Because Generations Matter

Because Generations Matter (week 1) Good morning and welcome to Lake Erie Church. I'm Bill Isaacs. Today we are announcing our Because Generations Matter campaign that is tied to our congregational decision to relocate to 2300 Hubbard Road in Madison sometime after the first of the year. It is an historic decision like the others we have made in our church's history but for us-it's spiritually strategic because of this passage of Scripture. (Judges 2:6-10) After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them. And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him-those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. Introduction In the 58 years this church has been in existence it has faced many challenges and with great faith and God's help have been witness to the mighty power of God. By now you probably know the story, a dedicated band of faithful saints led by their godly pastor, Lloyd Scott and his wife Virginia established a church in Perry, Ohio. In years to come, they moved several times to larger spaces as God kept growing the church and the need for more space became apparent. Each time, the faith and commitment of the people partnered with God's will moved the church forward. Twenty-one (21) years ago, we came to this campus after more than 40 years in various locations around Lake County and while the original plan at the time was a much more expansive construction, we have existed here in this space to fulfill our mission to Love God and Love People. Now, we are called to another place and in time we will exist on a different, more expansive piece of property with space for the generations to come. Doing so...we accept 4 ABSOLUTELY TRUE statements: * We will not forget who we are (Say AMEN) * We will not forget what God has done (Say AMEN) * We will embrace a future before us (Say AMEN) * We will continue to put our full trust in the Lord (Say AMEN) Over the next two weeks, I want us to embrace the concepts of both our ROOTS and our WINGS... Roots stabilize us and Wings cause us to fly. We start with this passage which is TROUBLING ON SEVERAL FRONTS... There Is Something Sad About The Passing Of Generations. * We are told a generation has passed... o Who were they? o This was the generation of Moses and Joshua-the people who came out of Egypt. * What a life they had lived! o Red Sea crossing o Manna o Mount Sinai/Ten Commandments/the Voice of God There Is An Appointed End To All Our Lives * Life is constant, time is never stopped * Our generational lines proceed until they fall and another generation moves forward o (WPA's counsel-the day comes when you are standing in the front line and you wonder if those behind will carry on?-it's your turn) Lake Erie Church Is A Church Of 6 Generations... * If you were born before 1946...Greatest Generation * If you were born between 1946-1965...Baby Boomers * If you were born between 1966-1980...Generation X * If you were born between 1981-1995...Millennials * If you were born between 1996-2010...Generation Z * If you were born between 2010-presnt...Alpha Generation IT'S OUR TURN- To Follow The Lord into The Next Season * We stand on the shoulders today of many faithful and godly men and women * They were just like us-faced decisions and seasons where they were forced to TRUST God at the highest levels IT'S OUR TURN- To tell our story...so the generations who follow know who God is and what God has meant to us... * The generation that gives us ROOTS are now passing... * Some have gone... o Verna Bowman o Ed Land o Bill Rhoten o Bob Sanders o Roy Ennes * Others remain... o Charles/Betty Mullins o Jeannie Rhoten o Betty Stinson o Helen Land o Joyce Sanders o Jerry/Candy Nichols o Teresa Ennes Their voice continues to encourage us to go forward and their testimony reminds us of God's eternal faithfulness Conclusion: IT'S MY TURN...To prayerfully and humbly lead the Church as I am led. * In 58 years of LEC, there have been 13 pastors o Lloyd Scott o Robert Dameron o Kenneth Cain o John Petty o Leonard Spell o Tom Fry o Stan Rutland o Bob Murphy o Ken Wright o Kevin McGlamery o Philip Pearson o Rich Boll o Bill Isaacs * It is not a responsibility I take lightly. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. You will receive a card when you leave today and I want you to take it home and pray about it-we are raising $300,000 over the next 3 years-as we transition into the Hubbard Road campus and potentially launch our Child Development Center. It's our turn to invest in the future. Our staff and elders are leading and we are asking our LEC family to engage deeply. Already more than $55,000 has been given by individuals who obediently led the way. We ask you prayerfully complete the card and bring it back next week-these are contributions beyond your regular tithe and giving (consider 20%). These are faith pledges-you ask God what He wants you to do and then do it by faith-"if God makes the money available, I'll give it"-don't promise what you won't do... Next Sunday, I'll share in more detail where we envision our future to be-it's BOLD, it's COURAGEOUS but as we said from the beginning we are not called to manage "status quo"-there is a lost world that needs Jesus, there is a generation that needs to be reached and discipled. It's Our Turn!