hearing his words to allowing his word to take root in his son’s heart and mind. In the mind of a Hebrew, the heart wasn’t just an organ but the mind and emotions of the person. The reason is presented in the next verse: “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (, KJV). Once again, Solomon relays the blessings of obeying the biblical instruction (e.g., life and health). The word find carries the idea of discovering or learning something from someone. However, the promise of life and health is given to those who find them.

Illustration:

Every day, according to FAA, 2 million people fly within and out of airports within the United States. This number equates to around 87,000 flights per day. Before an aircraft can take off, it has to be inspected by someone. During the inspection process, the inspector follows a checklist and pays close attention to the fine details of the aircraft to ensure a safe flight without a catastrophic failure. The same truth should apply to our hearts and minds with biblical instruction. We need to pay close attention to ensure a safe passage through life without a catastrophic failure.

Argumentation:

Why do we need to teach the next generation to pay close attention to biblical instruction?

Because without listening to biblical instruction, they run the risk of relying upon their own human wisdom which can produce a spiritual catastrophe.

Application:

We need to teach the next generation to focus their attention upon pleasing the savior and following scriptures. By doing this, we might be able to prevent the mass exodus from the church.

II. We can impart godly wisdom by teaching to guard their heart (vv. 23)

Explanation:

Next, Solomon instructs his son to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (). The word keep suggest guarding or protecting something. It’s a word picture of restraining a prisoner by placing a guard by his prison door. Solomon wants his son to guard his heart with all diligence. The word diligence carries the idea of watching something or someone close. His son should guard his heart because “it is the source of life” (, CSB). The idea of the issues of life is that what people think [within their hearts and minds] determines how they will act.” Thus, one must learn to guard and protect his heart to live a life that is will pleasing to Christ.

Illustration:

Most of us are familiar with the dashboard of our cars. Think about your car—as you drive along the road there is certain information that you need to have close at hand: What speed are you going? How much fuel do you have left in the tank? Then there is other information like the temperature of your engine, and the level of your oil. You don’t watch that consistently, but if the temperature of your engine rises, you need to know. All of this information is displayed on a dashboard in front of you. The dashboard of our heart is our outward actions which reveal an internal (heart) problem.

Argumentation:

Why should you teach the next generation to guard their heart?

We should teach them to guard their hearts because it will determine who they will become and what they will do/accomplish.

Author Pink says: “For the Christian to keep his heart… means for him to pay close attention to the direction in which his affections are moving, discovering whether the things of the world are gaining a firmer and fuller hold over him, or whether they are increasingly losing their charm for him.”

Application:

We must teach the next guard their heart with diligence and dedication. The significant way of guarding our hearts involves memorizing scripture ().

III. We can impart godly wisdom by teaching them to guard their mouth (vv. 24)

Explanation:

Solomon continues with: “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee” (). Solomon encourages his son to remove two types of speech: 1) dishonest speech, and 2) devious speech. One of the significant signs of a sinful heart is sinful speech. Jesus says: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (). Therefore, we must teach the next generation to watch what they say and how they say it!

Illustration:

Last week, I watched a local pastor’s response to Beto O’rourke statement: “blank, yeah, we’re going to take your AR-15’s.”After talking about going on visitation and preparing to preach the next day, this pastor says: “blank no, you’re not getting my guns.” I don’t know a lot. But, I know that his use of profanity does not encourage the next generation to remove swearing. Actually, it encourages them to use it because “pastor so and so” used it so it must be ok.

Argumentation:

Why should we teach the next generation to guard their speech?

We should teach them to watch their mouths because it can ruin their testimony for Christ.

Application:

We can teach them to watch what kinds of words they use in their speech. We can also guide them to watch how they use their words. What we say and how we say it can affect our testimony for Christ. Biblical wisdom encourages us to remove profane speech from our lips.

IV. We can impart godly wisdom by teaching to consider their steps (vv. 25-27)

Explanation:

Finally, Solomon urges his to consider his life and steps. Solomon says: “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil” ().

First, one must consider the straight path (vv. 25)

It’s a focus on the right and straight path—the honorable and holy path.

Secondly, one must consider the steadfast path (vv. 26).

The words paths and ways suggest one’s lifestyle or behavior. Solomon provides a beautiful conclusion to this straight and steadfast path.

Finally, one must consider the sanctified path (vv. 27).

Illustration:

There were 128 runners in the field for the cross country race at the 1993 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships. As they set out on the 6.2 mile run, they were following a course that had been marked for them by the race officials. Toward the end of the course, one of the runners in the middle of the group realized something was wrong. Mike Delcavo of Western State College in Colorado saw that the main pack had missed the turn. “I was waving for them to follow me and yelling ‘This is the right way,’” he told an interviewer after the race. Delcavo was right—but only four other runners followed him. The rest continued on the shortcut, which allowed them to run a shorter distance and finish the race sooner. In a widely-criticized decision, race officials allowed the abbreviated route to stand as the “official course,” and Delcavo officially finished 123rd. The world does not always reward staying on track—literally or figuratively. But the path we follow is essential to God. One day, those of us who have already trusted Christ for our salvation will appear before the Lord for an evaluation of our service. Our entrance to Heaven is sure—that was settled when we received Christ. But rewards—or the loss of them—for how we spent our lives are not so sure. When we stand before the Lord, no shortcuts will be recognized, and only those who have run the race by His guidebook will be honored.

Argumentation:

Why should we teach the next generation to consider their steps?

We need to teach them to consider their steps because future generations are counting on us. Oh, may all who come behind us finds us faithful!

Application:

Considering one’s steps requires humility, accessibility, and spirituality. We must teach the next generation to follow the light of the Word—“thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (). Therefore, we must teach and model the Word before them with faithfulness!

Conclusion/Application|

Reiteration:

We can leave a lasting legacy by impacting the next generation. As we have seen from , we can influence them by imparting godly wisdom to them. We impart godly wisdom by teaching them to focus their attention, guard their heart, guard their mouth, and consider their paths.

Action:

God wants us to make the next generation a matter of importance. First, we must love them like Christ—they need to be essential to us. Finally, we must lead them to Christ. Loving and leading them to Christ means to teach them to focus their attention on Christ, guard their heart and mouth for Christ, and walk with Christ along the straight, steadfast, and sanctified path!

Appeal:

Would you be willing to make a difference?