Empowering the Next Generation Through Meaningful Relationships

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of "Because Of"**

Reflecting on the people who have significantly impacted our lives helps us appreciate the journey and the support we've received. Acknowledging these "because of" moments can deepen our gratitude and inspire us to be that person for someone else. Think about the individuals who have played a pivotal role in your spiritual and personal development. These are the people who have shown up consistently, believed in you, and guided you through various phases of life. By recognizing their influence, you can better understand the importance of being a positive force in someone else's life. [31:01]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV): "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Reflection: Who are the key people in your life that have significantly influenced your faith journey? Take a moment to write down their names and consider reaching out to thank them today.

**

Day 2: Consistency in Leadership**

Consistent presence and support can profoundly impact young lives. Larry's unwavering commitment to a small group, despite their immaturity, taught the importance of showing up and being reliable. This consistency can shape faith and character in ways that might not be immediately realized. When you consistently invest time and energy into someone's life, you provide a stable foundation for their growth. This is especially crucial for young people who are navigating the complexities of life and faith. [34:52]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: In what ways can you show up consistently for someone in your life? Identify one person you can commit to supporting regularly and think about how you can start this week.

**

Day 3: The Role of Mentorship**

Barnabas' mentorship of Paul highlights the transformative power of believing in someone and investing in their potential. Even when others doubted Paul, Barnabas stood by him, facilitating his growth and ministry. This teaches us the importance of being a mentor who sees and nurtures potential in others. Mentorship is not just about providing guidance; it's about believing in someone's ability to grow and succeed, even when they face doubts and challenges. [49:32]

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from your mentorship? Consider how you can begin to invest in their potential and support their growth starting today.

**

Day 4: The Importance of Second Chances**

Barnabas' willingness to give John Mark a second chance, despite his earlier abandonment, underscores the value of grace and redemption. This act of encouragement and belief can lead to significant contributions, as seen in John Mark's later work. Offering second chances can be transformative, not just for the person receiving it, but also for the one giving it. It reflects the grace that we have received and allows others to experience redemption and growth. [52:41]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs a second chance? Reflect on how you can extend grace and offer them an opportunity for redemption today.

**

Day 5: Investing in the Next Generation**

Research shows that kids need at least five meaningful adult relationships to develop a lasting faith. At Compass, we prioritize connecting young people with caring adults through small groups. This investment is crucial for fostering a faith that endures into adulthood. By being intentional about building these relationships, we can help shape the future of the church and ensure that the next generation has a strong foundation of faith. [57:06]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you invest in the next generation? Identify one young person you can connect with and consider how you can begin to build a meaningful relationship with them this week.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Summer camp season has been an incredible journey, filled with sleepless nights, physical exhaustion, and the inevitable post-camp sickness. Yet, it has been profoundly rewarding, especially witnessing 92 high school students and their leaders commit to a 21-day discipleship experience using the "Rhythms" journal. This journey involves concentrated prayer, daily walks, scripture reading, and a social media fast, all aimed at deepening their faith.

Reflecting on personal introductions, I shared my background and the importance of pivotal experiences and people in shaping our lives. Instead of dwelling on "what ifs," we should focus on our "because ofs"—the people and moments that have significantly influenced our paths. I encouraged everyone to write down and acknowledge those who have been instrumental in their faith and life journey.

I shared my own "because of" stories, highlighting the impact of my parents, Kurt, and Larry, who each played crucial roles in my spiritual and personal development. These individuals showed up consistently, believed in me, and guided me through various phases of life. Their care and investment were pivotal in shaping who I am today.

We then turned to the story of Paul in Acts 9, emphasizing the transformative power of Jesus and the importance of having a Barnabas—someone who believes in you and supports you. Barnabas played a crucial role in Paul's ministry, mentoring him and standing by him when others doubted his conversion. This mentorship extended to others like John Mark, demonstrating the power of second chances and consistent support.

The message underscored the importance of being a new kind of leader for the next generation. Kids and teenagers need multiple meaningful adult relationships to develop a lasting faith. At Compass, we are committed to connecting young people with intentional, significant relationships through small groups led by caring adults. I invited everyone to consider becoming one of these leaders, emphasizing that the future of the church depends on our investment in the next generation.

###

Key Takeaways

1. T5BJPVfh0o&t=1861s'>[31:01]
2. Consistency in Leadership: Consistent presence and support can profoundly impact young lives. Larry's unwavering commitment to our small group, despite our immaturity, taught me the importance of showing up and being reliable. This consistency can shape faith and character in ways we might not immediately realize.

3. The Role of Mentorship: Barnabas' mentorship of Paul highlights the transformative power of believing in someone and investing in their potential. Even when others doubted Paul, Barnabas stood by him, facilitating his growth and ministry. This teaches us the importance of being a mentor who sees and nurtures potential in others.

4. The Importance of Second Chances: Barnabas' willingness to give John Mark a second chance, despite his earlier abandonment, underscores the value of grace and redemption. This act of encouragement and belief can lead to significant contributions, as seen in John Mark's later work.

5. Investing in the Next Generation: Research shows that kids need at least five meaningful adult relationships to develop a lasting faith. At Compass, we prioritize connecting young people with caring adults through small groups. This investment is crucial for fostering a faith that endures into adulthood.

### [31:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:21] - Summer Camp Highlights
[28:16] - Personal Introduction
[29:33] - The Importance of "Because Of"
[31:32] - Reflecting on Influential People
[33:22] - Personal "Because Of" Stories
[34:52] - The Impact of Consistency
[36:49] - The Power of Care
[39:44] - The Need for New Leaders
[45:14] - Acts 9: The Story of Paul
[49:32] - The Role of Barnabas
[52:41] - The Importance of Second Chances
[57:06] - Investing in the Next Generation
[60:03] - Call to Serve
[64:44] - The Importance of Passing on Faith
[67:35] - Closing Prayer
[69:10] - Final Song and Prayer Partners

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the key activities included in the 21-day discipleship experience using the "Rhythms" journal? ([27:21])
Who were the significant people in the pastor's life that he mentioned as his "because of" stories, and what impact did they have on him? ([33:22])
How did Barnabas support Paul when others doubted his conversion? ([49:09])
What was the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about, and what was the outcome? ([52:26])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to reflect on the "because of" people in our lives, according to the sermon? ([31:01])
How does the story of Barnabas and Paul illustrate the importance of mentorship and second chances in the Christian faith? ([49:32])
What does the pastor mean by being a "new kind of leader" for the next generation, and why is this crucial for the future of the church? ([38:16])
How does the passage in Judges 2:7-10 serve as a warning for the current generation regarding the importance of passing on faith? ([06:14])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own "because of" stories. Who are the people that have significantly impacted your faith journey, and how can you express your gratitude to them this week? ([31:32])
Consistency in leadership was highlighted as crucial. How can you show up consistently for someone in your life, especially a young person, to help shape their faith and character? ([34:52])
Barnabas believed in Paul when others did not. Is there someone in your life who needs a second chance or your belief in their potential? How can you support them this week? ([49:32])
The pastor mentioned that kids need at least five meaningful adult relationships to develop a lasting faith. Who are the young people in your life, and how can you be a meaningful adult relationship for them? ([57:06])
The sermon emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation. What specific steps can you take to become involved in your church's youth or children's ministry? ([01:00:03])
Reflect on the passage from Judges 2:7-10. How can you ensure that your faith is passed on to the next generation in a way that they will know and follow the Lord? ([06:14])
The pastor shared his journey of saying "yes" to serving when asked. Is there an area in your church or community where you feel called to serve but have been hesitant? What steps can you take to say "yes" this week? ([01:02:28])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Think about it this way. If you presently exist, it's only because someone somewhere cared enough to be present in your life. If you presently exist, which you all, I assume, do. If you're hearing me, then you do. You exist. It's because someone somewhere cared enough to be present in your life. You're here today because someone looked at you and knew that you were worth loving, you were worth protecting and defending and guarding and championing." [37:16] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We can't live in the world of what if. As fun as it is to hang out there for a few minutes, we can't live in the what if. What's way more helpful for us is if we take some time to think about not your what ifs, but your because ofs. Your because ofs. The pivotal experiences you had in your life that either reset a course, or set a new direction, or changed a mindset, or even altered your future entirely." [31:01] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We believe that God has called every single one of us in this room with no exceptions to pass on our faith to the next generation in some kind of way. We believe that God has called every single one of us to do that. That every child needs five meaningful adult relationships in their life. We believe that our kids and students need to hear more voices, more testimonies, more life experiences, more encouraging words, more godly wisdom, and that you can offer that to them." [01:01:05] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The best way for a kid or a teenager or really any of us for that matter to know God is to connect them with someone who knows God. That's why what you do is so important. The church has been a part of God's plan for a long time. The best chance someone may have to personally see God is to have a close-up look at the people of the church who follow God." [55:59] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're already asking that question, it probably means that the Holy Spirit is already doing something inside of you right now, prompting you to respond in some kind of way. And here's a good life lesson. If you remember nothing else today, remember this. Don't say no when the Holy Spirit asks you to do something. Okay? God's asked you to do something, you just say yes and you figure it out later. That's how that works." [01:01:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Because of my parents, I've had a foundation of faith in Jesus my entire life. I was raised in a home that knew Jesus, and loved him, and desired to follow him. We were always a part of a church, we worshiped together, we prayed together, we served together. There isn't a place or a moment in my life, if I can think back as far as I can, where I didn't know Jesus. And that is a legit blessing." [33:22] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Because of Barnabas, Paul, because of Barnabas and Paul, John Mark and Titus and Luke and Timothy and because of all of those guys, we have about 60% of what we have as the New Testament right now. And because of that, millions upon millions upon millions of people including all of us in this room have now heard who Jesus is and how to live for him." [54:30] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Research actually tells us that kids need five meaningful adult relationships in their lives other than just their parents. The ones who do are much more likely to have a faith that lasts into their adult years. Kids with at least five meaningful adult relationships in their lives other than just their parents are much more likely to have a faith that lasts into their adult years which is what we want for every next generation." [56:33] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We know how important adults are in the lives of kids and teenagers in our communities. That's why here at Compass we have structured everything we do in our Next Gen Ministries to be about connecting kids and teenagers to intentional significant relationships. They're called small groups. A community of peers who are figuring out who God is, supporting and praying for each other and doing life together under the leadership of a consistent caring person who's guiding them along the way." [57:06] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I know what I'm asking is not easy. Okay. I've I served in kids ministry when I was a teenager. That was crazy. The last 25 years of my life I've been working with teenagers. I know how hard it is. I know it's a time investment. I know it's a heart investment. Sometimes it's stressful. Sometimes it's difficult but it is so worth it. It is so worth it. The next generation will change the world. Our job is to foster that in them." [01:07:02] (-333 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?