Multigenerational Ministry/Discipleship

Hey, man. I pray that that is our prayer today, has a hard song to sing. Especially when we have all these other things in life that we are so preoccupied with. Help us seek you first.

Love you niece morning as we speak your name. And my name is Brian and family here, and I love the opportunity to preach when I get the chance to a friend of mine. And if you would refer to him as that old farmer guy. And tell her we went to church together when I was a child and I'm not really sure how I was introduced to him to begin with, but I assume my parents had a role in that somehow or maybe as you're here. Maybe he was seeking me out. But as I grew up when Tom and I saw each other, he would he would make the effort to come and talk with me. You want to catch up there. And so after church before church, in those times, when I was going to lingering, if you just make sure to say hi. Occasionally, he would invite me over to his farm, to hang out and I didn't grow up on a farm and I didn't know what farm life was like him. So, I would do that. And I grew up with my dad, my dad, having a Woodshop in the basement. And so, I spent a lifetime building things. And Tom had a lumber mill, and that was really cool because occasionally, be working on projects. And like, there's one time, I was building, this big are acrylic, oval Frank, the sign I wanted to Terry frame for it. And so if you ever going to Home Depot and you're looking for a large piece of cherry, you're not going to find it. And so I called Tom and I'm like, hey, what, what do you know? What do you think I could do until? He's sure I'll do it for you until he gets all these boards and he biscuits them together and planned it down for me is like here you go and doesn't charge me anything for it, and I'm like, that's dumb. Play something contagious about him. When I was in Middle School, I volunteered to help as a true leader in VBS. And as a middle schooler, I wasn't exactly a responsible enough to be trusted with the souls and lives. A bunch of little children. So I was put with an adult and low and behold. I was put with Tom to be that cold leader. It's a dream that we could bbso those magic chaos and crazy games and Bible teaching on loud music. And I got to know, Tom even more even realize that Tom became this Mentor for me that he and I never even said the word, it is just the relationship developed in the way. What he had was rubbing off on me. And you tell me how you praying for me. He would tell me how you believe the Best in Me. Molecular shapes that week of DDS in middle school with him. And now that I'm in the position I am at Oak Grove and having led a couple of VVS weeks here I think back to that time. It went I'm signed up to help with VBS who was the target audience. Who was he trying to do ministry to the kids? Right? But in reality, I would be very surprised if any of the kids that he and I influence that week had their lives changed as much as I did and I wasn't even the target audience.

What are the college, call me every five or six weeks? And it would just discuss theology has went to school for Bible and Theology and psychology, but we won't talk like academic theology. He would talk about how see ology connect to his experience of God in his life, and he would connected to Ministry. Then go tell Matt, he's praying for me. And then when I went to Seminary, call me every five or six weeks like he does and you'd ask me how my family is doing well as learning from God and how was using it, and he'd remind me that he's praying for me. And Tom and I still talk Keith. You still tells me he's waiting for me to ask me how Ministry is going. He still goes to the church, I grew up in and so he updates me on some of the things there and drink things as Old-Timers do and so he's like, here's what I'm thinking about lately and I'm mostly just listen, but what's a parent is that he has a his life is dedicated to Jesus and it pours out everywhere in his life.

So, he encourages me. It's no secret. That sometimes in Church times for a pastor times, get tough. Just like, just like any job there Seasons when you just are having a hard day or had a hard week.

but, In those times. I know I can call Tom and Ann and Tom answers the phone and he encourages me and he tells me about how he seen God work and he reminds me of things in the past of what God has done and all the sudden this bad season that I meant isn't a season of woe is me, but now is a where in the mission and there's a lot of work to be done. The recently called time to catch up because it's going to get 12 or 15 weeks last time. I called him and left a voicemail with his dad. His wife, write a note for me and I'm not sure if I got to him. I'm so, it makes it until I called him. And we talked about this idea of multi-generational ministry multi-generational Ministry. This is Ministry. That is not one-size-fit-all Ministry. It's not cookie-cutter Ministries, not everyone, sitting in their own age group Ministry, but multi-generation. I was meaning that multiple Generations are sharing the love of Jesus together. Recognizing that the children are children of God is just as much as the seniors are children of God, and there's a lot that of stuff that can be done through that.

It's all the time, something became new to me this time. And where I realize is that my relationship with Tom was not unique to me because I talked to him about that. He starts to tell me stories. I have some why why do you minister to kids right now? Is he is I thought I'll get to hear he's helping with the little kids. A lot and his peers often are like, why are you doing this? You had knee surgery and hip surgeries in your spine doesn't work. And you're on your under the floor. Talking with kids. They just don't understand and he's Tom is a guy that knows what he believes and he will continue to do what he believes. If I had somewhere to the thumb from what they start telling me stories and so he told me that at an older age, you can become an example. Numerous people doubted that time could lead to something like a Bible study because he didn't have a formal education. And his personality is such that sometimes he knows what he believes and isn't going to cater to the needs of other people. He's going to teach the word and share Jesus and so because of that Ministry, leaders and pastors, don't tend to go to him and say, hey will you see your head that project? But he went to the children's pastor and he said, hey, I want to be a part of the water program and eventually the Pastor said sure like to do it. Because guess what? I want to program Burns. A lot of leaders often. Is it to play with kids every week? It's so beneficial and still useful for the ministry and dirty some Jesus. As we're going to get to But you need to help, Tom got to have the opportunity to be a leader and pretty soon. It wasn't long until time was being pulled. The other people that he was being seen as a leader in the Cubbies program for 3 and 4 year olds. And I'm talking Tom talking about the kids. He tells me how they just want to sit with him and talk with him because he's old. They recognized it and they respect him for it. If you ever come to our program here, you'll see that there's kids everywhere and it's chaos Place, organized, and kids being kids. They Don't really know how to read the room. They sometimes don't know how to be respectful. They don't really don't know how to interact with others. That's the whole point of come insane time with kids and doing in the way that centered around Jesus. But you telling me a story about a time and Cubbies, and he told me that even though the kids are in the state of chaos, they would still respect him enough to bring him a chair to sit in so that you don't have to sit on the floor with them. And then they would talk with him. There's asking questions about the Bible three and four-year-olds one evening. They were playing games and all the sudden Sarah stops, and she's crying and understand her. What happened? If she was hurt or what was going on on the L ran to her and asked her what's happening then she and she says, I miss my grandpa. Al brings her over to Tom and said, hey would it be okay if time is your Grandpa tonight and he can just sit with him and talk with him? Until she does and Tom says, it is set for 20 minutes and they talked a little bit. And and when the dad comes to pick her up, she kind of hesitate and just make them wonder. What's going on here. Will I ever get to talk to this girl again? He says, he's not certain what all is happening, but for a moment I represent. I love of God for her. And as a powerful moment for him. He told me another story about a guy named Randy and initially Randy. Thought that time was really whacked out because he's a Christian and he talks about Jesus and he talked about where he sees God and life and everything, just kind of came back to God and for the outside world, that's really weird. And yet, they found themselves crossing paths quite a bit just passed. Tom starting to realize that Randy is getting involved in drugs and wasn't going down the path that he said, but he didn't really have the relationship 2. I dig into their very deep. The 35 years later times brother called Tom and he said, hey, have you heard about Randy? I know what's going on. If Randy is an unfamiliar Christian. He just loves Jesus and his leading all these programs. And so Tom reaches out to Randy and try to connect with him and Randy has a wife at Tom ever met. And so if they wanted to connect and so they came over at 2 and farm and they and they hung out together and and Randy story, Tom was the one who was The Godly example to follow.

It was. Even through the times in the past 35 years, when you don't realize what influence you had. If you are a person that exudes the the love of God everywhere in your life that rubs off on people whose minutes would be done. And and Sonic felt like he was really doing too much. Have a relationship to speak into the drugs. Another story, telling his his son's turning 50 this year and it is son's life. According to time, he fought with Christ for a long time. Over and over unwilling to submit another time. He was in prison and then he was on probation. And in general, he's did not want to cooperate. But to God glory, now, he became a Christian and now he's a leader of the Christian motorcycle, association association in Wisconsin, and he sits like playing people. Through all that. What was his example who was his example? My hunch is that time and a large role on that. And then here's the thing. All those years when it's done was kicking and screaming and not want to go to church and not want to hear about Jesus. Time self Show. Jesus is love to. Have you still praying for him. He still spent time with him. And one question came up, he was available for it. Just like you did for me and everyone else in his life. Play Somewhere the Sun from. Why do you do this? Because this isn't really all that common. It said, back when he was a kid in the early 1950s. He was six or seven years old and there's only like five or six kids in the class at the schoolhouse. And there's these two old farmers who would help out in the class and any Farmers that. They would just help in any way they could have. They had a sense of humor, and they were just there to be warned. He's basically help manage the room. But as Tom got older, they to that folder and he got to grow up and watch them how they live. Hey, what time need to be true? Is that they believed that God was the only way to live and he showed it throughout their lives. And so there wasn't any single conversation or one presentation or one less than or one issue that tan address in their life. It was for that. They addressing X life. It was just that they are visibly Show Jesus in their life and it's modeled for Tom, what it looks like to do and multi-generational Ministry. You know how to cut. I was six or seven when he was when he started that was until he's 29. I gave his life to Jesus. And so even though there is 22 years something in there that Tom didn't relent to Jesus make him as Lord and savior.

These men, 22 years ago, where the examples of what it looks like to follow Jesus, and that was hugely influential for him.

And so they were examples for him. Was it look like to reach teaching without the gospel? It does reflect on all that something became clear. Tom had something in his life that was contagious. His love for Jesus and he showed it in his life. Not just in certain conversations are in certain Bible. Studies are certain events. But there's something that you have had that you passed on to those around him. And as I learned it wasn't just to me because I was special to him. It was that's just what he did. And so, the main point today sermon is that if it's not ours we can't pass it on. Is that all right, if you can't pass it on and we're in the series called titled. Holy his and it's focusing on what it looks like to reach teach and live out life as well as hard as followers of Christ. That's a mission statement of Oak, Grove Church. And we're headed that sermon is that if you are living your life, as a wholehearted follower of Jesus, then there's something that you're passing on to those around you. And we realize that you can use that to your advantage and for Kingdom work. And if you aren't living your life, as well, as hard as followers of Jesus, and if instead, your faith is something to do on Sundays, when things get tough, and can I get rescue line? Then you need to come to the conclusion. That if it's not ours, we can't pass it on.

Does every move to the Bible? There is something about the concept of generations in the Old Testament that just seemed very present, my memory, this thing through that list or is scripture in the Old Testament. There is this generation, no aspect to it. And so I'm I'm doing my research, my study, trying to figure out what is it about the Old Testament. That speaks to generation so much and then I get reminded of something I learned back in school and it comes to the Book of Genesis. And the Book of Genesis was written in a way that was structured by the concept of generation from creation to Adam to Noah, to know what Sons the Sham and Tara to Ishmael two sons of Ishmael and Isaac. Esau Jacob each was a generation and formed a structural unit in the book. And if you're a geek about this stuff, Neil of bible stuff is it called the structure of Genesis? There's a outline of Julia says, here's the toilet of Adam. Here's the toilet out of creation and just goes through and it stretches the entire story of Genesis through these Generations.

And he's okay with Genesis. It's his first in the Bible. So we kind of think that's kind of where it begins, and that's where it fits. But when Genesis was actually recorded and written down, it was after The Exodus. After the Israelites has spent years and years in slavery to have their lives completely. He he brewed by going to word. They, they were having their identities trip from them as slaves and losing, all their rights and everything about them that made them who they were during the slavery. Trying to be taken away. And so Moses, he goes ahead and he writes down the oral tradition of Genesis and can't. Actually what he's doing is, reminding the Jews and the Israelites. This is who you are. This is who God has been in the past and he is he was going to be continued to be in the past and the future. And he communicates to the store that all of that through story, story of the generation, how God has worked in the past, and he's going to work at continuing the future.

Is it is just like, literally passing of the face through the generations is something I want to focus on the passing of Faith through generations. The telling of what God has done. What God has promised to do, you know, he's going to continue to do. Spoiler for the tournament is at this time that the multi-generational ministry isn't like just integrated saying, let's bring the Elementary classes fit with the older seniors. That's that's not what this is about 66, but this is something where we see throughout the Bible. Not just a book of Genesis that God commands. His people several times for the older generation to tell stories to the younger Generations so that they may fear.

What time is it in the Book of Joshua? I'm so, if you have your Bibles with me with you, on your phone or me, Joshua chapter 4.

Imma get reading from the csb. It's kind of similar to the ESV.

But it will be easier to understand sometimes. Says, after 4:1 after the entire nation has finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua. Choose what 12 men from the people one, man, for me to tribe and command them, take 12 Stones from the place in the middle of the Jordan, where the priests are standing and carry them with you and set them down at the place where you spend the night. Contact Sears important. What's happening is they are on their way to the promised land and The Ark of the Covenant represented God's presence with the people there on top of the article, as which is basically a box wrapped in gold and super pretty. And inside of it was the Ten Commandments, then some sacred objects. And on top of it. Where is the cherubim and Libby called? The Mercy Seat, Mercy Seat where they believed and where God told them, that this is where he's going to be with them and soda for them to have the Ark of the Covenant men that God was with them. Today. We have the Holy Spirit and we believe he was in our lives as Jesus followers. And that's true. At this point in the story that wasn't the norm and so it's through this cabinet. And so if you remember the story of The Exodus with the Red Sea late, they parted the waters and ended Arthur come in as part of that. When they get to this point here and Joshua are going to cross the Jordan River in town. The same scene. Where did the Jordan needed to be split so that people could pass through.

And so the brother has to come in and the priests held the Ark of the Covenant, in the middle of the Jordan, 12, the nation's past.

And so this is where we're at. First Ford says so Joshua, some of the twelve men and he selected. Israelites one man from each tribe and said to them. Go across the Ark of the Lord, your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto a shoulder.

One for each of the Israelite tribes. So that you will be fine among you in the future. When your children asked you, what do these Stones mean to you? You should tell them the water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. It cross the Jordan, the Jordan Water was cut off their for the stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites as just as Joshua has commanded them. Well, then took stones in the middle of the Jordan 14, each of the Israelite tribes just as the Lord told Joshua and they carry them to the camp and set them down there. First 9, Josh will also set up 12 Stones in the middle of the drawer, where the priest who carried the Ark of the Covenant, we're standing and those stones are still there today. The priests carrying the art, continue standing in the middle of the Jordan till everything was completed that the Lord has commanded Joshua to tell the people in keeping. With all of that Moses has committed Joshua. The people who made across and after everyone has finished processing, the priests with the Ark of the Lord crossed, in the sight of the people, the reubenites and get, I'd sent half a tribe of Manasseh, went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses has instructed them about 40,000 equipped for Wilbur cross. The plains of Jericho in the Lord's presence on that day. The Lord exalted vault is real and their revered him throughout life throughout his life as they revered Moses. The Lord told Joshua command, the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant Ark of the testimony to come up from the Jordan. It's a Joshua command of the priest come up from the Jordan and when the priests carry the Ark of the Lord's, Covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan and their feet Stepped On Solid Ground. The water of the Jordan. Resumed. Its course, flowing, over all the banks at the four. The people came up from the Jordan on the 10th day of the first month and camped at gilgal on the Eastern limits of Jericho first. 20, then Joshua set up in gilgal the 12 Stones that they had taken from the Jordan. And he said, in the future, when your children ask their fathers, what is the meaning of these Stones? You should tell them Israel. Cross the Jordan on dry ground for the Lord, your God, dried up the Waters of the Jordan before you until you have crossed over. Just that the Lord had done to the Red Sea when she tried it before us until you cross over. This. This is still that all the people. The Earth may know that the Lord's hand is mighty and so that you may always fear the lord your God.

Stuff going on there. There's a there's a lot of history and contacts, that's important, but What happens in each tribe of Israel? Each descending from one of the 12 sons of Abraham. They were instructed to take a stone and place it on their shoulders and bring it back to camp. Why? Because kids being kids. They I like to ask questions. I want to know why we do the things that we do. So when they ask God tells us what the answer is, it's so that we can remind them of the Miracles that God has done for us in the past, but that's the whole point. Set up at Memorial. So the kids will ask and we will get reminded of what God has done. This is something I think is natural for us. We do this ourselves. If you come into my office, some day, you'll see, you'll see. There's all sorts of trinkets in there, random things that are meaningful. I put them at the reasons, but one of the reasons is because I liked it, but the more important reason is because I hope they become conversation starters. I've got pieces of gold for and pottery shards and it's old carving of Moses. And then tell yourself dedicated to these models. I build It's not that I'm obsessed with the models, but when people come to my office and asked me about, then I get to tell them about how I have a Sabbath routine on Thursdays and how I build models on those Thursdays as a way to, to, to rest and enjoy life.

Another example of all this was found in Psalm 78.

Psalm 78 Islam, that reason to look at the first 8 verses

Says, my people. Hear my instruction listen to the words from my mouth. I'll declare wise sayings. I will speak mysteries from the past things that we have known in a herd. And our fathers have passed down to us. We will not hide them from our children, but we will tell a future generation to praiseworthy acts of the Lord is my light and the wondrous works that he's performed. The established a testimony and Jacob and set up the lawn Israel. She's commanded our fathers to teach their children. So that a future generation should have yet to be born, might know, they were to rise and tell their children, so, they might put their confidence in God and not forgive know, God works, but keep his commands.

They then would not be like our fathers, the stubborn and rebellious generation a generation, whose Hearts were not loyal and whose Hearts Spirits were not faithful to God.

And it's text. There's a folder generation and they're instructed to declare the next to the Next Generation. The Praises of the Lord, and his might and The Wonder of Wonders that he's performed. Why sweat the kids who hear it? The future Generations, they put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God. And remember His Commandments. To put their confidence in God, I think everyone could agree that there is in our world today. All is many things are trying to take the president of dried of our children. So they put their confidence and it when they have questions about what to wear or what to watch or how to act or who to be a friend or what career to pursue or where where should they go for guidance? Xfinity internet options at their school. Instead of putting our confidence in God knowing that their deep love in their hearts, that God's tested. His Covenant of Love is never going to leave them, no matter what they do. Instead of resting there. They go to the things that we create for ourselves.

There's something I noticed about stuff with my son. My four-year-old going to be 5. Gone are the days when people wonder things and just have to leave it as a Wonder, right? When, when I ask questions? We can't just wait. I don't nobody because we have a thing called Google. I'm so sad. Love Zack. He he knows that we have these smart speakers in her house. And you say hey Google and ask questions and they don't give us the answer until I say things like what sound does a fox make, or how cold is it outside or how tall the draft? What was the score of the Avalanche game last night? And he's learned that because a speakers around the house and we have it on her phone so we can just ask and we get the answer right away. That's cool. Right, but there's really big implications, I think. At night, and I noticed it because sometimes before I go to work, he'll ask me if if Pastor Matt's kids, breaking Skyler, will be at church today or not. That's why I don't nobody. So I can let you know, when I get there. You should just ask Google.

And I know that's not how this works. Google should not know whether or not the McGee boys are at church or not.

And then he'll say things like a daddy. Where's papa right now? That's why I don't nobody we can call him though and ask say, no, just have to Google it. Some level. I don't want to eat too much. But some of our kids are growing up in an age where they don't have to depend on God very much and they have a question about anything. I'm not, just where Papa is but where I do in certain situations or what should I do when life gets tough, or what should I do? Because my friend says this and the Bible says this, and I don't know what to do about it. Where do they go? They, and other things. Take, give them their their input and that's not bad. There's no good way to do that in the parents and grandparents. We should teach our kids how to do this. Well, but there's also the point where where do they put their confidence for security? They're worth that identity. The things they can control and so often it's in other places than our creator.

Then it's back to the song that says, the older generation is to declare to the Next Generation. The Praises of the Lord and his might and the Wonders that he's performed so that they might not forget the works of God. Why is it not? Why is it so important not to forget what God has done in the past. Is water valid reasons than if you sit for 5 minutes and probably put more than we can talk about right now, but just a few of them if we forget the work so that God has done in the past. We will not have hope for the things that God would do in the future. If I forget that, God is a God that redeems and rescues and saves. When I'm in a spot where I need redeeming and rescue in stating, where am I going to go to? If I forget that, God is the one that does that?

If we forget that, God is if it forget what God has done the path. We lose the bookmark in the grand narratives of scripture. I mean by that is at in scripture. There is the story that God is telling a part of that story. Let me know how the story ends and that's awesome. But we're still part of that story before that point. And if we forget what God has done the past we lose where we are in that story and all the sudden God's not what the stories about instead the stories about me and my feelings are what I need in my comfort. It happens when we forget what God has done in the past. We forget what the guys done the path. We get to fabricate our own version of the story, right? Things happen. God was still works in our life, guys. Still powerful. God is still God, even if I don't recognize the message.

But when God works, but I forget what he's done. I still got to tell the story of what happened in and usually God's not getting a credit instead. I'll find other places a good credit and they usually is about me.

Or sometimes I give it to Idols, rather human leaders. So, this is why I believe the passage in Deuteronomy chapter 4 is so crucial to the Israelites. And I know guys, every single time I preached here at Oak Grove. I refer to the Shema. I was taught more than just the Shema, but it kind of seems like everything comes back to it. And so, I promise you. Need something to get even refers to it. And so it's okay. And so, if you go to Deuteronomy chapter 4,

Even if you hadn't memorized, you should look at it.

Chapter chapter 6 chapters 6, verse 4.

Says listen Israel. The Lord Our God. The Lord is one. Love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And I taught the teenagers at a retreat about this and and basically, what that means is every ounce of fiber in your body of any willpower that you have, what is intellectually physically, emotionally relationally, anything, you got do it for God? These words that I'm giving you today are to be on your heart for 7 repeat and walk about talk about the money sit in your house when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when he get up by the number to sign on your hands and let them be a symbol on your forehead, right there on your door post. So your house not your city Gates. First time when the Lord your God, brings you into the land that you swore to your father, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you. This is what we was right about in Joshua. The land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build houses, full of every good thing that you did. Not fill them with sisters that you did not dig Vineyards. And Olive Groves that you did not plant that. When he eats and are satisfied. Be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the place of slavery. If that's what we do, I talk with teenagers frequently besides things like why don't need God, things are going. Okay right now.

Ali. Don't say that I'd wants to and I literally said told me about how God's just there when I need him and when things are fine. I'm okay. What, why do we not forget what God has done the past? Fear the lord, your God. Okay. Never self. Got there.

Seems to me that God really wanted his love his testimony his teachings to be passed down, generation to generation. Cannot be forgotten. When you go back to Saint 78, why should the older generation passed on to the older or why should the older spacity under? But they need to remain loyal and Faithful is our God. Is it possible that simply by living our life in a way that rub shoulders at the younger generation? That what you have? Your love, your face, you're hoping God will be passed on to those around you. Like this isn't going to happen, Nothing is just affected Ministry was also obedience to God.

There's an article on the AARP website that discusses the term, generational Gap. They heartless. According to the author, the term was coined in the 1960s, and referred to the cold war with the play on words from the missile Gap. And so, back in the 1960s. Did they recognize that? There is a substantive divide in politics, and takes them and religion, and seemingly everything between the older generation, the younger generation. And it's generational. Gap is something that we still have today obviously and we talked about it and it's in areas of politics and religion and values and even fashion or music or technology.

It's still here in the church to right here. Just believe there's over 177,000 churches, but under 100 people. The only seven thousand churches that averaged over a thousand people.

Do the study was on my life way and then they say that the media and church size is a ttf on an average Sunday. That means half of all the churches has a weekend of 10 is less than 80. We're averaging here in 100 115.

So, why does this matter? Well, crosswalk.com and talked about how it's because of the younger generation seems to be flocking to the larger mega churches and the wild. The older generation like the smaller traditional churches. And so, just based on how we do Church, there tends to be this generational Gap, but it's good news that this is New Generation generation Z. Researchers have found that they are much more likely to value of mentoring influence and intergenerational connections. They crave relationships with older adults more than the previous generations, good as a church. And its position where we haven't changed with opportunity. For the older generation to be intentional and investigate options for encouraging younger people.

When we see mr. Grove, we have more and more young families visiting the church. That's awesome. And we have their healthy Awana program and we have a healthy youth ministry and we've developed a kid Sunday school program. They're still working on that, but we're getting there. And guess what guys?

We still have a lot of older generation too, and it doesn't scare away the younger families.

Whenever I'm not teaching during Sunday school hour, and I can offer to take this. Go to the Sunday school class over in the fellowship hall. And sometimes it gets the rep for being like the seniors, Sunday, school class, where all the old people go. Sorry guys. I think you would say that yourselves too. But that's not what it is on paper. It's just one of the three Sunday School classes. We have for adults, every step every week. But if a visitor where to walk through and take a look at what's going on, they're not going to think that they're going to think that we're separated Basin generation. That's when I go and I sit with that class. I get to hear stories from people to pass and I get to hear people pray and I get to walk away. Each time with encouragement, use his men and women are still deeply devoted to God in their life. This result of the results in the safe that they have in God, that doesn't change the weather with the politics of the world has to have this Devotion to God and a rock-solid. The one of those stories of prayers, those lessons were intentionally being shared with the younger generation, something that can be passed on. Why the younger generation to put their confidence in God?

It was, I think back to the past week and I'm thinking about my friendship with Tom and some some things became worth noting. The first one is that time is not my replacement grandfather. That's not how this works. I had a grandfather who loves Jesus. But until time wasn't asked by anyone to make me his project.

But life circumstances caused us to come together and he became a contagious model for me that I wanted to imitate as well. And he wasn't even a pastor or an elder. It wasn't vocationally called to do this with his life through the farmer. You didn't treat me special. It wasn't like, I was the one that he focuses on, but this is how he does his life in a way where he's intentional to see what God is doing and to tell people about it.

Tom prayed for me. Now, from closer two decades, he's been praying for me regularly. They like to tell me that, and I don't struggle to believe that it's true. I'd like to think that at Oak Grove. One of the things that a visitor, when I coming through that they will notice is that yes, we allow younger families. But yes, we have a lot of older seniors as well. And that one of the core values is that we're not trying to separate, but we're doing like together, all recognizing that we're children of God. Who doesn't mean that we have, special programming designed to force the orders of the youngers? It doesn't mean that we are discouraging friendships with peers.

But there's something to be said about passing on the love of God and experiences from the past of what God has done. To those around us started in 1880 and its people have been here for 65 years. Longer people who have been here for their entire lives. That we have. No idea what the past was out is done here. If you, even if you just want to ask, what's your experience of oak grow throughout the years. And we see that God has continued to provide and take care of the needs of that. We have

If we remember that, let me get the time talking about budget and needs and then politics and all the stuff that happens. All the sudden. We're not so concerned about our own little narrow vision of what we're doing, but we recognize the grand scheme that God always been here taking care of both girls, because of his church, make sense.

And so, what do we do about this for everyone? We need to notice. You need to notice where God has been. Write it down when God shows up take notes about it. This is something I believe you asked me to go every single year with the kids call him. God sighting. Then the whole point is to help kids get to the routine of looking around at home at school in life of where's not showing up? and when he does, Is impactful the last time. She doesn't, if we're not looking for it. We don't see it.

2, we need to remember remember what God has done and that's beyond Jessie on life. Remember what God has done. There's this Legacy of Jesus followers before you in my own life. I got parents and grandparents and great-grandparents who loves Jesus. And so there's this Legacy. I look back at Consider remember what he's done in our parents lies. Our grandparents lives.

Sometimes you'd ask me about my Oma's life. And her testimony with God in her life, and so there she wrote some of these things down and I get to read the stories from her past. And what I see throughout it is at the provision her life. And because I read that, and I see myself for that story, when I tell stuff at bedtime, that God loves him and is never going to leave him. That's not just a theological truth, though. That's true. I believe it. That's my own experience.

As Christians we have scripture, look at is full of things. What God has done as Christians. We take the Old Testament and as adopted Heirs of Jesus, it becomes our history as well. So read the Bible know what God has done in the past. Look forward to what you going to do in the future. Look back at church history. I know you guys when you're reading stuff, you don't tend to want to go to church history, but there's a thick plate people called the desert fathers, let them up and I got to go to my office. I'll loan you if you want it but super big and it's green. It's a story of of the church that goes from 10 to 2 today and it's told told of the narrative so that is actually enjoyable to read but is always different stories of what God has done in the past.

Then we know that.

Be confident for the future.

For the younger generation that AR AARP article referring to the article back in the 1960s, Define with the older and younger generation. Was it said 30? So sorry, people that just turned 30, but you're not part of the older generation. But so, I'll let you define that however you want. But if you're part of the younger generation, are you being intentionally say hi to those in the older generation promise you that they have something to pass on to you. And if you're part of the older generation, are you now let you to find that however you want. But are you intentionally say hi to those who are in the younger generation? Do you have shoulders with them? He has God. Given you something. You love for him to pass on to those around you. and if I don't be discouraged, this type of ministry is really hard, not hard because like, it's the last wet and work, but it's hard because you might go 35 years thinking that you did not think,

Sometimes when when you clean the house is enjoying a little because you get to see the progress you're making and like, okay, that was bad as this instant gratification there.