1. We should celebrate being a multi-generational church because it gives us an opportunity to be the Body of Christ. We need each other.
If we were all of the same age bracket and all liked the same types of things, we would have a very limited set of knowledge and skills. Romans 12:4-8 says,
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach, if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”There is a powerful bond as we work together as the body of Christ. We need each other. I don't think there is anyone better to reach other teenagers than Christian teenagers. I don't think there is anyone better to reach people in the workplace than Christian workers. And I don't think there is anyone better to reach retired people than Christian retired people.
God has placed each of us into this multi-generational family at Edgewood and we each have a purpose and a role. None of us are too young or too old to make a difference. And none of us can do alone what all of us can all do together.
We are blessed to be a church with a very diverse group of ages. Let's make sure we're taking advantage of that blessing and constantly looking for ways to work together as a team, as one family, as the Body of Christ to do what God's called us to do.
2. We should celebrate being a multi-generational church because it gives us an opportunity to express our unity in Christ.
We all know that we live in a “have it your way” world. We want everything to be exactly how we want it and exactly when we want it. When we work together as a church, we are able to show the world we are different. We are able to say that my God and my church are more important than my preferences.
Music is a powerful way through which we can worship God as a united congregation. In a church with a wide range of ages, you can only imagine that we also have a wide range of opinions and musical preferences. Whether you’re dealing with music issues like me, or any other area of conflict, I want to encourage you to remember the difference between the essentials and the nonessentials.
The essentials are worth fighting for. When it comes to music, our worship must be focused on God and pointing us to God. It must be Biblically-based. We want to focus our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on Him. When those essential items are out of line, then yes, we need to address and correct that immediately.
However, the nonessentials are not worth fighting for and we cannot waste the time God has given us arguing over issues that aren’t really that important. So, in music, these would include whether the songs were written 2 weeks ago or two centuries ago, whether we use organs or drumsets, whether we wear suits or blue jeans, whether it’s a loud song of celebration or a soft, intimate song of worship....etc.etc.etc. All of those and many more are simply nonessential items.
When we argue over nonessential items and demand that we “have it our way”….we confirm to a watching world that we are no different from anyone else.
Sure, we at Edgewood have room to grow in this area, but I am extremely grateful that we are committed to staying focused on the essentials. That gives us a great opportunity to exemplify our unity in Christ.
3. We should celebrate being a Multi-Generational Church because it allows us to continue God’s work for years and years to come.
The choir did a song at the concert called Find Us Faithful. We previously used this song as part of our 50th Anniversary weekend. The message of that song is exactly what I’m talking about here. It shared how “those who’ve come before us have lined the way…their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.” It continues with “O may all who come behind us find us faithful, may the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe and the lives we live inspire them to obey.”
Psalm 78:3-4 encourages us to do that exact same thing.
"What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done."A faithful, contagious church will be excited about taking what they learn and turning right around and sharing that with others. And that passing of God’s message from one generation to the next will allow the church to continue for years and years to come.
I read a quote recently that really surprised me. It said that “90 percent of the ministries that target a younger generation run into trouble after only three years.” If you only target one generation, you are missing so much growth that can come from both sides.
So, we have that opportunity at Edgewood, but even for us, it takes a willingness to step out of our comfort zones and interact with those in various stages of life. I encourage you to get involved in ministries that aren’t simply for one age group. Things like the choir and orchestra. VBS is another great example. It's serving the kids, but there is a great group of teenagers and adults of all ages working together to lead it. Serving side by side is an excellent way to build up relationships and bridge that age gap.
I recently read a book by Chuck Swindoll called Church Awakening. He talked about these exact ideas in his book and offered ideas of an even stronger way that you can accomplish this goal. And that is through mentoring. He said it like this….
“Every Christian needs at least three individuals….someone who has come before us who mentors us…someone beside us who shares our burden…and someone beyond us who we’re mentoring."I think that is such a great challenge. And I can tell you personally that there is SO MUCH power in relationships built through mentoring. About three years ago I approached a gentlemen in our church and asked if he’d be willing to meet with me regularly for some areas of accountability. We initially met just to discuss one or two issues. But, as our relationship has grown and our trust level has grown, he has become a source of immense impact on my life. We discuss spiritual issues, finances, family issues, church issues, you name it. It has been such a blessing to have someone who I can trust who will speak the truth to me in love.
Over the last several months, I’ve also had a great opportunity to work with a high school student on his senior project. He wanted to learn how to lead band rehearsals and conduct an orchestra. Teaching him how to lead rehearsals and conduct has made me take a fresh look at how I do things in our rehearsals. It has helped me to refine my approach by looking at it from a fresh light.
I strongly encourage every single one of you to be praying about where you can find these mentoring connections. Don’t be intimated thinking that you have to have the Bible memorized to make an impact. Take what you do know and USE it. God will take care of the rest. We need people in this body to be willing to step up and say “I want to make an impact on somebody’s life.”
These mentoring relationships and other various ways of continually passing down God’s truths from one generation to the next will allow this church the opportunity to have an impact for years and years to come.
Again, I hope that this encouragement challenges us to not just “be” a multi-generational church, but to celebrate and take advantage of that fact.
