Tag: Speaking about our churches

“It is ALL in Our DOING!” 10 Ideas to Bring Your Family, Your Friends and Your Neighbors a Wee Little Bit More of God’s Love this Christmas. 1 John 4:7-21

1 John 4:7-21The Message

God Is Love

7-10 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.

11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

13-16 This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

To Love, to Be Loved

17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

It is ALL in the DOING!

John speaks directly to the heart of love as he writes, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.”

Loving is not an abstract, optional concept.

It originates with God,

and we pass along God’s love in our relationships with others.

Renowned Author, Ethicist and Theologian Lewis Smedes put it this way in his book Love Within Limits: 

“God’s love song is in many ways like other great love songs. . . . Our challenge is to find ways to bring the heavenly rhapsody down into our own worldly ­realities.”

How true—and also realistically, truthfully how difficult! Only one person, Jesus, lived out perfectly the demands of perfect love, and he was crucified.

Living with one another gets messy, and people can be so difficult!

We live with family, friends, and neighbors who often seem determined to test even our desire to love.

But God didn’t command us to like one another. Jesus, after stating that the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God . . .” reminded everyone that the second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

That is not an optional command.

Jesus also described it as a new command and gave the reason for us to obey it:

34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35

Jesus expects us to live out His love in very visible ways, to obey his commands.

I fervently pray the Christmas season, or any season for that matter, also reminds us of what Jesus said in Matthew 22:39, about the second most crucial commandment Christians should keep. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

While I could focus solely on myself this Christmas,

My Wife and I find it infinitely more rewarding to help spread the merriment of the holidays to those around us, including to those who are our literal neighbor.

By doing this, our lives becomes engulfed in God’s love and Immanuel’s joy, and both our hearts become more focused on the reason for the season: Jesus!

To help you the reader do the same, here are 10 ideas to bring your neighbor, your family, yourself a bit more of God’s Love, Immanuel’s joy this Christmas.

1. Host a dinner.

Savor the Christmas season this year by cherishing time spent with the people in your life.

Invite a few of your neighbors over for a potluck dinner.

Cook the main dish and ask a few people to bring sides and desserts.

If you’re feeling extra hospitable, provide all aspects of the meal and let your neighbors enjoy their evening.

Just make sure you communicate with all your neighbors about any dietary restrictions.

When it comes time to have your neighbors over, make your home extra festive: turn on your Christmas tree, lighting your favorite Christmas-scented candle.

Have light Christmas music playing in the background, too! Sit around the fireplace (or this video of a fire) and enjoy God and one another’s company.

When it comes time to leave, give your neighbors a small gift, like a mug with hot cocoa packets and marshmallows – maybe their souls will be warmed up!

2. Organize a cookie exchange.

Every year, my wife and I know a great couple who will spend hours upon hours in the kitchen, over a nice warm oven and bake well over a thousand cookies of all flavors and will distribute them to their family, their friends, and neighbors.

Or perhaps, instead of baking however many varieties and myriad different types of Christmas cookies, maybe try hosting a cookie exchange this year.

Find a handful of neighbors who would like to participate and have each select one or two types of cookies to make.

You can ask everyone to bake their holiday favorites, or you can assign cookie types to prevent repeats.

Then, invite everyone over to to the house, exchange cookies with one another.

Everyone will leave a variety of cookies, without having to be chained to their kitchens all of December.

You can even turn the cookie exchange into an entire afternoon celebration.

Put on your favorite Christmas movies and music and provide hot cocoa and and coffee and popcorn and the aromas of God’s Love. Invite neighbors to stay for a couple of hours to watch a flick and nibble on those delectable cookies.

3. Provide babysitting. (as much as you are able and it is needed by your guests)

Christmas is a hugely busy time.

There are never-ending parties and celebrations, a million and a half things to bake, and gifts to purchase and wrap.

This last part can be especially tricky for parents of children who still believe in Santa or just want to manage to keep the gifts they’re giving a hidden surprise.

If you have a neighbor with small kids, offer to watch them one evening so their parents can get their Christmas shopping done.

Or even just take a night off together.

If you have kids, too, see if you can work out a child swap for a couple of hours.

With their approval and their permission, watch their kids one night, send your kids to the neighbor’s house another night – share some cookies and hot cocoa.

This way, they can get their shopping done in peaceful bliss.

4. Shovel their driveway. (as much as it may be required and you can safely do)

After a particularly heavy snow, I came home from work one day to find that our neighbors had shoveled our driveway.

Well, actually, I came home to see our neighbor in the middle of snow blowing our driveway, so I looped around the block one more time, parked my truck and picked up my shovel and I summarily started on my other neighbors driveway.

I know, I know—kind of, sort of, just a might bit and largely neighborly gesture.

But, I love shoveling the driveway, even though it might be some dense snow.

You too can be that great neighbor to someone else. Grab your shovel or snow blower, help someone out, especially someone like an ailing or elderly person.

But honestly, truthfully everyone will then appreciate having the “shovel the driveway” checked off their list for them so whoever you help will be thankful!

5. Go caroling together.

I know, I know, I know – so utterly and completely old fashioned, isn’t it?

A wise man once said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Okay, yeah.

You caught me ….

and now my cheeks are blushing ….

The guy I’m talking about is Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, but that does not detract from his wisdom.

Christmas caroling spreads God’s love and great cheer at lightning speeds.

Grab your family and friends and go door to door singing some of the all-time classics, like Silent Night or Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

If your feeling extra festive, feel like you want to go over the top with your caroling, bring a plate of cookies along and offer your neighbors a sweet treat.

6. Organize a neighborhood food drive. (with a bit more neighborly planning)

Nothing gets people in the true Christmas spirit quite as well as helping others. Bring your neighborhood together this Christmas by organizing a food drive.

Contact your local food bank and ask what nonperishable food items they need.

Print out a list of those foods, along with an explanation of what you’re doing, and deliver that info sheet door to door.

If someone isn’t home, either leave the sheet in their mailbox or on their front door. Let your neighbors know they can drop off the goods on your doorstep at any time and also designate a day that you could come to pick up any items.

Together, you will help restock your local food bank in the midst of the season during which they serve the most people.

7. Be a secret Santa.

My Wife and I love to do this ….

Our absolute favorite way to give Christmas gifts is secret-Santa style.

We absolutely love the idea of people anonymously receiving a present they were not expecting.

It can be such a huge blessing, and with no one to thank, they turn their gratitude towards God.

Your secret-Santa present can be something small like a Christmas movie, caramel popcorn, or hot cocoa.

Or your gift could be something life-changing, like a new washing machine.

Another secret-Santa idea I love is to collect pocket change and loose dollar bills throughout the year.

Then deliver that jar of money to the doorstep of a random homeless neighbor.

By giving these gifts without receiving credit, it really highlights how generous, compassionate our Heavenly Father is and how he abundantly blesses all of us.

8. Host a wrapping party.

I do not know about you, but I often have a gift for weeks before I actually get around to wrapping it, mostly because of my lack of wrapping paper. Or tape. Or ribbon. Or gift tags. (I’m pretty much a wrapping-mess!) (I despise wrapping!)

So why not host a present wrapping party for you and a few neighbors?

Have each person bring a pair of scissors and a few rolls of wrapping paper.

Provide tape, ribbons, and snacks.

Put on a Christmas movie, crank up some festive music, spread some Christmas Cookies around and spend your day wrapping all the presents you are giving.

It is an especially great idea for college dorms or student apartment buildings.

It provides students with an opportunity to get together, have a party, wrap their gifts, eat some favorite cookies, all before going home for the holidays.

It’s also a fantastic stress-buster during the chaos of finals week!

9. Help Decorate

Driving through a neighborhood where almost every home has lights on their house and a tree in its window is such a joyful treat.

But the problem with Christmas decorations is that they often have to be set up in crummy weather.

The cold, snow or ice can be especially tricky to brave, and the last thing you want is someone slipping off their roof.

Also, let’s be honest: setting up Christmas decorations can be exhausting!

Some years, it’s a struggle to find the time to set up your decorations.

So, if you have a neighbor who usually decorates but hasn’t yet this year, reach out and see if they need help.

It’ll bring God to their doorstep and Immanuel’s joy to your neighbor, and to the rest of your neighbors who get to look back at the beautiful decorations!

10. Give a Simple Card

It’s hard to explain my joy when I open our mailbox, and there’s a piece of mail that is neither a bill nor a mass of advertisements all addressed to “our current resident.” It’s almost like the Christmas-morning-equivalent of adulthood.

Why not give our God a chance to freely advertise some of His great love for “all of our current residents,” take advantage of this super simple, inexpensive way to bring Immanuel’s joy to your neighbors?

Buy a multi-pack of Christmas cards and write a small heartfelt note about how much these people mean to you.

Tell stories of how they have blessed you this year, and thank God for them for being great neighbors.

Bonus:

this is a great way to introduce yourself to neighbors you do not know as well.

Introduce yourself via a card and follow up with your neighbors with one of the other ideas in this article.

The Christmas season lends itself exceedingly and abundantly well to forming yearlong relationships with your neighbors.

You just never know what God will do with such a relationship ….

It is ALL in the DOING ….

John’s letter gives us magnificent clues on how to stretch the season.

We celebrate Christmas all year when we stick to the basics of “loving God and carrying out his commands.”

And these “commands” are not complicated.

The central command is to love God and neighbor. For example, says John, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.”

So, as we finish our Christmas gatherings, finish unwrapping gifts, take down the Christmas tree and box and store the lights and decorations, we should keep celebrating our FIRST love of the birth of Jesus, by loving others as he loves us.

“Peace and goodwill to all”

must become FOR ALL a blessed and highly favored year-round labor of love.

It is ALL in our DOING!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 100 The Message

100 1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!
    Bring a gift of laughter,
    sing yourselves into his presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
    He made us; we didn’t make him.
    We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
    Thank him. Worship him.

5 For God is sheer beauty,
    all-generous in love,
    loyal always and ever.

Almighty, all-merciful God, through Christ Jesus you have taught us to love one another, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and even to love our enemies. In times of violence and fear, let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, so that we may not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.

Help us to see each person in light of the love and grace you have shown us in Christ. Put away the nightmares of terror and awaken us to the dawning of your new creation. Establish among us a future where peace reigns, justice is done with mercy, and all are reconciled. We ask these things in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, as your neighbors often we are difficult to love. Thank you for always loving us and being our example of patience and perseverance as we seek to love others in your name. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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What Is So Magnificent About Mary Walking 90 Miles to Visit Elizabeth? Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:39-45Amplified Bible

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea), 40 and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him. 42 And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

One of the most touching moments in the Christmas narrative comes after Mary, miraculously pregnant with the baby Jesus, journeys to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, also miraculously pregnant with her and Zachariah’s son – John.

Together, the two blessed and highly favored women recognize this honor and in a miraculous moment for the ages, rejoice at the role they play in God’s plan.

The story is told in the Gospel of Luke, which contains the most descriptive information about the conception of Jesus and the impact of such a miracle.

As we read in the account, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).

Let’s ask ourselves -what is so magnificent of young Mary visiting Elizabeth? 

Not only does it teach us much about faith, and family, it also confirms God’s plan and shows us how we are to celebrate when we are in a similar situation.

What Has Happened Just Before Mary walks 90 miles to visit Zacharias and Elizabeth?

Before the visit, we are first told of the priest Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, who was “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (Luke 1:6).

But Luke also tells us they were beyond their child rearing years, being childless and very old, which was both a disgrace and shame at that time in their culture.

However, one day, when Zacharias was serving God in the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said Elizabeth would bear them a son, John (v. 13).

Moreover, the angel said John would be a prophet in the power of Elijah, who would “turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (v. 17).

Elizabeth was overjoyed at this honor and secluded herself for a time, praising the Lord for this miraculous pregnancy and God’s favor upon her (v. 25).

Then, when Elizabeth is six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel visits a virgin, Mary, in the town of Nazareth and informs her that she is favored by God and is to conceive and birth a child, Jesus, who will be called the Son of the Most High and will reign over her people forever (Luke 1:30-32).

The angel Gabriel further explains she will become pregnant because of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High, and the “holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (v. 35).

Gabriel also tells Mary, her cousin Elizabeth is also miraculously pregnant.

Incredibly, Mary readily accepts this important role, telling Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant …. May your word to me be fulfilled” (v. 38).

What Does the Bible Say about Mary walking 90 miles down a roadway to Visit Elizabeth?

Right after this, we are told by the Word of God that young Mary hurries to make a long 90-mile journey to visit Elizabeth — which at that time, without vehicles, would have likely taken her at least four to five days, possibly longer.

When Mary got there, she went into the house and greeted Elizabeth.

The Bible says that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, “the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41).

Elizabeth then loudly exclaims that Mary and her unborn child are blessed and that Elizabeth is favored by the visit by “the mother of my Lord” (v. 43).

Elizabeth also joyfully tells Mary her unborn child leaped in her womb for joy.

Mary then bursts into a praise-filled song called The Magnificat, rejoices in God, acknowledges the grace she has received, declares God’s victory, and confirms for all of us this as part of God’s larger plan in the world (v. 46-55).

Question – Why Does Mary Visit Elizabeth?

We are not specifically told why she visits Elizabeth, but we can certainly imply she — having just been told by Gabriel, her cousin is also the blessed recipient of a miracle — wanted to be with someone else who could understand what she was going through, secondly, as family, wanted to be able to support Elizabeth.

Perhaps she also, filled with the Holy Spirit, was compelled to visit Elizabeth as a way of bringing her divine grace and confirmation of God’s work in them both.

Question – Why Is This Visit Magnificent?

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth is magnificent for a number of reasons:

1. Mary, and the unborn Son of God, brought God’s grace and confirmation to both of them.

Young Mary’s courageous, unescorted, unaccompanied visit was not an easy trip but a huge undertaking involving much physical risk and lengthy travel.

But Mary knew it was necessary — and the grace and confirmation it brought caused the Holy Spirit to fill Elizabeth and made the child in her womb leap.

2. It shows Mary’s indomitable faith and certain trust in God’s protection.

We know from Mary’s words to the angel Gabriel that she believes him and accepts her role as mother to the Son of God.

But her actions — making the roughly 90-mile journey to visit Elizabeth — show her faith and willingness to trust in God, be obedient to God, as well.

It’s a reminder of what James says in James 2:17, that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by giving ourselves to God, trust obedience and action, is dead.”

3. From one Generation to countless Generations – It reveals Elizabeth’s faith.

The visit also majestically reveals Elizabeth’s proclamation of faith.

The Bible tells us Elizabeth was overjoyed when she became pregnant, but when her unborn child leaped, and she herself became filled with the Holy Spirit in the presence of Mary and her unborn Savior, she did not just “marvel at this.”

Rather, she magnificently, majestically exclaimed;

“in a loud voice” that both Mary and her baby were blessed and that Mary was carrying the Lord (vv. 42-43) – she spoke her faith aloud for anyone to hear.

4.  It provides an opportunity for celebration.

Not only were they filled with the Spirit, but both the women celebrated their joy together. Mary and Elizabeth both sang their songs of deepest praise which first and foremost glorified and praised God, confirmed God’s plan for them.

5. It is a magnificent example of the importance of Christian fellowship.

Neither woman was ever going to become familiar with the word “Christian,” a term that wasn’t even going to be created until several years after Jesus’ death.

But gathering together to celebrate and draw comfort in this miracle is exactly what we should do. God’s people are supposed to be in community with each other. Not only is it helpful, but it also enables the power of the Holy Spirit.

So much is possible when we claim our God-given gifts of the Holy Spirit and like Mary we risk everything to “walk miles and miles and miles and miles” to join with and support others who have different gifts to build up God’s people.

Too often we allow ourselves to fall into bickering, division, and self-righteous
rhetoric. And while it is important to address systems and principalities that do breed and foster and magnify injustice, it is equally important to build upon our strengths and create and support vital networks of God’s transformational love.

6. Some consider this to be Jesus’ first miracle.

Many consider Jesus’ action of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana to be his first miracle (John 2:1-11).

The Apostle John notes it was indeed “the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory” (John 2: verse 11).

However, I believe Jesus’ unborn presence caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then Elizabeth’s unborn child to leap with joy within her, which many may feel is a miracle in itself, or at least a divine act of major significance.

7. It was John the Baptist and Jesus’ first meeting.

We’re told Elizabeth’s unborn child is John the Baptist, who baptizes Jesus with water, plays an important, biblically significant role as the one who prepare the people for the coming of Messiah in accordance with the ancient prophecies .

But while as men, they reportedly don’t meet until the day Jesus asks John to baptize him (Luke 3:21-22), this moment, as unborn souls, through the work of the Holy Spirit is biblically their first meeting.

8. It shows a magnificent example of what we should do when faced with a calling or assignment from God.

In the course of our lives, God calls us to do things outside of our comfort zone, even at the risk of death, ministering into areas of cities and towns with known drug gangs, whether that is moving to a foreign land to become a missionary or taking a very unpopular stand for faith which results in imprisonment or worse.

Surely Mary could have been aghast at the perils of her new role — after all, being pregnant but unmarried might bring her disgrace or even cause her to be accused of and condemned for adultery, a high crime punishable by stoning.

But she willingly accepted her assignment and, even more, rejoiced at it. This is exactly what we should do when God asks us to do something to fulfill his plan.

Question – What Does This Mean?

The Bible tells us Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went home.

Later, Elizabeth did indeed give birth to John the Baptist, and Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Messiah.

As mothers, these women played hugely important roles in their sons’ lives, in their families lives and we can learn much from them in our own families lives.

Family, Community . . . a Reflection of Immanuel – God in Us and God within Us

Genesis 12:1-3Amplified Bible

Abram Journeys to Egypt

12 Now [in Haran] the Lord had said to Abram,

“Go away from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 
And [a]I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you [abundantly],
And make your name great (exalted, distinguished);
And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];
3 
And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you,
And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you.
And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”

Why do we become families?

Many years ago a man received a message from God, and God basically adopted this man.

Later God gave him the name Abraham, which means “father of many.”

And yet Abraham had no children.

Then God promised to bless Abraham with many children, and somehow, in some miraculous way, through Abraham’s family, God would incredibly and miraculously bless all the peoples of the earth.

God stayed faithful and true to his promises to bless the world’s peoples through Abraham, even though Abraham’s descendants were dysfunctional.

And God surprised everyone by keeping his promises through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, a descendant of Abraham.

It turns out that Immanuel, born of Mary, recognized by Elizabeth, was Savior not only for Mary, God’s adopted people, but also for all other peoples as well.

And by faith, by confessing, trusting in the salvation message of Jesus, people from all nations, tribes, and languages can also be adopted into God’s family.

So when we as family and friends gather this coming Christmas eve or day, sit at our tables in our homes, we come to the Lord’s table and it is a family table.

Just as we do not get to choose our families and all our relatives, there may well be people in our church family whom we might not have chosen are invited too.

God chose Mary and Joseph, and Elizabeth and Zechariah, He chose them—and us—to be gathered together as an essential part of telling his own family story.

So we become family to belong to God’s family but also family to each other – brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Savior, and beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God, our Creator and at this family table there is God’s grace.

Hebrews 12:1-2English Standard Version

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Why do we enter into community?

The writer of Hebrews spends a whole chapter (Hebrews 11) talking about “heroic” people from Israel’s past who lived by faith. And that provides encouragement to believers to keep living faithfully for Immanuel each day.

Let us remind ourselves, The Body of Christ, God’s Church in and throughout the world, Christian community, our neighborhoods and Communities of faith are so much bigger than the host of people who are geographically close to us.

It is also about believers across the miles and miles and miles of our very own small villages, towns, cities states and counties and countries and the world.

It is also inclusive of earlier generations, current generations and the future.

The generations of witnesses connects us together in one, great community!

God, the Father and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ….

Holy One in Three …. in PERFECT COMMUNITY ….

Why do we enter into community?

Because God is in perfect community, and we are created in His image.

John 3:16-17Amplified Bible

16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.

God loves us so much, favors us so much, that he sent his only Son, Jesus, who laid down his own life for us in order to set before us His example of family, to reveal His community, and to re-enter our community with us, His creation.

And we ought to find favor, we ought to love others so much that we enter into community again and again with love and with the hope of something greater.

Community is a reflection of God’s favor, God’s love living in us and within us.

It is who and what and why we were created to be.

Our simple family in God’s magnificent family ….

Our simple community in God’s magnificent community ….

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

God Sustains His Servant.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 
He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.
3 
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear [with great reverence]
And will trust confidently in the Lord.

4 
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not regard the proud nor those who lapse into lies.
5 
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of your wonders,
They would be too many to count.

6 
Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them;
You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word];
Burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.
7 
Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne];
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 
“I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart.”

9 
I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness],
As You know, O Lord.
10 
I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart;
I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation.
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.

11 
Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O Lord;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

O God, my Strength, I put my trust in You. You have never forsaken those who seek You. You have never let me down. I know that You never will let me down because my life so far has become a testimony of Your greatness. Mold my witness and my testimony into Your image, and as Mary and Elizabeth held you close in their hearts, hold me just close to You. Show me how to mature as a Christian and improve on my walk of faith. Steady my trust in You so that it never wavers, no matter what battles I face on this earth. I declare that my faithfulness to You will be strong at all times. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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4 Magnificent Faith Moments When Mary Visits Elizabeth. Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:39-45Amplified Bible

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea), 40 and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him. 42 And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Why Should This Happen to Me?

Whether in those most ancient of days of biblical times or in our modern days,

Why should anything happen to anyone in the Kingdom of the Most High God?

The much needed Revelation of Faith?

The much desired Revelation of Hope?

The much required Revelation of Love?

Maybe the significantly needed, desired, required Revelation of all three?

Elizabeth was utterly amazed.

She could hardly believe what was happening to her.

Not only was she expecting a child in her old age, but she also had the awesome privilege of meeting her relative Mary, the expectant mother of the Lord Jesus.

Suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit, the previously barren Elizabeth exclaimed, “Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Why me?

Why me, Lord? 

I’m sure many of us have asked this question at one time or another for a diverse variety of reasons.

Something unexpected happened in our lives, and we could not help asking, “Why me?”

Someone unexpected happened in our lives, and we could not stop asking the question: “Why Me?”

Someone, indescribably, undeniably special just happens to quietly walk into the middle of our busy or not so busy lives at the most in opportune moment.

Inexplicably, unexplainable things begin to change and we ask: “Why Me?”

We tend to ask this question especially when things go wrong.

Maybe we have lost someone we have loved.

Perhaps we have had to deal with a physical disability, or we were diagnosed with a terrible illness, we may have lost our job, or our business may have failed, we are in financial straights and the one question was right there:

“Why me?”

We tend to ask this question when everything suddenly starts going right.

But there is a more important question in this Advent season:

Why should we have the privilege of getting to know Elizabeth and Mary?

Why should we have the privilege of being “reintroduced,” “reacquainted” to the Presence, the intercessory works, ministry of God, the Holy Spirit, in US?

Why should we have the privilege of getting to know the expectation of the coming birth of Immanuel, “God with US, God within US, God OUR Savior?”

Why should we be so privileged that the Lord should come to earth for people like Mary and Elizabeth and US, WE who did nothing to deserve his coming?

As we approach the celebration of the birth of the Savior, we do well to ask, Why should we be so favored?

Let us stand amazed that the fullness of God should love us so much that he sent his only Son, Immanuel, to bring us back to himself, give us eternal life?

One of the central themes of the beautiful story of when Mary visits Elizabeth is the revelation of the unshakeable unquestioning undeniable faith of both these women in God – even after long numbers of years when God appeared absent.

We see this faith witness through several moments which occur during the visit.

What Is the Context of Mary’s Visit with Elizabeth?

Elizabeth was an elderly barren woman experiencing the shame in her era of being childless.

Her priestly husband Zechariah, having no child to carry on his name, might have been shamed enough by his wife’s shame to sought another wife. But he didn’t. Rather, the couple remained faithful to each other and faithful to God.

Luke 1:13-17Amplified Bible

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him [a]John. 14 You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, 15 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

The hard pressed Zechariah found this beyond hard to believe since he and his wife were “aged” far beyond childbearing years, so he then questioned Gabriel,

“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Luke 1:18-20Amplified Bible

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.” 19 The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 [a]Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Just as Gabriel had prophesied, when Zechariah returned to Elizabeth, she did become pregnant and Zechariah could not speak. 

When Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy, Mary, a young relative engaged to her fiancé Joseph, was also having her own unexpected encounter with Gabriel. He visited her one night and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:29-38

Mary understood Gabrielle’s message that she and Elizabeth were both having miraculous pregnancies that few would understand or believe possible.

She did not hesitate but hurried off to visit Elizabeth who lived about 50-100 miles away.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39-40

Here are four significant faith moments when Mary visits Elizabeth:

1. Mary Had Faith That Elizabeth Would Welcome Her

It wasn’t by chance that Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth.

God knew that Elizabeth was going to be the perfect spiritual mother and mentor for Mary because not everyone would accept as true either of their miraculous stories of God’s sudden, favored, supernatural intervention.

A young Mary had faith that she would find comfort and reassurance, welcome and true acceptance in spending time with her much older relative Elizabeth.

Gabriel’s mention of Elizabeth’s pregnancy compelled Mary to go to her immediately!

She wasn’t daunted by the inconvenience, time required, energy expended or sacrifice, considering she was in the first trimester of her own pregnancy.

Mary did not stop to count the cost, weigh the hardships of the travel, analyze if that was really, truly what the Lord meant, worry about how it would affect her schedule, relationship with Joseph or if Elizabeth was too old to relate to her.

Mary must have felt that Elizabeth was a safe person. She could go to her with this supernatural story and Elizabeth would receive her with compassion.

Once there, she would learn that Elizabeth had her own supernatural God story.

2. Elizabeth Had Faith That There Was a Great Reason God Sent Mary to Visit Her

Imagine Elizabeth opening the door to a teenage unwed pregnant distant relative she hasn’t seen in years.

She was going through her own hardship of being an elderly pregnant woman with a priestly husband who could not tell her why he could not speak to her.

But from Elizabeth’s response at Mary’s arrival, it does not seem like she is worried or fretted that the house was a mess, or she was out of bread, or that she looked a sight and Zechariah really was not even close to himself lately.

She did not tell Mary that there were a million things she had to do to get ready for her own baby so this definitely, probably was not a good time for her visit. 

Elizabeth wasn’t judgmental or condemning. Instead, the Bible tells us . . .

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:41-45

Before Mary could even explain her immaculate conception, the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she knew Mary was carrying the blessed Messiah.

Elizabeth began to prophesy about Mary and her baby.

She knew Mary had also believed and trusted in the Lord just as she herself had done.

Two divergent women of faith from different generations but the same God. 

We’re now Face-to-Face With God, Elizabeth and Mary: Generation to Generation,

Pray and please note that while young Mary needed someone to prepare her for long pregnancy and giving birth to the Messiah, more importantly, she needed someone who understood and had insight into what this future would entail.

3. Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth Confirmed God’s Plans 

God had a definite plan for Zechariah and Elizabeth’s, son, John the Baptist, to be the forerunner of Mary’s own unborn son, Immanuel, the future Messiah.

Upon meeting, both women, by Holy Spirit revelation, knew that immediately.

After the Holy Spirit–inspired greeting from Elizabeth, Mary’s heart filled with joy as she trusted God and she responded to Elizabeth with a Spirit-filled hymn of praise, hope, and faith which is today called the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.
 From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
 holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)

4. Elizabeth and Mary’s Strong Common Bond Was Their Faith Testimony in God

Even though there was an obviously significant age gap and the women’s individual mission from God was different, their lives, their babies’ lives and their families lives, and our families lives, would be intricately intertwined.

Mary stayed for three months with Elizabeth and since Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Mary arrived, perhaps Mary even helped with the birth of baby John. 

We have the vantage point of knowing the future for both babies.

During Mary’s visit there would be great camaraderie between the two women, one very young and one very old, who were each fulfilling God’s purpose in a way that was probably difficult to explain believably to others. .

I am reasonably sure they spent a great deal of time in prayer and affirming their faith and hope in God and each other that while their experience came with certain definite hardships, the blessings far outweighed the difficulties.

We do not read any discussion of poor me or why me, only praise God it’s me!

Mary had to be overjoyed and affirmed as she listened to her older wiser relative confirm she, Mary, was blessed indeed, as are all of us who put our faith in God.

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45

What Can We Each Learn Today from These God Gifted, God Given, Faith-Moments?

There had to be many who severely questioned the credibility, veracity, and the implications of Elizabeth and Mary’s stories, but someone who has experienced something similar to us can understand our deepest concerns and even fears.

That’s why it’s so highly favorable and highly valuable that we maintain faith-filled, hope and love filled relationships where we feel safe to share our stories.

It takes real courage and “stand your ground” fortitude to stand strong and upright in what you believe when the world is trying to undermine your faith.

It’s so important for Christians to gather and worship together corporately at church, in small groups, and mentoring relationships to encourage each other, pray together, study God’s Word, and remind them that Jesus is real and alive today in every believer’s life realizing nothing happens by chance to a believer. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah. 29:11

Luke 1:46-47, 49 (Amplified Bible)

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Faith Is Believing in What We Cannot, Do Not, Probably Will Not, Ever Understand!

The foundation of the Christian life is the gift of faith that we freely receive by asking Jesus into our heart.

Believers should spend significantly more time than they do right now seeking and reaching out for the ever faith-filled hand of God in every circumstance.

Recognizing those timely God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit supernatural interventions and seeing purpose comes with spiritual maturity.

The Bible says that believers who have yet to see God’s involvement in their life, but still believe, will be rewarded for their patience and unquestioning faith.

But in reality, becoming a Christian, receiving Baptism and Holy Communion is the most influential evidence of a true divine revelation in every believer’s life. 

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

When faith, hope and love seem impossible, all things are possible with God!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

36 And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “[a]Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her. Gospel of St. Luke 1:36-38

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” St. Augustine of Hippo

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
2 
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.

3 
When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established,
4 
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5 
Yet You have made him a little lower than [b]God,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 
You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8 
The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Lord, our God, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior, we ask that through your Holy Spirit we can feel something of the awe of Elizabeth. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

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From Generation unto Generations: Hope for The Coming Generations! Judges 2:6-10.

Judges 2:6-10Amplified Bible

Joshua Dies

6 And when Joshua had sent the people away, the [tribes of the] Israelites went each to his inheritance, to take possession of the land. 7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 Also, all [the people of] that generation were gathered to their fathers [in death]; and another generation arose after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

How amazing!

An entire generation had passed after Joshua died (aged 110) that did not

“know the Lord or knew the work that He had done”.

How could this happen to God’s chosen people?

These were the same people He performed miracle after miracle for.

Again, a whole generation of Israelites don’t know who God was!

This might seem like a familiar story to you if you live anywhere on earth.

A generation is currently on the rise that has never stepped foot into church, never or barely reading their Bible, never taught or even learned about Jesus.

What do we make of this?

It can be easy to place blame on others but, really, the next generation comes down to you and me.

We are responsible for the discipleship and upbringing of the next generation.

Let us stop passing the blame and start taking responsibility.

If you have kids, don’t just expect the church or school to teach and disciple them; be involved.

If you have generations of people coming to your church, do not just expect the church alone to reach and teach and disciple them; be and become the involved.

If you have friends or family or neighbors who are struggling, take an active role in their lives, and in sharing with them the truth about God with them.

My legacy is not what I did or I will do for myself, it is what I am doing right now, what I will do in all of my collective tomorrow’s for the next generation.

Our ministry and mission is to serve all generations for the coming generations.

Acts 13:34-37Amplified Bible

34 And [as for the fact] that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay [in the grave], He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David [those blessings and mercies that were promised to him].’ 35 For this reason He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was buried among his fathers and experienced decay [in the grave]; 37 but He whom God raised [to life] did not experience decay [in the grave].

There are many deeds that David did during his life.

He did many great things even as a young man.

He did many not so great things for the generations of his own children.

Despite all of that, God still referred to David as “Man after my own heart.”

However, none speak as loud to us as this text. “David served his generation.”

The question is in our goodness and mercy, “can we serve our generation?”

The question is in our faults and failures, “can we still serve our generation?”

Can we still acknowledge, preach, teach God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Can our witness and our testimony remain genuine and influential for others?

Our witness and testimony as a church is to reach our generation for the Lord.

Considering socio-economic, political pressures, the task seems impossible.

Jonathan Edwards said “The obligation of every generation is to understand what God is doing and then do it with Him.”

Reverend Andy Stanley asks me one question that simply wrecks me as I pray.

He asks this question of me and of all generations: “What breaks your heart?”

He framed the question with this statement: “You do not have to change the world, but you do have a responsibility – you have to change something.”

His point was God did not ask us to change everything, but he did give us each particular gifts and passions – it is those passions that pave the road to change.

The moment he asked the question, I knew my answer.

My heart breaks for the coming generations – of my step son, and of his son.

My heart breaks for young, younger people growing up in a culture increasingly antagonistic, negative and downright brutally hateful towards Christianity.

My heart breaks for the next generation and the hostility they face from both the outside and the inside of the church.

Yes, inside the church – their knowledge of the real Jesus Christ of the Gospels.

I want to fight for them.

I want to affirm them.

I want to prepare them.

I want to teach them and even preach to them ….

I want to witness and testify to the real and genuine Jesus Christ to them.

You see, I believe the next generation should receive the church from us better than we found it.

We should prepare the next generation to take the baton and run past us.

Ephesians 4:17-24Amplified Bible

The Christian’s Walk

17 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], 18 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. 19 And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand]. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way! 21 If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him], 22 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].

We have an accountability to God for those future “great clouds of witnesses!”

Handing the next generation a battered and beaten and defeated version of the church we inherited means we fail to add to God’s “great clouds of witnesses.”

Truth is: Investing in the next generation isn’t easy.

Truth is: Investing in the next generation is never going to be easy.

Truth is: Investing in the next generations was never meant to be easy

Truth is: It involves Christ-Like sacrifice.

Truth is: It involves Christ-Like grace.

Truth is: It involves Christ-Like humility.

Truth is: It involves a Christ-Like future-focus.

Truth is: It involves our becoming like Christ Jesus.

Truth is: Jesus has a lot to say about reaching the next generation.

I want to highlight a few of those.

Here are 4 things Jesus tells us about reaching the next generation.

1.) Jesus came down to others. He didn’t expect others to come up to his level.

Salvation and redemption are a product of Jesus refusing to accept equality with God (Philippians 2).

He wasn’t content with his throne in heaven.

He came down to us.

Jesus had more knowledge and power than any person on earth.

Yet he used the power to serve others.

He used the knowledge to reach those who were powerless.

For us to acquire power and knowledge but not use them to affirm, serve and encourage those without it is not only horribly bad stewardship, it is ungodly.

I hear these statements often.

“The next generation needs to practice patience. They need to stop making everything about them. We sat in pews every Sunday and listened to boring sermons. We paid our dues. The next generation needs to do the same.”

Now, does the next generation have selfish tendencies?

Absolutely.

But this is not a generational problem.

It is a human problem.

So, what does Jesus reveal to us about solving this problem?

He comes down.

He empties himself.

He does not tell the apostles to come up to his level.

He gave up everything, humbled Himself – He humbly came down to them.

When the church asks the next generation to give up all their desires and ways to connect with God, we are not effectively modeling the ways, mind, of Jesus.

We are expecting those less mature, less powerful, and less knowledgeable to reach up.

Instead of coming down and engaging the next generation on their level, they must come up to ours.

Truth is: It is selfish pride.

Maybe the next generation is leaving the church because they are exhausted from constantly having to feed those who are already full.

Maybe the next generation is leaving because they are tired of reaching up and conforming to our way of doing things. Maybe the next generation is leaving because the church’s attitude is more self-centered than Christ-centered.

2.) Jesus spoke the language of the culture.

When I was in high school if you wanted to call someone, you used something called a dial phone.

Anyone under 20 or even 30 has no idea what I am talking about.

Today, land lines are virtually non-existent.

Why?

They aren’t the most effective way to communicate.

That title belongs to cell phones.

Cell phones allow us to message anyone in the world instantly, check social media with a click, make phone calls anytime and accomplish virtually any task in life no matter where we are.

Today, if are not using a smartphone, you and I are generations behind.

What does this have to do with Jesus?

Glad you asked. Jesus believed strongly in effective communication.

This is why he spoke in parables.

He didn’t use large “churchy,” academic words when speaking to crowds.

He could have, but he chose not to.

Why? He wanted to effectively communicate.

That is why he used stories.

Stories connected.

Stories were the most effective way to communicate God’s message.

The church should want to effectively communicate as well.

“Why doesn’t the next generation call someone instead of always texting?

Why are they on social media so much?”

Well, the answer is because text messages and social media are the most effective and quickest forms of communication today.

It’s ridiculous to use a dial phone to do business, and it is ridiculous to not embrace the most effective ways to communicate.

So, we can stop throwing up our hands because the next generation does not communicate like we do.

Or we can embrace a new, more effective form of communication.

After all, Truth is: They might have something significantly GOD to teach us.

3.) Jesus did nOt lecture. He loved.

“When it comes to the next generation, we need to stop lecturing them and start loving them like Christ first Loved them.”

I can’t tell you how many “lectures” I received from my dad over the years.

“what were you thinking? You know better than that! here’s why you are wrong, I cannot believe you could ever make such a terrible decision!”

And you know what those lectures did for me?

EXACTLY! Pushed me further away.

Maybe it’s time to admit lecturing the next generation does little to change or influence change within them.

What the next generation needs to know is we are FOR them.

They need to know we love them.

They need to know they will struggle.

They need to know they will fail.

They need to know they will have their share of faults.

But when they know they are affirmed and loved, they will be compelled to get back up and keep moving, they will run toward the cross and not away from it.

When the next generation constantly hears what they did wrong, what message are we sending to them?

I know what message was sent to me: You better not mess up or God will be mad at you. Unless you do things the “right way,” you aren’t accepted around here.

It’s weird.

Jesus seemed to understand better than anyone that lecturing did not serve the ultimate goal or purpose of transforming people.

The only ones Jesus lectured were the Pharisees.

But that’s because they were gluttons of knowledge and power.

They did the very opposite of Jesus.

The Pharisees expected others to come up to their level.

You won’t find an example of Jesus lecturing those aware of their sin.

Instead, you will find Jesus loving them and embracing them.

You will find Jesus speaking life to them.

He did not excuse their sin, but he did not lecture them either.

There is a way for one generation to push the next generation towards God without lecturing them.

Truth is: Just look at Jesus.

Jesus not only came down to those with less power, he invested in them.

He spent his time preparing a group of men to take over after he left.

Jesus knew his time on earth was short, and he knew his mission was larger than his time on earth.

Jesus didn’t come to earth seeking to build an earthly kingdom that wouldn’t sustain after his departure.

He came to build God’s kingdom that would last forever.

Jesus came to prepare people, not allow people to feed him.

The problem with many churches is they aren’t preparing the next generation.

They aren’t concerned with the church after their departure.

“Who cares what happens after our departure? After all, we paid our dues, now it is time for us to enjoy the fruit of our patience.”

If Jesus had the attitude of many church leaders today, the church would be non-existent.

But Jesus did not believe power, wisdom, and title were grounds for others to feed him.

He poured into others.

2 Timothy 4:6-8Amplified Bible

6 For I am already being [a]poured out as a drink offering, and the time of [b]my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free. 7 I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. 8 In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

The goal was for everyone to cross the finish line.

Not just him.

Not just those alive during his earthly ministry.

Everyone.

Jesus came to earth with a future-focus.

He came to earth with a selfless focus.

Jesus knew if the message terminated on him, his mission failed.

The same is true for the church today.

If our infinitely selfish actions and attitudes create an untenable environment is not sustainable for the “great clouds of witnesses” next generations, we’ll fail.

The church is infinitely larger than us.

The church is infinitely more than the here and now.

Again, the next generation is my passion.

I will never give up on them.

I vow to spend more time affirming and loving them than condemning them.

The real and genuine and living Jesus of the Gospels shows us some principles for reaching into every single one of all those “next upcoming generations.”

– I pray we’ll think seriously about them!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us pray,

Psalm 100Amplified Bible

All Men Exhorted to Praise God.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2 
Serve the Lord with gladness and delight;
Come before His presence with joyful singing.
3 
Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, [a]not we ourselves [and we are His].
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 
Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.
5 
For the Lord is good;
His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting,
His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.

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