Generational Christianity

Wrong Motives In Conversion

First generation Christians know sin’s blackness – Acts 2:36-38 – I Corinthians 6:9-11 – Stands in stark contrast to what Christ offers Romans 5:8-10

Wrong Motives In Conversion First generation parents want children to have nothing to do with sin – Rightly so! – Live by Christian values before baptism Can lead to conversion challenges – Children approach baptism in two ways Realize that without Christ there is no hope Way of becoming part of parent’s church

Pursuing Right Things With Wrong Motives Missing purpose of conversion means reasons for defending truth can be lost – Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:2f) Beware of right actions for wrong motives – Zechariah 7:1-10

Pursuing Right Things With Wrong Motives Problems in measuring spiritual growth – Often feelings are tied to status of local church Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. – II Corinthians 10:12

Pursuing Right Things With Wrong Motives Problems in measuring spiritual growth – Often feelings are tied to status of local church – Also danger of measuring by what is NOT done “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” -- Matthew 23:23

And The Next Generation….

Some will be faithful Some will continue family tradition Some will give up on “lifeless” religion “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. – Revelation 3:1

And The Next Generation…. Some will be faithful Some will continue family tradition Some will give up on “lifeless” religion Some will rebel against what is seen as useless so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.– Ephesians 4:14

Breaking The Trend

Always think like the first generation! – I am not a really good person made better by baptism – Sin is sin no matter the generation My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. – I John 2:1-3

Breaking The Trend Personal growth is not measured by local church’s spiritual health – Attendance doesn’t earn merit, it is a privilege – My wants diminish in order to serve others I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

Breaking The Trend My desire for doctrinal purity is not church pride, but a love for the truth The fear of the L ORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. – Proverbs 8:13

What Is Your Motive?