4Creating a Christian Culture of Intergenerational Discipleship.
Good Morning Friends,
In the Presbyterian Church (USA), education has always been one of the highest priorities of the church’s ministry. It is a moral, meaningful and mandated thing we are to do so that each child in the Christian faith might one day declare Jesus Christ their own Lord and Savior and that each adult might mature in Christ. Here Christian education’s purpose is transformation but we have lost this direction having as a culture chosen consumption instead of relationships as the way to the Promised Land. Now if we are to apply what we have learned in scripture to the reality of the world in which we live, and if we are to use our relationship with Jesus in His mission and service to the Glory of God, we need to take education to a new focus of equipping us all in Creating a Christian Culture of Intergenerational Discipleship.
Scripture: And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4 (NRSV)
17learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:17 (NRSV)
6Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)
6Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NRSV)
19No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.
Genesis 18:19 (NRSV)
It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 (NRSV)
15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NRSV)
Message: Creating a Christian culture of intergenerational discipleship does not have an easy button…it is the easy button. It is the yoke of Christ. It is the Word made flesh sent to transform us as we digest its daily bread led by the Spirit. It is a Psalm and Proverb a day texted to our I-Phone as a gem for daily living. But it is so much more. To be sure, if you don’t want to be transformed, don’t read the Bible. But the heart of it is a relationship with Jesus and so many have no clue what that really is all about. There is much to be said about the benefit of reading the Bible with others sharpening each other to discover the truth in the Word of God, in the person of Jesus and the Glory of God manifested in love. But truly we have not been discipled until we have discipled another. The word “discipled” is not even recognized by spell check. The heart of the matter is to leave something lasting in the lives of others and that is a loving relationship with Jesus. You see, the world is desperately seeking someone to follow. That they will follow someone is certain, but will that person be one who knows the way of Christ, or will he or she be one no better or perhaps worse than themselves leading them only on into greater darkness? This is the decisive question of our plan of life. Here programs fail where relationships succeed. Here culture trumps strategic positioning every day. The relevance of all that we do waits on its verdict, and in turn, the destiny of the multitudes hangs in the balance. Friends we need desperately to learn together to create a discipleship culture of loving relationships… demonstrating our promises to youth made at their baptism. Communicating what is going on in the lives of others. Affirming the responsibility of the local church regardless of denomination to help each generation learn about Jesus by applying the resources necessary to minister to others and motivate them to practice what it means to be a Christians…connecting… reforming…transforming and celebrating the fullness of life in a triune relationship. How in heaven’s name can we do that unless we empower families…unless we disciple others unless we love? How can we engage ministries within the church and community with the transformative goal of developing the total person—body, spirit, and mind in the fullness of Christian love unless we read the Bible with those we hope to help? Friends this is not a hierarchical structure but one of distributive power. It is as my Catholic friends remind me an organizing principle of subsidiarity and solidarity. The dimensions of the spiritual life: in practice, prayer, partnership in parallel ways with the Paraclete must someday be joined together for the love of Jesus shared.
Pray we know what it is to be saved. Pray we listen to the message God has spoken through the Bible. Pray we realize the importance of giving kids a head start that is the right start. Pray we have a sticky faith. Pray we receive lasting grace. Pray we are story-formed by History in His Story. Pray we are transformed to do good works together. Pray we model Gospel living. Pray we learn how to really love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 