Hello brothers and sisters;
I came across a thought several weeks ago regarding Christian ministry and the way we interact between senior and young believers.
I remember in my 20s, 30s to mid 40s I received mentor discipling (late 40s, 50s, 60s on up) from the senior elders regarding our faith. I thought this would last forever. lol!
But now that I'm on the senior side of my faith I notice that I tend to date myself - "when I was young," "years ago," "back when," "I'm old school,"etc...
A good friend of mine, a senior pastor and seasoned Christian with a Shepherd's heart, was sharing his concerns about the direction our Churches are going with contemporary, new trend flavor of worship led by younger leaders. Specifically about what? Basically everything.
I asked him to elaborate and he felt the worship back in the 50s - early 80s had more substance and more meaning in reverence to God, all around. He would like to see the incorporated way Church used to be and how it could go a long way with the younger generation.
I also listened to a young enthusiastic man of God who teaches Bible study to young adults and teens, leads worship music and is praying about enrolling at seminary. He also has a gentle spirit and feels called to become a Pastor one day.
I asked him if his pastoral ministry would have room to exhort the elders? He hesitated and discerned the senior's reluctance to be open to change in the Church.
I asked him to elaborate. He feels the senior elderly pastor, board committees, ushers, choir director want to continue the way worship should be because the new ways water down the worship. This is why he and his wife, both 27 years old, would rather go to a young adult Church where they have the freedom to adapt to new worship.
I'm guilty of expressing the former but my eyes began to open and see the disposition of our younger servants today. I'm meeting more and more younger men and women who have the same zeal for God. I just met a young professor at seminary, younger pastors, musicians and Bible / Sunday school teachers all in their mid 20s. I asked them, what is the biggest problem going forward with your ministry in the Church? They expressed that they feel stifled in their called vision instead of receiving encouragement from senior members.
No matter who we are as Christian men and women, we are to pray and ask God to change our hearts with discernment and wisdom so we can spiritually invest in youngers servants for the future of God's Kingdom.
Elderly men and women of God regarding the love, encouragement and building up of younger men and women Christians;
Psalm 145:4, One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. - ESV
Titus 2:6-8, 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. - NLT
Romans 16:1-2, I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. - NASB
Younger men and women of God regarding the love, exhortation and uplifting of our mentor elderly men and women of faith;
Exodus 20:12, 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. - ESV
1 Timothy 4:12, 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. - NKJV
1 Timothy 5:1-2, 1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. - NIV
Please share your experience and thoughts, and how we can encourage both seniors and young to work together and pass the baton, so to speak, for the future.
God bless you all and thank you.
I came across a thought several weeks ago regarding Christian ministry and the way we interact between senior and young believers.
I remember in my 20s, 30s to mid 40s I received mentor discipling (late 40s, 50s, 60s on up) from the senior elders regarding our faith. I thought this would last forever. lol!
But now that I'm on the senior side of my faith I notice that I tend to date myself - "when I was young," "years ago," "back when," "I'm old school,"etc...
A good friend of mine, a senior pastor and seasoned Christian with a Shepherd's heart, was sharing his concerns about the direction our Churches are going with contemporary, new trend flavor of worship led by younger leaders. Specifically about what? Basically everything.
I asked him to elaborate and he felt the worship back in the 50s - early 80s had more substance and more meaning in reverence to God, all around. He would like to see the incorporated way Church used to be and how it could go a long way with the younger generation.
I also listened to a young enthusiastic man of God who teaches Bible study to young adults and teens, leads worship music and is praying about enrolling at seminary. He also has a gentle spirit and feels called to become a Pastor one day.
I asked him if his pastoral ministry would have room to exhort the elders? He hesitated and discerned the senior's reluctance to be open to change in the Church.
I asked him to elaborate. He feels the senior elderly pastor, board committees, ushers, choir director want to continue the way worship should be because the new ways water down the worship. This is why he and his wife, both 27 years old, would rather go to a young adult Church where they have the freedom to adapt to new worship.
I'm guilty of expressing the former but my eyes began to open and see the disposition of our younger servants today. I'm meeting more and more younger men and women who have the same zeal for God. I just met a young professor at seminary, younger pastors, musicians and Bible / Sunday school teachers all in their mid 20s. I asked them, what is the biggest problem going forward with your ministry in the Church? They expressed that they feel stifled in their called vision instead of receiving encouragement from senior members.
No matter who we are as Christian men and women, we are to pray and ask God to change our hearts with discernment and wisdom so we can spiritually invest in youngers servants for the future of God's Kingdom.
Elderly men and women of God regarding the love, encouragement and building up of younger men and women Christians;
Psalm 145:4, One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. - ESV
Titus 2:6-8, 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. - NLT
Romans 16:1-2, I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. - NASB
Younger men and women of God regarding the love, exhortation and uplifting of our mentor elderly men and women of faith;
Exodus 20:12, 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. - ESV
1 Timothy 4:12, 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. - NKJV
1 Timothy 5:1-2, 1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. - NIV
Please share your experience and thoughts, and how we can encourage both seniors and young to work together and pass the baton, so to speak, for the future.
God bless you all and thank you.