From Generation to Generation

In the last couple of weeks we’ve gone over the importance of why church is important as it pertains to God and his purposes. This last week we will see God has given his people the task of learning from him together across generations.

1 Peter 5:1–5 HCSB

1 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will; not for the money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Q. What do you think this passage means when it exhorts the older generation to be shepherds to the younger? What attitudes does this passage tell us to have toward people of other generations?

Q. There is an importance of humility and being subject to the elders of the church in this passage. How might everyone choosing to have humility ease the transition from one generation to the next?

Sometimes there are sticking points between generations and while not wrong or sinful it can cause points of stress or conflict. What are some sticking points that can come up when a church transitions from one generation to another?

Two Great Examples of Our Call to Generational Discipleship

Read

2 Timothy 2:1–2 HCSB

1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Teach what? To teach what Paul had taught Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:13–14 HCSB

13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you.

What advice does Paul give Timothy? How did he honor this young man but still instruct him?

What can we learn about the responsibility of generational discipleship from Paul’s words to Timothy?

Read

Psalm 145:3–7 HCSB

3 Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. 5 I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works. 6 They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare Your greatness. 7 They will give a testimony of Your great goodness and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Q. What does this Psalm tell us about God’s character?

Q. What does it mean when it say “One generation commends your work to another?”

Q. What does this Psalm direct us to do as people who love God? What are some things that you have been told by the previous generation that you can share with the next generation?

So What?

God’s wants us have a relationship with him and his people that proclaim his goodness to all generations. We have to be careful to guard what we have been given from the previous generation and be ready to prepare and give it to the next generation.

Q. What’s keeping you from being part of the receiving and giving of discipleship in God’s church?