WHO WILL TELL THE CHILDREN?  

 

HOW DOES THE CHURCH TELL GOD’S STORY TO THE NEXT GENERATION? 

JESUS COMMANDS US ALL TO “GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES”. ARE YOU ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DISCIPLE-MAKING? 

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO RAISE UP A GENERATION OF JESUS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE LOCAL CHURCH?

EQUIPPING THE CHURCH FOR

INTENTIONAL MINISTRY FOCUSED ON RAISING UP A GENERATION OF JESUS MEN AND WOMEN

Matthew 28: 18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“Every member of the covenant community ought to feel, every hour of the day, that, next to making his/her own calling and election sure, nurturing the next generation is the end for which he/she is kept alive by God. This is our task on earth! Nothing is more important. What a church’s covenant children become is what that covenant community will become.” Louis Berkof

TRANSFORMING CHILDREN INTO SPIRITUAL CHAMPIONS

Results of a 2-year study of the“evangelical” church in America by George Barna show:

93% of young people consider themselves to be Christian by age 13 35% are “absolutely committed” to the

Christian faith 4% affirm orthodox beliefs This study is now 5 years old and the

numbers are still declining 75% of 15 year-olds are leaving the church

BREAKDOWN OF GENERATIONS

THE BRIDGER GENERATIONby Thom Rainer

Builders (pre WWII) 65% Boomers 35% Busters 15% Bridgers 4%

(page 169)

John Piper (World Magazine)

“America is now one of the top four nations in the world with the largest unchurched population.”

TRANSFORMING CHILDREN INTO SPIRITUAL CHAMPIONS

Research summary:If you want to have a lasting influence upon the world (or the church), you must invest in people’s lives; and if you want to maximize that investment, then you must invest in those people while they are young.

MALACHI 4:6 LUKE 1:17

PRESENTING CHRIST TO CHILDRENCan we effectively implement Deuteronomy 6

in this culture at this time?

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you

walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

THINK ORANGE – REGGIE JOINER

SIT IN YOUR HOUSE…………..MEAL TIME

Formal Discussions –Teacher - Establish Values

WALK BY THE WAY.........DRIVE TIME

Informal Dialogue – Friend - Interpret Life

LIE DOWN…………...BED TIME

Intimate Conversation – Counselor - Build Intimacy

RISE………………MORNING TIME

Encouraging Words – Coach - Instill Purpose

Producing a Kingdom Disciple…

By the Word and the Spirit What is a Kingdom Disciple?

One who has…

A Heart that loves King Jesus.

A Mind that thinks like King Jesus.

A Life that follows and

serves King Jesus.

Practically speaking, what does that look like?

Can we expect to see a fourteen year-old who…

LOVES JESUS LOVES HIS CHURCH

LOVES HIS WORD SERVES HIS PEOPLE NEEDS HIS PEOPLE

Can we expect to see a fourteen year-old who…

TRUSTS JESUS IN TRIALS FINDS STRENGTH IN ETERNAL SECURITY

RECOGNIZES THE ENEMY AND HIS SCHEMES

LONGS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND DEED

PRAYS CONTINUALLY THAT THESE TRUTHS MAY BE CERTAIN IN HIS LIFE AND IN THE

LIVES OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

LUKE 6:40Any student when fully trained will be like his

teacher.

Who are we that they may follow our example as

kingdom disciples?

one who LOVES JESUSHis name must be ever on our lips

as we lead little children to worship Him in spirit and truth.

one who LOVES JESUS’ CHURCH

We must know the children and show love toward the children in our church.

one who LOVES THE WORD

We must love the Word ourselves and believe

in its power unto salvation.

one who SERVES HIS

PEOPLEOur children must be trained to come alongside us in ministry

opportunities at the earliest age possible.

one who NEEDS

THE BODY

We must serve them well in word and deed so they may develop a healthy

reliance upon God’s people.

one who TRUSTS HIM IN TRIALS

Are we telling our God

stories so that our

church’s children are

continually seeing

proof of His faithfulness and sufficient grace?

one who FINDS STRENGTH IN ETERNAL SECURITY

Are we giving very intentional gospel presentations? Do they witness our own delight in the surety of an eternal heavenly home?

one who RECOGNIZES THE ENEMYAND HIS SCHEMES

We must not be afraid to

name him and point out

his antics…

To pray against him.

*Lord’s Prayer

one who LONGS TO INTRODUCEJESUS TO THE WORLD…

IN WORD AND DEED

Are the children following our lead as we passionately take the Gospel outside our church to the community and the world?

one who PRAYS CONTINUALLY THAT THESE THINGS MAY BE SO

Are we praying the Lord’s prayer on Sunday morning only?

Lord, teach us to pray.

Martin Luther - A SIMPLE WAY TO PRAY

OUR FATHER …WHO ART IN HEAVEN …

HALLOWED BE THY NAME …THY KINGDOM COME …THY WILL BE DONE …

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD …FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE …

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION …DELIVER US FROM EVIL …

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, POWER, AND GLORY FOREVER

PSALM 78:8To reach the next generation with the truth…to

truly make kingdom disciples…We must become a visibly repentant generation of

family and church leaders.

PRAY that God will raise up

kingdom disciplesIn this church

In this decade

In our generation and the next

2020 VISION Accomplished?

Youth Ministry would be…

youth involved in disciple-making ministry

being trained by example and experience

2020SHARE THE VISIONFirst Presbyterian Church Augusta, GAIn the next decade…Will you raise up a generation of Jesus Men and Women?

Ephesians 3:20-21(The Message)

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within

us.

   Glory to God in the church!    Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

   Glory down all the generations!    Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

2020 Vision

Oh, yes!