As the Church, as Families, and as Individuals…

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

The 17 Minutes that DIVIDE us…. Same building Same message Same media Same announcements Etc…

I. “Just the Facts…” (2013 Center Survey) Question 13: If you began attending ESC sometime within the past five years, have any of the following played a significant role in attracting you? (Check all that apply) TOP 3 Relevant Biblical teaching…..64.3% The Worship Style… % Children’s Programs….54.8%

I. “Just the Facts…” (2013 Center Survey) Question 5: Rate the effectiveness in the following areas (High/Average/Low) Providing multigenerational worship – High (61.3%); Average (33.7%); Low (5%)

I. “Just the Facts…” Conclusion: Inadvertently we have developed into two separate congregations, with limited interaction between generations. Therefore, we are minimizing the positive strengths that a three generational body of believers can afford to all generations, both in mutual encouragement and in outreach to our community.

II.The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) A. Transmission of Truth NT example – Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14,15) OT example – Psalm 145:4a “One generation shall praise your works to another…”

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) B. Mentoring – Life Experiences… Jethro (Father in Law)/Moses – Exodus 18:13-23 Paul/Timothy – 1 Timothy 1:2 Older to Younger Women – Titus 2:3-5 Personal Example – Grandfather/Grandson…

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) Walton M. Detweiler - “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children….” Proverbs 13:22a - “The memory of the righteous is blessed….” Proverbs 10:7a

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) C. Unity Principle 1. Pleasant Environment – Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” 2. Witness to Christian Truth – John 17:20-23

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) “We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians.” (Francis A. Schaeffer on John 13:35; 17:21)

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) D. Energizing, encouraging ministry of the young… OT example – Job 42:16 NT example – 2 John 1:4 “To have CHILDREN in the group is highly appreciated by the residents.” – ESC Nursing Home Ministry

III.Something Greater…. A. Musical tastes/preferences – cannot divide us! That is why we are going to Identical Services B. Who is the next generation? Principle – older sacrificing for younger… That is why our music in the large group gathering will be ‘contemporary’

Something Greater…. C. Will you be (continue to be) the “spiritual grandparents”, the “spiritual parents” for those who enter the doors of ESC? Psalm 92:12-15

Something Greater…. Donald W. Detweiler

Judges 2:10 “All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor the work which He had done for Israel.” Something Greater….

The 17 Minutes that DIVIDE us…. I.“Just the Facts…” II.Value of Generations III.Something Greater

“In the church at Antioch the Christians included Jews and Gentiles and reached all the way from Herod’s foster brother to the slaves; and the naturally proud Greek Christian Gentiles of Macedonia showed a practical concern for the material needs of the Christian Jews in Jerusalem. The observable and practical love among true Christians that the world has a right to be able to observe in our day certainly should cut without reservation across such lines as language,

nationalities, national frontiers, younger and older, (emphasis mine) colors of skin, levels of education and economics, accent, line of birth, the class system in any particular locality, dress, short or long hair among whites and African and non-African hairdos among blacks, the wearing of shoes and the non-wearing of shoes, cultural differentiations and the more traditional and less traditional forms of worship.

The Value of the Generations (Family/Church) Francis A. Schaeffer on John 13:35; 17:21 Excerpts taken from the mark of the Christian, IVP, “We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians.”