Categories
Mentoring

Just skating along?

For those old enough to remember a time before the advent of smart phones, people used to play games on a board, not a screen or app. Some of my favorite childhood board games included Monopoly, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, Battleship, Stratego, Connect Four, and LIFE.

“Times have changed, however. In 2005, Milton Bradley produced a new edition of LIFE, and this particular version carried the subtitle Twists and Turns. The game board no longer consists of a linear movement from young adulthood to retirement with transitional events sequenced in predetermined fashion. Instead, the LIFE game board now consists of four loops, and one must determine time and time again, in no particular order, which one to enter. Earn it!, Learn it!, Live it! and Love it! are the declarative imperatives for these loops that now serve as the parameters for what it means to play the game of LIFE. Rather than nine career cards and nine salary cards in the previous game, from which a player could at best choose among three, this version has twenty-four possible career cards open to every player as well as the possibility of attaining up to seven promotions within a given profession. Interestingly, the game is no longer played with paper money. Rather, each player is now issued a Visa game card that is zipped through a ‘Lifepod’ monitor in the middle of the board, suggesting that LIFE has been restructured by a mass consumer mandate. Each player travels through the various loops of life, not as a family unit in an automobile game piece, but solo, scooting along on a skateboard unencumbered by a spouse or child. Marriage and child rearing are still optional but far less valued as integral to social personhood. The object of the game is, in case it is in doubt, is no longer a retirement spot at the end of the journey. Instead, the valuation of a player’s life is determined relative to other players by sliding one’s Visa card through the Lifepod at the end of the game and revealing how many ‘life points’ have been earned through skillfully navigating life’s loops.”[1]

Life definitely has changed and it seems board games such as LIFE have become relics from a distant age. But for those of us who have played board games, we recognize the value and relational connection that came from playing with family and friends. After the Columbine shooting in 1999, Josh McDowell wrote and dedicated a book entitled The Disconnected Generation: Saving Our Youth From Self Destruction as a gift to parents and families of Columbine. Coming out at the turn of the millennium, this book was really written twenty years before its time. Josh contrasts the generational gap between Baby Boomers and Millennials with these descriptors: Color TV – Internet, Working Fathers – Absent Fathers, At-home Mothers – Day Care, Women Employees – Women Managers, LP’s – CD’s, Rock-‘n’-Roll – Hip-hop, Long hair – Body Piercing, “Free” Sex – “Safe Sex.” Other than CD’s, I don’t see much today that wouldn’t fit in the Gen Z category.

Life for the next generation can be loopy. Skating around with headphones in, unplugged from the world and real people, life can become isolated and lonely. Students begin to accept any lifestyle and or approve of others, endorse other beliefs or claim no right to judge, personally develop preferences, and think everyone can do what is best or right for them. As in the game of LIFE, money/materials can begin to become what life is oriented around. McDowell writes, “The postmodern culture threatens to undermine our students’ faith and moral character.”

We may not get this new generation to connect to us through playing traditional board games, but we must find ways to connect. Almost twenty years of school shootings since Columbine only reinforces this point. McDowell found six connecting points to help one make this connection and I think they are just as relevant today. He says to give the next generation a sense of authenticity, security, significance, lovability, importance, and responsibility. McDowell labeled these six “A’s” as Affirmation, Acceptance, Appreciation, Affection, Availability, and Accountability.

Things have changed but some things stay the same. The world will be a much better place if we make the time to connect.

[1] Setran, David and Chris Kiesling. Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood, 57.

Categories
Education

If we are just animals . . .

The public education school system has promoted a naturalistic worldview for the past fifty years. If humans are merely byproducts of evolution, if our wills have been stripped of morals, and we are just animals, should a school shooting such as seen in Santa Fe, TX this past weekend really catch us off guard? What are the implications for thousands of students who truly believe what they are being taught? After all, wasn’t this latest shooting incident just another example of an animal pulling a trigger on other animals? For a person who believes there is no God, that we are cosmic accidents, that there is no right or wrong, in his or her own demented mind sees nothing wrong with killing dozens of innocent people.

If we Christians are honest with ourselves, as fallen creatures, we need to admit we all have mental health issues. No one thinks perfectly because no one, except for One, was born perfect. However, there is a big difference between us Christians and the shooter. We who are following Christ may have issues, but we don’t go places killing people because we have Jesus, the living hope, living inside of us. We believe in an afterworld and that our earthly actions have eternal consequences. What the shooter needed was this same hope, this Jesus. What happened this weekend was not the problem. It was the symptom. We don’t need stricter gun control or school security, though both would help at this present time. We need more Jesus! Jesus is still the answer! The gun didn’t fire on its own. Education alone wouldn’t have stopped this young man in his tracks. The person who planned out this massive evil ordeal needed someone to wrap their arms around him and tell him that Jesus loves him. He needed a man, a father, to provide him with life direction.

Quite honestly, I’m surprised we have not had hundreds of other school shootings. It’s been the prayers of many people and God’s grace that has prevented more bloodshed. The thing is none of this violence has to happen. The Perfect One has already shed his blood for our sin problem. Jesus has already died so we can be spared.

If we think the secular agenda is going to stop now that our students are being shot up, we need to think again. Greg Burt wrote an article last year detailing how new California curriculum seeks to transform how children view gender and their sexual identity. The transgender agenda is alive and well. This ideology is now being taught to students from California to Minnesota to D.C., while parents in California are not allowed to opt their kindergartener out of the indoctrination. I guess the inevitable educational outcomes will be manly animals who look like women eventually shooting up she-animals that look like men.

We need a moral compass. We need God and His Word to guide us. Why? One reason is so that we can stay alive, if that means anything to you. God gives us meaning in a world that promotes meaningless. C.S. Lewis was right when he talked about men without chests in The Abolition of Men. Without a true north, men begin to look like women or whatever else they desire to look like. My next article along these lines would have to be titled . . . “if we are just transgender animals . . .” After all, the monkey in the above pic is wearing a pink shirt and I’m not sure whether it is a boy or girl monkey.

If you give a boy a doll, he will treat it like a soldier. If you give a girl a toy truck, she’ll start to decorate it.  This type of normal gender behavior is being re-engineered by our educators into something entirely different? It is a crying shame those who want to send their children to Christian schools have to pay for it. These same parents who make sacrifices in order for their child to get a Christian education at the same time have to pay their tax dollars to support public education that goes against their family values. It is time for some legislation that would allow individuals’ tax dollars to go to their school of choice.

Categories
Hope

Heaven and Hell

We are less than thirty days away from the start of this year’s World Cup! The opening game features Russia, the host country, versus Saudia Arabia. The next generation has taken up with the sport of soccer and I believe that in time, soccer could become our country’s favorite sport (Sorry USA, you didn’t make it this year). Soccer truly is the world’s game.

I have always enjoyed the sport myself, having played in countless recreation, challenge, and college games. Now, I referee the sport and enjoy that aspect as well. Like the Olympics, the World Cup always reminds me of the gospel and God’s love for the nations! I have a shirt with a soccer ball on it that is made up of the flags of many nations. The shirt reads John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is always a good thing to use flag ceremonies, international games, or international news as prayer prompts to remind you to pray for the nations.

But the World Cup also reminds me of heaven. In my last post, I subtly stated that hell has become a forgotten subject. Well, heaven has too. We don’t talk as much about heaven as we should. Heaven is going to be a wonderful place! As a child, I would sing, “Heaven is a wonderful place, full of glory and grace, I want to see my Savior’s face because heaven is a wonderful place.” Jesus is heaven! Heaven will ultimately be about God, not us. His glory will shine through us, but note, the glory will be his. It has to be this way because He is God and we are not. He is the Creator. We are the created. He sent his Son to die for us. We just received the gift. Events like the World Cup are a great time to share God’s love with those who are different than you. When you’re talking soccer with someone, why not sneak in some talk on heaven and how one can go there.

Revelation 7:9­–10: 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

Edward Donnely says, “Throughout eternity, we will have the joy of meeting millions of brothers and sisters of whose existence we had previous been unaware. The multitude is ‘of all nations, tribes, peoples and tougues’ . . .  We will encounter Christians from every century, nationality, and culture. All types of personality will be present. Every kind of experience will be represented. Every believer will tell his or her own story of God’s mercy – each one unique. There will be no monotony . . . There will be no quarrels or squabbles. Theological disputes will have been resolved and personal disagreements will be impossible. There will be no denominations, misunderstandings, ignorance, or pride . . . there will be no cantankerous family members in heaven, for all believers will be holy and admirable. Their personalities will be radiant with Christ-like beauty. To love such beings will be a joy, not a duty.”

Don’t you want to go there? Where the lion lies down with the lamb? Where heaven becomes earth and where even our natural bodies are raised into a better body? I do!

I don’t think we will play soccer 24/7 in heaven. We will need time to come before the Lamb and praise Him too. But, I do think some of us will play soccer!

When I played college soccer, my team played against the NAIA national champions. We only lost 13-1. But what I remember even more was how everyone on the opposite team was speaking a different language, literally. They were from different countries, but they played as one. In Heaven, we will all speak the same language! We will all play for the same team!

Talk to the next generation about hell, but tell them about the glories of heaven too!

Categories
Teaching

All the Same?

Barna recently said that new spirituality is one worldview that the next generation is adopting. New-age religion comes to mind, but I’m sure there is more to new spirituality than just new-age. For instance, perhaps Tom Cruise’s promotion of scientology or other Hollywood actors/actresses’ spirituality of choice fits the bill.

Tom Brady’s favorite book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz is a book that is based on ancient Toltec wisdom. Don has sold over six million copies of this book alone and has received Oprah Winfrey’s vote of confidence. My guess is Oprah has voted for many others in the self-help category and that her own spirituality would be quite varied and quite complex.

The point of this post is not to bash all self-help books, theories, or personas. To the contrary, all truth is God’s truth and there are principals and practices found in both God’s Word and man’s word that at times can be very similar to one another. For example, let’s take Tom Brady’s favorite book along with its four tenets that Tom says provided him a road map for much of his 30’s.

  1. Be impeccable with your word
  2. Don’t take anything personally
  3. Don’t make assumptions
  4. Always do your best

I would submit that Tom has experienced much life-success because he has followed these four creeds. If we all obeyed this set of Toltec wisdom, I think we would all be better off for it. However, I don’t put Toltec wisdom in the same category as the Word of God, which I consider ultimate wisdom. The problem with following other philosophies and spiritualities is they are often a mixture of truth and error. Sure, there may be some devotional material that says things in a simpler way that help us believers understand or clarify hard biblical sayings. But accepting these new spiritualities in whole can cause trouble in other areas of one’s life. Only the Word of God is perfect for reviving the soul. Only the Word cleanses, purifies, and makes one wise for salvation in the faith of Jesus Christ. Only the Word teaches, warns, corrects, and trains so that its students can be made complete.

Now let’s take the Word of God, which is the will of God. Emmerson Eggerichs recently wrote a book entitled The 4 Wills of God: The Way He Directs Our Steps and Frees Us to Direct Our Own. Dr. Eggerichs finds “four passages that identify precisely the will of God (John 6:40, I Thess 5:18, I Peter 2:13­–15, and I Thess 4:3).” The acronym BAGS sums the 4 wills up:

  1. Believe in Jesus Christ.
  2. Abstain from sexual sin.
  3. Give thanks in everything.
  4. Submit in doing right.

Eggerichs’ believes that following these four universal wills of God will help individuals begin to discover the unique will of God for their life. I agree with Eggerichs’ thesis. Obeying the Word of God sure can’t hurt.

If we take a deeper look into Tom’s life, not only do we find a man who says that the four agreements have become “kinda of a mantra for my life.” We also find a man whose personal trainer and life guru coach, Alex Guerrero, promotes “eastern” medical practices. Eastern practices can promote a meditation whereby a person empties him or herself so that they can be filled. Biblical meditation is the opposite. One fills him or her self with God’s Word so they can be emptied of the competing worldviews and philosophies.

Again, some of the eastern medicine might be good. But, if I am looking for a cure-all, I’m not going to waste my time on anything I wouldn’t consider the real thing. Let’s make sure our students know the difference too!

Categories
Teaching

Facts, Feelings, or Fear?

Which word above best describes the way a believer can reach someone from the next generation for Christ? This is a great question. I think the answer would revolve around the best way a believer can reach anyone for Christ.

Let’s start with facts. If knowing the facts were enough, America would be in good shape. Access to the Bible and its content is not a problem, especially since the advent of the internet. Bible facts are true! But, if you’re in love with facts, you’ve missed the point (John 5:39–40). Bible thumpers love the Bible, some more than God himself. I can’t help but wonder if these have ever met the God of the Bible (His name is Jesus)? Giving the next generation a list of facts isn’t going to cause much change. Even more than experience (FOMO is real), the next generation is seeking relationship. We all are because this is how we were made. Life wasn’t meant to be lived out on an island alone.

How about feelings? If this is your answer, I think you’re onto something! Emojis, anyone? These little images provoke feelings. The LGBTQ movement has advanced by appealing to people’s emotions, not because it makes the most sense. We always hear in the church that head knowledge must move six inches down for hearts to change! But, for some reason, feelings have been downplayed in the church. It’s okay to have feelings and it’s definitely okay to express feelings. King David used psalms, prayer, and music to express how he felt to God. And sometimes he was angry at God. How do you feel now??? No matter how you feel, I hope you feel something. Can you feel or have you taken self-control to mean having and showing no emotion??? We think when someone at church gets real demonstrative, they have obviously lost it. No, not necessarily! It’s called emotion, and many of our robotic, zombie-like, cookie-cutter Christians that have been manufactured at church all come out looking and sounding the same. I’m here to tell you it’s ok if you’re different and it’s ok for you to show emotion!!! If anyone should have life, it’s the Christian, who has The Life living inside of them (John 14:6).

If you still can’t tell which answer I’m leaning toward (facts, feelings, or fear), let me say some things that well, might make you feel something! How many times have you told your students that Jesus died for them on the cross, etc…………….. (I know, that’s one too many periods)! Did they look back at you with blank stares because you say it every week (maybe in the same way)? Try this on for size! Next time, ask your students if they “remember the thump as the nails were pounded into His flesh?” Ask them if they remember the look on Jesus’ face when he carried a heavy wooden beam up a hill with a back that was missing skin? Make it real, because it was! Make them feel something, because they should! Let’s not treat the most sacred event in the history of humankind like it’s just another day! They know about the cross, but do they really?

Some of you may be thinking . . . well, we have to make sure our students are not saved by emotion alone. True, and some of our students may not show much outward emotion, but, if the story of Christ doesn’t affect a student to some degree on the inside, I would question if the student heard the true gospel. Whether one expresses him or herself in bodily emotion such as in crying or not, I don’t think one can receive the gospel as truth without feeling something (I should say, someone) on the inside! We don’t just hear Jesus’ call. I think we feel it too! Let me explain with a story where I hope you are moved on the inside. I don’t know if the person in the story ever accepted Christ, but I do know his emotions were stirred. Ravi Zacharias recently asked a university student if God loved him? The student said no, because he was a bad person that did and thought bad things. Then Ravi asked the student “whether, years from now, he would stop loving his child if that child began to think and do bad things.” The student responded that “no, I would continue to love him.” Ravi then said, “If God is a father and you are his child, wouldn’t He continue to love you through both good and bad?” The student paused, his eyes filled with tears, and said, “I guess that makes sense.”

Isn’t love the greatest emotion? The parable of the Prodigal Son is a classic! Bible facts don’t ask you if you love them, but Jesus asks Peter three times the same question I think he asks of you and me, “Do you love me?”

Warning: Let me say some more graphic things to stir your emotions. Christian, you may be going through a hard time, but thank God you’re not going to hell! Speaking of hell, have you forgotten that hell is a real place where people who have not accepted Christ will spend an eternity in? How does that make you feel??? One time, Francis Schaeffer was explaining Scripture to a group of young people in his chalet in Switzerland. A young man spoke up and asked, “Dr. Schaeffer, what about those who have never heard the gospel?” The group waited expectantly for an incisively brilliant answer. But Schaeffer did not speak. Instead, he bowed his head and wept.

I had an old Sunday school teacher (a couple) tell me they would rather talk heaven into a person rather than scare the hell out of them. I agree! The Bible says “there is no fear in love” and that “perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18). There may surely come a time to talk fire and brimstone with people, but I wouldn’t start my conversation with a new acquaintance by saying, “you’re going to hell.” We need to be winsome when sharing Jesus and we don’t need to be the ones freaking out. To quote all the great rappers (and I’m not one), “Do you feel me?”

Categories
Next Generation Ministry

Ready, Get Set, GO!

My church recently took up prayer requests. A teacher (actually, me) raised his hand to offer a praise that school was about to end in 20 days! My praise was followed up by a prayer request from a grandmother that school was about to end in 20 days. Did you know that one out of five grandparents are taking care of either their grandchildren or adopted kids today? That’s the new reality. Either way, parents/guardians and grandparents all know that . . .

Summer is coming (which means students are returning home). What happened to the Spring?  I just flipped on the air conditioning! In the South, nothing beats the heat . . . and a nice cup of lemonade. Swimming pools, fishing holes, water parks, and lakes—give me anything with water, right! And don’t forget to turn on the fans! I know . . . It’s hot!

It’s hot, school’s out, and some things never change. The next generation will still be asking their parents/grandparents what they can do and if they can go to  ­­_________________.

Summer time is always a next generation minister’s busiest time of the year. But it is also a time where God often moves powerfully in the lives of students!

Vacation Bible School is still a great tool for reaching children for Christ! Many churches have stopped doing VBS and do their own outreach event or children’s camp. Last I heard, 25% of all church salvations happened at VBS. Statistics have proven youth who go to church camp often have stickier faith, meaning they are more likely to stay in church once they graduate. Students often use the summer to go on mission trips or conduct local mission projects. Backyard Bible studies and one-day summer events using a party trailer are also popular summer church events.

I always liked doing what I called the “1+1” philosophy of summer-time student ministry. Every week of the summer, I would offer a mission activity (nursing home, outreach, yardwork for the elderly, etc.) followed up in the following week by recreational/fun activity (movie, ice cream, ballgame or fun park). Only students who participated in the mission activity could participate in the fun activity. Why did I consider this approach to summer ministry important? Let me share a story with you . . .

Last week, I attended a summer camp informational meeting. I sat next to an older friend (old enough to be a grandpa) who shared with me that when he went to summer youth camp, he had to memorize 300 Bible verses before the camp would accept him. He would literally spend all year memorizing Scripture so he could go to camp. The flip side of this account is that the camp was free. It’s the opposite today. Today, you don’t have to memorize any Scripture, but if you have $300, any camp will take you. We’ve gone from 300 verses to $300. Which camper do you think grew more spiritually? It might not always ring true, but I would say nine out of ten times, it’s the camper with more buy-in.

These students learn life lessons and tend to appreciate the overall experience more. Many students today work church fundraisers so they can afford to go to summer camp. It’s the same principle. I know many churches do not believe in fundraisers and that’s ok. The question I would ask your church is, “what are you doing to prepare your students spiritually for camp?” It’s important you take time to spiritually prepare students for camps/mission trips, but I think it’s equally important that you take time to reflect on what happened once you get back to church from camp.

Camps and mission trips are learning experiences. The more time you spend preparing your students for the impact to come and the more time you spend with students evaluating the impact that happened, the better. In other words, what now? How are you going capitalize at church and in your local community with the transformation that just took place in the lives of your students? Students need to have a plan, but better yet, they need to be the ones to come up with the plan. Next generation pastors, Set your summer events up, Go, and Then break them down! Not only will your students grow from the experience, your mindset on summer ministry will have likely changed forever!

Categories
Uncategorized

Current Issues in NGM

When you work with teenagers, you really get a glimpse into the impact a future generation will have on the world when they become adults. Older generations used to study the Bible in class and get in trouble for chewing gum. My generation saw an increase in teenage pregnancies and homosexual behavior. Today, students are having to manage school shootings and identity crises. Boy, we really have progressed as a society, havn’t we?

There were people on both sides of the “Never Again” movement. There’s nothing wrong with students advocating for stricter gun laws, but some thought these teens went too far. Why? Politics, of course. Politics has become such a divisive issue in our country. More on this later…

For the most part, I stopped watching TV about twenty years ago. Sure, I watch sports, news, and movies, but I really stopped watching television shows once reality tv hit the scene. When the family shows stopped coming on, I tuned off. I never really got into Seinfield, Frazier, Friends, so I never made it to Survivor, Lost, CSI, etc. Many of my friends enjoyed these shows, but I just wasn’t interested. Another show I did not pay much attention to for the first ten years of its existence was American Idol. However, I finally gave in and began watching occasionally. This year, I have become hooked.

You may be the opposite of me and stopped watching American Idol years ago because you grew bored with it. But for those of you who still enjoy watching the show, I want to use a person on this year’s show to illustrate a teaching lesson. Up to this point, I think the best singer on the show is Ada Vox. Here’s what we know about Ada. Her real name is Adam Sanders and he is from San Antonio, TX. He is a waiter by day and a drag queen by night. He/she says, “Mr. Adam is the base of everything that I am. That’s just who I am and what I do every day of my life. Ms. Ada is kinda of the outer exterior, is a personification of the diva in Adam.” Adam created Ada about three years ago and has auditioned for American Idol 13 times.

When I was in high school, I sat beside a homosexual girl. If I was in high school today, chances are I would be sitting beside a transgender boy or girl. Did you know that Facebook has 71 gender options one can choose from? WOW, we really have come a long way from the two options of male and female. Simon Milner, one of Facebook’s Policy Director’s says, “By challenging the gender binary, Facebook will finally allow thousands of people to describe themselves as they are now and it will allow future generation of kids to become truly comfortable in their own skins.” What I say to you today is really old news, but did you catch that line, “future generation of kids.” How many more gender options are to come???

If you are working anywhere with the next generation, you can bank on having to deal with the gender issue. Here’s how I deal with it. Let’s take Ada/Adam for example. I don’t discriminate. American Idol is a singing contest. Though I don’t believe the Bible approves of Ada’s lifestyle, I would still vote for Ada because I think he/she is the best singer in the competition. Now, I might change my mind, because the competition is not over. But today, I certainly would not deny Ada the award for best singer. Why? Because American Idol is a singing competition, not a lifestyle competition.

Here is how the political issues of our day coincide with the gender issues of our day from a Christian perspective. In the political landscape, the left and right are not able to sit down with one another and have a real conversation. Between all the name-calling and yelling, nobody’s voice is heard. In other words, we have lost our ability to communicate with one another as humans. So, for us Christ-followers, we must first show the world that friendly communication is possible. Two sides might not agree with one another, but they certainly can sit down, be polite, and hear each other’s point of view. This is why men and women are no longer able to communicate with one another. It’s not just because of the “Me Too” movement. This is why many are still not happy with the results of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. We have not made time or space to give ear to what each side is really saying. Church, we must listen to God, but we also need to be able to hear what others are saying. Christ-followers must be able to sit down and have conversations with the LGBTQ community, students who are scared they might not walk out of school alive tomorrow, and blacks who feel that policemen are not doing them justice. These are real concerns. The shouting and name-calling must end. It is time we get to know and understand each other so we can begin to heal these wounds.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Would you be willing sit down with Ada and have a one-on-one conversation with her? I would! Not to tell her all about what she is doing wrong, but to first listen to her and to understand her. What is her background? Did you know she had brain surgery at 8 years old? What is her story? Would you be willing to allow her to touch you? Or would you treat her like a leper? Do you believe God’s arm is too short to save the transgender? I don’t. Yes, you may be uncomfortable at first, but ask God for strength. He will provide what you need so that these conversations that need to happen can take place. If God’s people won’t stand up and be Christ to a lost and dying world, who will?

Categories
Mentoring

Ready Generation Three

A movie I’m sure you will hear your students talking about soon, if not already, is Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. The movie has a few inappropriate words/scenes, but overall, I loved it. It’s a futuristic type movie whereby the virtual and real-world’s crossover into one. I won’t give away the entire movie, but the ending suggests a balance between worlds while maintaining the idea that nothing beats the real thing.

I think this movie becomes an instant classic. Spielberg is pure genius in that he subtly says something without saying it. In other words, you have to figure it out for yourself. Let me give you a few examples. Spielberg’s classic trilogy, Back To The Future is spaced out to be thirty years apart with the years 1955, 1985, and 2015 all playing prominent roles. Spielberg begins Ready Player One in Columbus, Ohio in the year 2045. In other words, what we have here is 3-4 generations being represented. Remember this! But I also think we may have something more. Is this the start of a new trilogy? I could see Ready Player 2 beginning in the year 2075 and Ready Player 3 setting the scene in 2105.

Another example of Spielberg’s creative brilliance surfaces when he gives the Iron Giant a significant role in the movie. Before this movie, the Iron Giant was not a well-known commodity, except to his fans. That’s not the case anymore. Everyone wants to know more about the Iron Giant. Overnight, the Iron Giant has become a superstar!  I also thought it was ingenious to allow space for Goro, the DeLorean, and Big Foot (my favorite monster truck of all-time) to make appearances in the show. I never had a dull moment. The experience was more like watching a game  play out on the big-screen, rather than just watching a movie. Two for the price of one! I walked away asking myself, if I could be any avatar, what would I be?

Why did I tell you to remember “3-4 generations”? Unlike Spielberg, I won’t leave you guessing on your own to figure it out. It’s because of Deuteronomy 6:9-10 – “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

You need to understand this scripture. What you choose to do today does affect you, but it doesn’t just affect you. If you have a family, your choices are affecting 3-4 generations down the line. If you don’t have a family, your choices are either positively or negatively affecting somebody’s future, whether that’s a co-worker, boss, friend, etc.

Let me give you an example from the world of health. Doctors recommend that in drinking water, you daily drink (in ounces) half your body weight. So, if you weigh 200 lbs., you should drink 100 oz. of water every day. I met a guy yesterday that drinks seven Mountain Dews a day. This young man looked healthy, but statistics prove that ten years from now, the compounding effect of this man’s daily habit could lead to him becoming a diabetic, etc. I won’t go through all the possible disastrous consequences for this individual. My point is simply to say that this young man’s children are watching what he consumes. This could easily become a generational cycle whereby his family’s families for generations to come do not drink an adequate supply of water. I do believe that due to bad health choices, a believer can prematurely put him or herself in heaven.

I once heard a pastor say, “what parents do in moderation, their children will do in excess.” Though this statement may not always ring true (generational cycles can be broken), the general principle is valid. What are the spiritual implications of such a principle? We see the implications around us every day. Take the popular tv show Roseanne, which began airing in 1988 and just this year (30 years later) has premiered yet again. The world has gone “goo-goo” and “ga-ga” over the revival of Roseanne and her family. Over 27 million (this includes delayed viewers) watched the show’s premiere in its first seven days. The show begins with the Dan and Roseanne trading prescription pills, progresses to the couple taking care of their gender-fluid grandchild, and ends with a gift of pot-pourri (as opposed to potpourri). I seriously doubt any of these items were on the show thirty years ago and they probably won’t be on the show thirty years from now (a sad commentary).

So, what is the church to do? I think everything begins and ends with discipleship. As I’ve said before on this blog, our students need mentors who will guide them spiritually and teach them life-skills. Think Paul-Barnabus-Timothy. Students need a spiritual father/mother, an older, seasoned, and schooled man/woman in life to raise them up. Students also need a Barnabus, a peer who will keep them accountable, won’t gossip, and will love them through all the ups and downs. And then students, who are the Timothy’s, can start this discipleship cycle all over again by mentoring those who are younger than them! We’re not just affecting individuals. We’re impacting generations!

Categories
Gospel

Gospel for the Holidays

Most churches capitalize on the holidays by hosting events such as a Christmas singing tree, a Trunk or Treat, or an Easter egg hunt. The reason for such events is to present the gospel to people who might not come to church otherwise. CEO “Christians” probably need to re-hear the gospel as well, that is “Christians” who attend church on Christmas and Easter Only.

This past Halloween, I was close to writing a post entitled, “Tract or Treat.” I have always liked to use this holiday in the Fall season to pass out gospel tracts while passing out candy treats. Whether it’s a “Bash at the Beach” or a “Day at the Park” (July 4th), churches should use events on holidays to attract church member and non-member alike.

Since we are a couple of weeks away from Easter, I would like to give you a simple gospel presentation that I created which you may use to present to children and or youth at your Easter egg hunt event.

Besides all the eggs on the church lawn that are filled with candy, I am going to have a few prize eggs with a theme/verse inside. We call our hunt a “Search for the Truth” hunt. There will be four prize eggs with the themes: (1) Creation, (2) Fall, (3) Rescue, and (4) Restoration. As children open their eggs, I will ask children to find out who has the prize eggs, starting with the “Creation” egg. I will move down the line, presenting the gospel as I go.

Easter eggs are beautiful, aren’t they? Have you ever seen a real Easter egg, spiffied all up with various colors? Where do you think eggs come from? Who created all the colors that we have? Who gave man artistic abilities to the point where he could paint such an egg? GOD (“Creation”). God made us and we are more beautiful to him than any Easter egg we could imagine.

But what would you do, if you take the most beautiful Easter egg you can think of, and accidentally drop it on the ground. Crack! Eggs have to be handled carefully or else. Like a broken egg, our lives have been ruined because of sin. We have messed up and made a mess and left it on the floor for someone else to have to clean up. (“Fall”) ­– We need a Savior!

Ever heard of the personified egg, Humpty Dumpty? I’m sure you have . . . “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again.” I mean, what man can fix an egg once its broken. Sure, you can try to put the yoke back in a taped-up shell, but the cracks will still show. And you probably only got half the yoke back it. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t do it . . . why think you can? Only Jesus can clean up our mess. Only Jesus can fix our broken lives. Only Jesus can put us back together again. (“Rescue”)

And when he does, we look like that beautiful Easter egg that we started off with. No cracks, no scratches, just a masterpiece. Let God do to you what no man can. (“Restoration”)

This is a simple way to present the gospel to the next generation in a way that they can understand. Use the holidays, use every day to re-present the good news!

Categories
Next Generation Ministry

What is working?

Next generation ministry is all about parents, leaders, and students. It’s also about the local church, God, and reaching the community. So much ink has been spilt over the numbers, percentages, and statistics of the the next generation straying or leaving their church or their faith.

Granted, this is a problem. But, in looking for a solution, one must first start with the question, “What is currently working?” Recently, my watch stopped working. Now, I don’t wear watches all that often, but I do on occasion. There was nothing wrong with the band, case, dial, crown, or lugs. All the watch needed was a new battery. So, after a trip to the watch store and spending $10, my watch was up and running again.

Steve Parr recently wrote a book entitled, Why They Stay: Helping Parents and Church Leaders Make Investments That Keep Children and Teens Connected to the Church for a Lifetime. The book is filled with practical advice, but above all, the books tells the church what is working! Steve identifies fifteen items:

  1. Young adult repented and believed in Jesus as a child or teen
  2. Young adult was baptized as a child or teen
  3. Young adult had good relationships with both parents while being raised
  4. Young adult was not a strong-willed child. *Note: Steve clearly notes that strong-willed children can and do stay in the church, but that extra guidance needs to be given to parents with children that have this temperament.
  5. Parents were balanced in their disciplinary style. *Note: think instruction/correction instead of punishment/control.
  6. Parents stayed together. *Note: It was much harder for teens to stay in church as a young adult than students who experienced divorce as a child.
  7. Parents/students were not separated during the worship service.
  8. Pastor was liked by children and teens.
  9. Church had a strategic student ministry with a schedule of activities.
  10. Parents actively served in the church as opposed to just attending.
  11. Church had a ministry geared toward college-aged young adults.
  12. Young adults attended college and graduated. *Note: This stat is not meant to discriminate against those who did not go to college. It’s just what the research revealed.
  13. Church helped college-aged young adults connect to a local church and campus ministry whether the student stayed at home or not during his or her college-aged years.
  14. Students held a high view of Scripture.
  15. Students had made a personal commitment to stay in church and their faith became rooted in a personal experience with Jesus Christ.

See, there is a lot that is working! Don’t throw in the towel just yet. Being a Christ-follower is not for the faint of heart. Wimps and quitters need not apply. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. You are living in perilous times, but God has promised to be with you in this challenging task to reach the next generation!

Jana Magruder also recently wrote a book describing what parents can do the influence the long-term spiritual condition of their kids. Jana’s book, Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith goes right along the lines of Steve’s book. Jana lists these nine positive influencers of parents:

  1. Parents participated in missions trip as a family as their kids were growing up.
  2. Parents participated in ministry or service projects with their kids as they were growing up.
  3. Parents frequently shared Christ with unbelievers as their kids were growing up.
  4. Parents personally read the Bible several times a week or more as their kids were growing up.
  5. Parents encouraged teen children to serve in the church.
  6. Parents typically asked forgiveness when they messed up as their children were growing up.
  7. Parents encouraged their children’s own unique talents and interests as they grew up.
  8. Parents attended churches that emphasized what the Bible says as their kids were growing up.
  9. Parents taught their children to tithe as their kids were growing up.

Dear parents and leaders, you can accomplish the task of seeing the next generation come to faith in Christ while staying committed to both Jesus and his church! I know because it has been done before! There’s nothing wrong with looking for new methods to accomplish the same task. Just don’t forget to use what has worked in the past.

Or maybe, you just needed your battery re-charged!