Faith, Dedication, and Nurturing Future Generations
Summary
Welcome, everyone, to this special Reveal Sunday. Today, we celebrate a significant milestone in our church's journey as we move forward with our building project. Our church has been blessed with growth, and we've reached a point where we need more space to accommodate our expanding ministries, including our middle school ministry, AA programs, and various midweek activities. It's a testament to God's faithfulness that our church is bustling with life, not just on Sundays but throughout the week.
Nine months ago, we embarked on a journey to secure permits for our new building. It was a leap of faith, as we purchased the building before receiving the necessary approvals. But God, in His perfect timing, granted us the permits just seven days after our purchase. This miracle reminds us of the importance of faith and trusting in God's plan. Our site plan is now approved, and we're ready to move forward.
Next Sunday, we invite you to join us for a worship night to dedicate the land to God. This dedication is crucial, as it was when we dedicated our land five years ago that doors began to open for our current building. We believe that by dedicating this new space, we will see God's blessings unfold for our youth ministry and beyond.
We've been blessed with generous contributions and cost-saving measures throughout this process. However, we still face financial challenges. I invite you to prayerfully consider supporting this project by fulfilling old pledges or making new ones. This isn't just about completing a building; it's about creating a home for our youth and a place for community and spiritual growth.
In our ongoing series on relationship building, we've explored the importance of nurturing healthy relationships with God, our spouses, and now, our children. Parenting in today's world is challenging, but we can draw wisdom from the book of Ephesians. Paul instructs us to raise our children with love, discipline, and guidance from the Lord. It's about discipling rather than merely disciplining, and leading by example, even when we make mistakes.
As we pray for our children's futures, we trust that God has a plan for them. Even if they stray, we hold onto faith that God can work in their lives, just as He has done for countless others throughout history. Let's continue to pray for our children, asking God to guide them on the right path.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith in God's Timing: Our journey with the building project is a testament to trusting in God's perfect timing. By faith, we purchased the building, and God provided the permits just in time, reminding us that His plans are always on schedule. [12:46]
- The Power of Dedication: Dedicating our land to God opened doors for our current building, and we believe it will do the same for our new project. Spiritual dedication can break through roadblocks and invite God's blessings into our endeavors. [21:30]
- Discipling Over Disciplining: Parenting is about guiding our children with love and wisdom, not just enforcing rules. Discipleship involves teaching, forgiving, and leading by example, fostering a deeper connection with our children. [48:13]
- Honoring Generations: The church thrives on multi-generational relationships. When we honor and learn from those older than us, we create a supportive community that benefits everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. [45:58]
- Praying for Our Children's Futures: Even if our children stray, we hold onto faith that God can work in their lives. Our role is to pray for their futures, trusting that God has a plan and will guide them back to Him. [53:39]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to Reveal Sunday
- [02:30] - The Need for More Space
- [05:15] - The Miracle of Permits
- [08:00] - Dedication and Worship Night
- [12:00] - Cost-Saving Measures
- [15:30] - Invitation to Support
- [18:45] - Relationship Building Series Overview
- [21:00] - Parenting in Today's World
- [25:00] - Wisdom from Ephesians
- [28:00] - The Role of Obedience
- [31:00] - Honoring Generations
- [35:00] - Discipling vs. Disciplining
- [40:00] - Praying for Our Children's Futures
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:1-4
- Proverbs 22:6
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the church's decision to purchase the building before receiving the necessary permits? How did this reflect their faith in God's timing? [12:46]
2. How did the dedication of the land five years ago impact the church's current building project, and what are they hoping to achieve with the upcoming dedication? [21:30]
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between discipling and disciplining children? [48:13]
4. How does the church view the role of multi-generational relationships in its community? [45:58]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the church's building project serve as a testament to faith in God's timing, and how might this encourage individuals in their personal faith journeys? [12:46]
2. How can the act of dedicating land or projects to God be seen as a spiritual practice that invites divine intervention and blessings? [21:30]
3. What are the implications of choosing to disciple children with love and wisdom rather than merely enforcing rules? How might this approach affect the parent-child relationship? [48:13]
4. How does honoring and learning from older generations contribute to the strength and unity of the church community? [45:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to trust in God's timing. How did that experience shape your faith, and how can you apply that trust to current challenges in your life? [12:46]
2. Consider the upcoming dedication of the church's new land. How can you incorporate similar acts of dedication in your personal or family life to invite God's blessings? [21:30]
3. Think about your approach to parenting or mentoring. How can you shift from a focus on discipline to one of discipleship, and what practical steps can you take to implement this change? [48:13]
4. Identify an older person in your life who has been a source of wisdom and support. How can you honor and learn from them in a way that strengthens your relationship and benefits your community? [45:58]
5. Reflect on the role of prayer in your life, especially concerning your children's futures. How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine to support and guide them? [53:39]
6. How can you contribute to the church's building project or other community initiatives, either through financial support or by offering your time and skills? [28:41]
7. Consider the challenges of parenting in today's world. What specific cultural or societal changes have impacted your approach, and how can you adapt while staying true to biblical principles? [35:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
Faith is often tested in moments of uncertainty, and the journey of the church's building project is a testament to trusting in God's perfect timing. Nine months ago, the church took a leap of faith by purchasing a building without having the necessary permits. This act of faith was rewarded when, just seven days after the purchase, the permits were granted. This experience serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans are always on schedule, even when they don't align with our own timelines. Trusting in His timing requires patience and faith, knowing that He is working behind the scenes for our good. [12:46]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you actively choose to trust Him today, even when the outcome is uncertain?
Day 2: The Power of Spiritual Dedication
Dedicating the land to God was a pivotal moment for the church, opening doors for the current building and setting the stage for future blessings. This act of dedication is not just a ritual but a powerful spiritual practice that invites God's presence and blessings into our endeavors. By dedicating the new space, the church believes it will see God's blessings unfold for the youth ministry and beyond. Spiritual dedication can break through roadblocks and align our efforts with God's will, ensuring that our work is not in vain. [21:30]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a project or area in your life that you need to dedicate to God? What steps can you take to commit this to Him and invite His guidance and blessing?
Day 3: Discipling Over Disciplining
Parenting in today's world presents unique challenges, but the focus should be on discipling rather than merely disciplining. The book of Ephesians provides wisdom on raising children with love, discipline, and guidance from the Lord. Discipleship involves teaching, forgiving, and leading by example, fostering a deeper connection with our children. It's about nurturing their spiritual growth and guiding them on the right path, even when mistakes are made. This approach helps build a strong foundation for their faith and character. [48:13]
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from disciplining to discipling in your interactions with your children or those you mentor? What practical steps can you take to lead by example?
Day 4: Honoring Generations
The church thrives on multi-generational relationships, creating a supportive community that benefits everyone. Honoring and learning from those older than us fosters a sense of belonging and continuity. It allows for the sharing of wisdom and experiences, enriching the lives of both the young and the old. This mutual respect and learning create a vibrant community where each generation is valued and contributes to the church's growth and vitality. [45:58]
"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one older person in your life that you can learn from or honor this week? How can you intentionally seek their wisdom and build a meaningful relationship with them?
Day 5: Praying for Our Children's Futures
Even when children stray, there is hope in trusting that God has a plan for their lives. The role of parents and mentors is to pray for their children's futures, trusting that God will guide them back to Him. This faith in God's plan is crucial, as it acknowledges that He is in control and can work in their lives in ways we cannot. By continually praying for our children, we invite God's presence and guidance into their lives, trusting that He will lead them on the right path. [53:39]
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you commit to praying for the future of a child or young person in your life? What specific prayers can you offer for their spiritual growth and journey?
Quotes
"Nine months before we started this process, we had the, we had the opportunity to buy our youth building. But the problem was it was, it was a little risky because we hadn't gotten permission to do it yet. We hadn't gotten permission. And the risk was if we bought a building before we had the permits, it was a possibility. They say no to what our plan was. And we'd have to do something with the building or that we'd have to move it at a different spot at a different date that costs more money. Here's the problem I found or our team found. And we had the opportunity to buy this, the building and save about $80,000. That's ties and offerings to our church. And so we did it. We actually, I made the executive call. We bought this thing on a whim, but here's the big reveal. Here's the thing we celebrate is this is a miracle. This is by faith. We bought this building literally seven days after our transfer of our funds. All of our permits were approved and sent to us. That's pretty amazing. That's pretty amazing. That's miraculous. And I'll say it because by faith, we bought this thing hoping and praying that it would be approved, but that's God's timing. And that's just a constant reminder for me and hopefully for our church that that's how God works and moves in our life. It's by faith that we do these things. And so what you see behind us is this is our approved site plan that we got. I know for a lot of people, this doesn't mean anything, but that little gray building in the middle is where our, building will be placed. It's approved and designed thumbs up from the County." [00:22:56] (100 seconds)
"So here's how there's two ways you can get, get involved in the next couple of weeks. Here's the first way is next Sunday night. We have a worship night and this worship night is to celebrate and worship what God has done, what we believe he's going to do. But then most importantly, you got to show up right at six 30 because we are going to dedicate that land to God. We're going to dedicate that land and pray over our youth ministry. Now, when we started this building process, this is some getting our building up. It was roadblock after roadblock after roadblock. And it wasn't until we actually dedicated the land that something happened. I always say that we're as spiritual as we are physical. Well, something spiritual happened when we dedicated our land five years ago and it opened up a bunch of doors for us to actually begin the project. So what we're going to be doing is next Sunday night at six 30. I want you to meet me here. Rain shine. It doesn't matter. Bring your raincoats and umbrellas dark. It doesn't matter. We're going to go. We're going to pray over. We're going to pray over each corner of that building. We're going to pray that God not only uses that and helps the project go quickly, but also that God blesses our youth ministry, that God blesses our youth pastors. So that's my, my invitation. Come join us next Sunday night at six o 'clock. We'll talk about it next week as well. And then here's the other part is that we've saved a ton of money all the way along the process. I want to tell you what we've done. Obviously we saved about $80,000 buying that building. Ahead of time. We actually had the guy who developed all of the land for this building being built. His name's Brian Menard. Brian has donated his work for all of the land, the land work we need to do. That's going to save us a couple hundred thousand dollars, which is pretty amazing." [00:25:00] (109 seconds)
"And I also know that I am a pastor asking for money and I've asked for money before for this. But the reality is I want to think about it, not in necessarily having to finish a project, but we are creating a home for our youth ministry. We're creating a home where people are going to come and maybe attend a AA meeting for the very first time. We're going to create a home where people can come and gather. We're going to gather in a Bible study outside of a Tuesday night. Those are the types of things that we're going to be doing. So I want to ask you, would you prayerfully consider by faith helping us by filling the gap? And how we do that is there's an actually building fund button that you can hit that and it goes all right to our youth building. And we're going to see that thing. I'm praying that we can have this completely filled in a week. That's my goal. So would you guys pray with me? Let's pray and ask God to provide for our church and provide for our youth ministry. Lord, we're thankful for you. We're thankful that you have provided every step of the way for our church." [00:28:41] (64 seconds)
"Week two, last week was all about marriage, how to build a strong marriage, how to build a strong dating relationship on your faith. And this week, the next layer is we want to talk about parenting and kids and how to do it because we all know how difficult and hard that it is and how much the landscape has changed in the last 5, 10, 15, 20 years from when we were kids to now that we have kids. I was reflecting on this idea because one of the favorite things I like to do when I was my son's age was me and my friend, we'd get on not nice bikes, right? Not these nice specialized bikes that kids have now. I get on a Huffy, a mountain bike. And we would ride all the way into Snohomish. And if you know the Xtapa restaurant in Snohomish, there was a little tiny store there right next to it. It used to be called Vicks Market. And I'd go to there to Vicks and I'd have a five bucks in my pocket and I'd buy Jolt soda and I'd buy Starburst and I'd buy candy bars and I'd eat a bunch of candy. And then I'd ride with my friend all the way back home. Now, this morning I was Googling from where my old house was to where that store is. It was 11 miles one way. So when I was 11 years old, I was riding 11 miles to eat a bunch of candy and then come back. Now, if you were to come to me and say, Brian, would you let your 11 -year -old son ride 22 miles to go somewhere on his bicycle? And I would say, if hell froze over, I might. There's no way." [00:33:46] (108 seconds)
"And it's because like landscape has changed, right? Culture has changed. Now, parenting changes, but also I think there's some of these established principles that we can learn from. And we've been in this book of Ephesians for the last series. It's been actually a lot of fun because Ephesians is a guy named Paul writing to a young church like ours. And he's writing instructions on how to love God. He's writing instructions about how to try and build a healthy relationship with God. And then following immediately the scriptures that we were in last week, the next set of scriptures in Ephesians chapter six, he talks about how to be a parent or how to raise your kids. Now, here's the deal though. I'm a little vulnerable to feel a little vulnerable talking about this because I have young kids, right? My kids have not crossed into teenage years yet. My kids have not crossed into adulthood yet. My kids don't have kids yet. You are already there. And so just know what I want to do today. I want to just walk through the scripture of what Paul tells us and what Paul talks about parenting and kids. And I'm also acutely aware that there are a lot of people here that don't have kids." [00:35:57] (76 seconds)
"Well, one of the things that I also learned in this process for those here today, that are connected to that is that Paul actually talked to them, not about how to raise kids, but rather how we're supposed to be adults, how we, how he's developing us. And as he develops us, it actually impacts the people around us, i.e. our kids. So that's my hope for those that are here today. You're like, well, this sucks. It's talking about parenting. No, I'm actually talking about us. How do we be adults? And so here's what Ephesians chapter, six verse one says, children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord for this is the right thing to do. So I think you start with obedience. That's kind of the groundwork, but I don't know about you. The word obedience lands as well in my life as the word submit landed well last week. You know, I don't like the word obey, right? I buck the system. When anybody tells me anything to do, I just, I don't like the word obey. I don't like the word obey. I just don't like the thought and the concept of having to obey blindly." [00:37:29] (69 seconds)
"And in fact, we're supposed to take the understanding of that word obey in the same way we took the understanding of the word submit last week, meaning that we're supposed to take that within the context of love, forgiveness, and needing God to be a part of every single step of that situation. And when I think about submit again, I think about the fact that like every teen boy struggles, right? When I, when I got into be a teenager, it was like everything my parents said was wrong, not because it was wrong, but because I was a teenage boy, right? And that happens. And the reality is the, the reason why he says, obey your father and your mother, it's because for the most part in January, realities, parents care about their kids, and parents love their kids, and parents want the best for their kids. I know I can speak on behalf of myself and my kids. I want the best for my kids, and so I do what I hope, and I tell them what I hope will make them have the best life that they can. The problem is there's this part of us that pushes back, that rebels." [00:38:51] (68 seconds)
"The law of God supersedes those things, and so I hope you know it doesn't mean we have to blindly obey. What I think it means is understanding in most situations, parents care deeply, parents want the best, and in, I think, the rare situation, if it's unbiblical, immoral, or unethical, we're not called to follow and to listen, but I think that's important, and here's the other aspect to it as well. It's not about parents and kids. Here, what it's about is you as an adult, and me as an adult, asking ourselves the greater question, are you willing to obey God, not outside of parenting at all, in your life? Like, if God's our father, and we're his children, do we trust him with our life? Like, are you willing to say, I'm going to focus my life and my direction on you, God? I'm going to be bold and say that I'm a follower of Jesus today. If somebody, like, that's the type of things where we obey. Are we willing to obey? I think the greater question is not about kids and parents, but rather about our will as adults and God the Father." [00:41:27] (71 seconds)
"Because when you honor your parents, or let's say your parents aren't involved in the picture right now as adults, your grandparents, those that are older than you, when you honor those around you, they invest back into you. And that's what we're going to do. We're going to do that. And it lends itself to that because we know that phrase that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes multi-generations to raise a child. Right? And this is why the church is actually equipped this way. We're the unique organization in the world where there's multi-generations that are part of the church. And when lived perfectly next to each other, the old pour into the young. The young need the old and the old need the young because the old stay young when they hang out with the young. So there's this beautiful, like, relationship that happens. But it does take a village. And I'm able to watch it with my kids' grandparents. They're lucky enough to have both grandparents right now that are a part of their lives. My son, Roman, both grandpas love to fish." [00:43:12] (70 seconds)
"See, God calls us to include the generations because we're going to learn a lot from each other if we're open to it. In fact, he says, things will go well for you. What that means is that you won't make dumb decisions. And he says, you're going to live a long life. What that is, is not for us young people, not for us parents. He says, you're going to live a long life if you're a grandparent or the age of a grandparent investing back into the young. Statistically, grandparents live longer if they connect with young people on a regular basis. It will go well for you. Brian, you're not going to make stupid decisions or less of them. And then you will live a long life. So then, then it comes to the actual only behavioral instruction that Paul gives the church. It's in Ephesians chapter six, verse four. It says this fathers do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. I'd summarize that to just say, what if we could disciple instead of discipline our kids?" [00:46:18] (76 seconds)
"And what would be the differences in what that looks like? Well, I think discipleship looks like this. So when I was a high school pastor, I had a group of high school boys. We let a Bible study. And what we do is every week we get into the Bible together. We talk about life. We talk about how to apply the subject that we were talking about in the Bible. How do we apply it? We would apply it to their life, helping them understand the truth, right? Hey, you really live in that way is not going to help you. Here's what the Bible says about it. And then the next week we come back together. And one of those kids were like, oh man, you know, that thing we talked about last week. We're not supposed to do. Well, I did it this week. This was kind of the feeling and the conversation that we'd have all the time. But in the process of that Bible study, I love them. I forgave. I gave grace to them. But then also, I told him the truth. And I think sometimes I, as a parent, default too much to like discipline. Here's the guardrails, and if you step out of the guardrails, it's no Fortnite. It's no video games. But like, I'm willing to have these conversations with these other kids, but I jumped to conclusions for myself as a parent. Well, the cool thing is, when I graduated all those high school boys, 60% of them walked away from God in college. But most of them have come back around now that they've become adults and had kids and have families, and they attend a church, some here, some in other churches. So that foundation laid is important. But then it says, don't provoke your kids. That word provoke is like picking. I don't know about you, I pick. It's a bad trait, right? There's this bully part of me that I have to tamp down. And Christian will even call me on it sometimes. I'm just picking. If you're a picker, you know. You're pushing the buttons. You know the buttons of all the people around you." [00:47:48] (123 seconds)
"And the Bible says, don't provoke your kids. Don't point and push the buttons of your kids. And here's the deal. It's not saying that we're never gonna do that. I think what this means is, when we do it, be willing to be the first one to say, I'm sorry, and ask forgiveness. I think that's what provoking, don't provoke. I think it just means, hey, lead by example. And the example meaning, you're gonna fail at some point. You're gonna be not a great example. Well, that's your opportunity to ask forgiveness. Give me an example. This last week, I get my kids up. I get them fed and get them out the door to the bus. And my kids are at the age where they can find a reason to fight about air, right? I mean, anything that's out there, they fight about it. Sitting next to each other, they're too close, right? I mean, whatever. And so, I, that morning, for whatever reason, woke up, I'm angry. I'm just in a bad mood. I don't have my coffee. I don't know what it is. And I'm making them their breakfast, and they're just fighting. And they always fight. Nothing ever changes. But for whatever reason, this morning, and I try not to. I know you guys don't ever do it, but I raised my voice. And I didn't just raise my voice, but I just exploded, and I screamed. And my kids sat there looking at me like this, quietly. And then, for the rest of the breakfast, it was quiet. And then, they get into the car 15 minutes later, and we go down to the bus, and I say, I love you. And I think about how awkward this is. But I felt bad about it all day. So then, I went to go pick them up at the bus. And on the way home, I just stopped. I said, guys, hey, I'm sorry. I should not have risen my voice. And it's not like, I'm sorry you guys were fighting. No, I just needed to own my peace and say, guys, I'm sorry. I should not have yelled. And it doesn't happen all the time. But you know what they did? They reciprocated, and they said, man, we should have been fighting. We're sorry, too. Now, I know that's not going to happen all the time, but it was one of those beautiful moments where I just needed to eat my bad part of it. I needed to just ask forgiveness and hope that God would work through it. And for that little moment, it's this little glimpse of hope of like, no, no, no. No, part of this is always me, and I just got to be willing to lead by example in that way. But it's hard to sometimes." [00:49:35] (149 seconds)
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