Nurturing the Next Generation: Joy, Communication, and Authenticity
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the critical topic of how to lose the next generation, both within our individual families and our larger church family. The focus was on creating environments that either nurture or discourage our children. We began by discussing the dangers of a rigid and overly strict environment that stifles courage and confidence in children. Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:21 was highlighted, urging parents not to provoke their children to anger, as this can lead to discouragement and a loss of confidence.
We then transitioned to the importance of incorporating joy and grace into our homes and church environments. Proverbs 17:22 was cited to emphasize the value of a cheerful heart and the detrimental effects of a gloomy and sad atmosphere. Personal anecdotes were shared to illustrate the importance of balancing discipline with moments of grace and laughter.
Next, we discussed the significance of open communication. Creating an environment where children feel safe to express their thoughts and questions is crucial. The sermon stressed that as long as children are talking to us, there is hope and a connection that can be nurtured. Psalm 1 was referenced to highlight the blessings that come from rejecting ungodly advice and finding joy in God's law.
The sermon also touched on the importance of authenticity in our faith. Children have a keen sense of detecting hypocrisy, and it is vital for parents and church leaders to practice what they preach. Jesus' warning in Luke 12:1 against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees was used to underscore this point.
Finally, the sermon concluded with a call to action for the church to be a safe and welcoming place for children to discuss difficult topics. The vision for a youth center was shared, emphasizing the need for a third place where children can find support and guidance outside of their homes and schools.
### Key Takeaways
1. Avoiding Rigid Environments: Creating a home or church environment that is too strict and rigid can stifle a child's courage and confidence. Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:21 warns against provoking children to anger, as it can lead to discouragement. A balanced approach that includes grace and understanding is essential for nurturing a child's growth. [02:37]
2. Incorporating Joy and Grace: A cheerful heart is good medicine, as stated in Proverbs 17:22. Homes and churches should be places of joy and laughter, not just rules and discipline. Balancing moments of grace with discipline can create a nurturing environment where children feel loved and valued. [09:24]
3. Open Communication: Ensuring that children feel safe to express their thoughts and questions is crucial. As long as they are talking to us, there is hope for maintaining a strong connection. Psalm 1 emphasizes the blessings that come from rejecting ungodly advice and finding joy in God's law. [14:46]
4. Authenticity in Faith: Children can easily detect hypocrisy. It is vital for parents and church leaders to practice what they preach. Jesus' warning in Luke 12:1 against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees serves as a reminder to be genuine in our faith and actions. [25:23]
5. Creating Safe Spaces: The church should be a safe place for children to discuss difficult topics. By making some subjects taboo, we risk sending them elsewhere for guidance. The vision for a youth center highlights the importance of providing a supportive environment where children can find help and guidance. [23:25]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - The Dangers of a Rigid Environment
[02:37] - Paul's Advice on Parenting
[04:47] - Rules vs. Grace in Church and Home
[06:47] - Balancing Discipline with Laughter
[09:24] - The Importance of a Cheerful Heart
[13:21] - Encouraging Open Communication
[16:12] - Real-Life Examples of Inconvenient Conversations
[18:29] - The Blessings of Rejecting Ungodly Advice
[21:02] - Vision for a Youth Center
[23:25] - Making Church a Safe Place for Difficult Conversations
[25:23] - The Importance of Authenticity
[28:36] - Practicing Authentic Christianity
[33:31] - The Impact of Faithful Servants
[34:32] - Prayer and Baptisms
[36:21] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Colossians 3:21 - "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
2. Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
3. Psalm 1:1-3 - "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."
4. Luke 12:1 - "Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: 'Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul advise fathers to avoid doing in Colossians 3:21, and what is the potential consequence if they do not follow this advice? [02:37]
2. According to Proverbs 17:22, what are the effects of a cheerful heart versus a crushed spirit? [09:24]
3. In Psalm 1, what are the blessings associated with rejecting ungodly advice and delighting in God's law? [18:29]
4. What warning does Jesus give in Luke 12:1, and what does He compare hypocrisy to? [25:23]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How might a rigid and overly strict environment discourage children, according to the sermon and Colossians 3:21? [02:37]
2. Why is it important to balance discipline with joy and grace in both home and church environments, as suggested by Proverbs 17:22? [09:24]
3. How does open communication contribute to maintaining a strong connection with children, as discussed in the sermon and supported by Psalm 1? [14:46]
4. What are the dangers of hypocrisy in faith, especially in the context of parenting and church leadership, as highlighted by Jesus in Luke 12:1? [25:23]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your home environment. Are there areas where you might be too rigid or strict? How can you incorporate more grace and understanding to avoid discouraging your children? [02:37]
2. Think about the balance of discipline and joy in your home or church. What specific actions can you take to ensure that joy and laughter are present alongside rules and discipline? [09:24]
3. How can you create a safe space for open communication with your children or the youth in your church? What steps can you take to make sure they feel heard and valued? [14:46]
4. Consider your own faith practices. Are there areas where you might be perceived as hypocritical by your children or others? How can you strive for greater authenticity in your faith and actions? [25:23]
5. How can your church become a safer place for children to discuss difficult topics? What practical steps can be taken to ensure that no subject is taboo and that children feel supported? [23:25]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you had an opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with a child or youth. How did you handle it, and what could you do differently next time to foster better communication? [16:12]
7. Identify one specific way you can practice authentic Christianity in your daily life. How can you model this behavior for your children or the youth in your church? [28:36]
Devotional
### Day 1: Nurturing Courage and Confidence
Creating a home or church environment that is too strict and rigid can stifle a child's courage and confidence. Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:21 warns against provoking children to anger, as it can lead to discouragement. A balanced approach that includes grace and understanding is essential for nurturing a child's growth. [02:37]
Colossians 3:21 (ESV): "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged."
Reflection: Think about the rules and expectations you have set in your home or church. Are there any that might be too rigid or strict? How can you incorporate more grace and understanding into these areas to nurture courage and confidence in the children around you?
### Day 2: The Power of Joy and Grace
A cheerful heart is good medicine, as stated in Proverbs 17:22. Homes and churches should be places of joy and laughter, not just rules and discipline. Balancing moments of grace with discipline can create a nurturing environment where children feel loved and valued. [09:24]
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV): "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
Reflection: Reflect on the atmosphere in your home or church. Are there enough moments of joy and laughter? How can you intentionally create more opportunities for joy and grace in your daily interactions with children?
### Day 3: Encouraging Open Communication
Ensuring that children feel safe to express their thoughts and questions is crucial. As long as they are talking to us, there is hope for maintaining a strong connection. Psalm 1 emphasizes the blessings that come from rejecting ungodly advice and finding joy in God's law. [14:46]
Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
Reflection: Think about the ways you communicate with the children in your life. Do they feel safe to share their thoughts and questions with you? What steps can you take to create a more open and supportive environment for communication?
### Day 4: Living an Authentic Faith
Children can easily detect hypocrisy. It is vital for parents and church leaders to practice what they preach. Jesus' warning in Luke 12:1 against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees serves as a reminder to be genuine in our faith and actions. [25:23]
Luke 12:1 (ESV): "In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, 'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your own faith and actions. Are there areas where you might be saying one thing but doing another? How can you strive to live a more authentic and genuine faith that children can look up to and trust?
### Day 5: Creating Safe Spaces for Difficult Conversations
The church should be a safe place for children to discuss difficult topics. By making some subjects taboo, we risk sending them elsewhere for guidance. The vision for a youth center highlights the importance of providing a supportive environment where children can find help and guidance. [23:25]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Consider the topics that might be difficult for children to discuss in your church or home. Are there any subjects that are currently off-limits? How can you create a more open and supportive environment where children feel safe to discuss these difficult topics?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If we really want to lose our kids, we really want to lose the next generation. Whatever happens, make sure that they're not talking to you. They can talk to anybody. They can talk to influencers. They can get advice from influencers. They can get advice from TikTok. They can get advice from an adult online. They can get advice from their friends. They can get advice from a teacher, but whatever happens, I'm serious. Really want to lose them. Make sure. Create an environment where their thoughts, their feelings, their questions are dumb to you. Can't express it. Can't talk to you. They know your mind's made up anyway. Wouldn't even feel safe to talk to you about that." [13:21](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "My goal of parenting is that I want my kids to not, oh, it's Thanksgiving. Oh, God. Have to go see mom. Have to go see dad. It's Christmas time. You do the obligatory. What if we could start right now with the, with the, with the end in mind? I want my kids to want to be around me and to look forward to be, to being close to us. Well, how is that going to happen? It's not going to happen in a suffocating environment that's too rigid, that takes the courage and confidence out of them." [09:24](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "There has to be moments where it's just not all law and rules, but there's, are you here? But there's grace, grace in the home. In fact, let me just suggest something to us, all of us, that the goal of parenting might not be a list. It's not a list of rules, but maybe the goal of parenting could be something like this. I want my kids to enjoy and want to hang around me even when they don't have to. Well, yeah, I want you to think about that." [08:12](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Creating that environment is important. Now, number two, if we really want to lose, lose our kids, we really want to lose the next generation. Whatever happens, what number two, this is important. Whatever happens is make sure that they're not talking to you. They can talk to anybody. They can talk to influencers. They can get advice from influencers. They can get advice from TikTok. They can get advice from an adult online. They can get advice from their friends. They can get advice from a teacher, but whatever happens, I'm serious. Really want to lose them. Make sure. Create an environment. There it is. Create an environment where their thoughts, their feelings, their questions are dumb to you. Can't express it. Can't talk to you. They know your mind's made up anyway. Wouldn't even feel safe to talk to you about that." [13:21](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If we're really wanting as a church to lose the next generation, we just, or as a family to lose our kids, just don't practice, this is a key word, whatever you do, don't practice authentic church. What do I mean by that? Are you saying that I need to stand up as dad and preach a sermon? No, no, no, no, no, I'm not talking like that. Practice authentically what Christians do, pray. What else do we do? We read the Bible. Here's a big one. What else do we do? Hey, Charlie, your dad blew it. Will you forgive me? Yeah, dad, What am I practicing? I'm practicing confession, confessing my sins. The scripture says one to another so that you can be healed. I'm bringing all that in, bringing all that into, into our homes." [32:33](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you lean towards perfectionism, this is perfect for us. Do we have anybody out there who wants to admit that when you load the dishwasher, it has to be just right? Come on, anybody? And then when you open it up and you see people just throw stuff in there, it drives you crazy. Come on, anybody like that? Well, that's me. This is the perfect environment for us. So if you're like that, we want to pay close attention here. Paul, talking about the Christian home. Now imagine the insight he had in the first century without all the psychology and psychiatry and all the stuff we have today. Look what he's talking about. He's talking about the Christian home." [01:52](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I was talking to a grown man who can still remember vividly what it was like growing up in his home, and I said, well, tell me about that. He goes, the picture I have is sitting at the dinner table, and if I chewed my food wrong, my dad could out of nowhere just backhand me, and I would be picking myself off the floor. Come on, say the word rigid. If we're too hard, too rigid. We could end up discouraging, pulling the courage and strength out of our kids. Now, what does that look like for the church? How could we lose the next generation?" [03:36](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I was thinking about in our church every Sunday morning, nine 30 and 11 o'clock while the services are going on, there's a junior high girls group that's going on led by some adults here that care for those kids and pray for them. There's a junior high guys group going on at the 11 o'clock service. There's a junior high girls group. There's a junior high guys group going on throughout the week in high school. There's a ninth and 10th grade girls group going on. There's a ninth and 10th grade guys group going on in high school. There's 11 o'clock. There's 11th and 12th grade girls group going on. There's 11th and 12th grade. What's happening there? Doing our best. Doing our best trying to provide the right people. Are you here? The right people to talk to and relate to." [20:29](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I was thinking, you know how much a Patriot missile costs to make? One Patriot missile is $4 million. Four of them go in one battery. That's one launch pad. We're just talking about building something that's going to reach teenagers. Give them a safe place. Listen to me. Here's an idea. If we want to lose the next generation in the church, let's make church an unsafe place for kids to bring up very difficult conversations. How about that? By the way we talk, by the way we teach, we make some subjects taboo. Oh, I know I can't say anything there. Are you here? I know I can't talk about doubting God. I know I can't talk about gender confusion. I know I can't talk about this. I know if we're not careful, we can send them to other places where they'll be able to talk to other people. But we want this place to be the safest place to have some of the most awkward conversations." [23:25](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I don't know how to say that. It wasn't just, oh, we go to church and click, check the God box. No, it was, it was Monday. It was Tuesday. It was like, this thing is real. Our kids have the ability to know what we really value. What do I mean by value? They know what we really worship. Some of us in here, honestly, the reason why our, our life is not, doesn't have that traction or pull is because maybe we're saying one thing that we value, we worship, but we really don't. How about we, how about today we make a decision, Lord, I want the center of my home, the value of my home, upon your house, upon the things of God. And Lord, if that's not true, I want to set the example of how to say, Lord, I repent and I come to you because it's so easy in this environment we live in to get off track." [30:17](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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