Valuable Resource in the Master’s Cause
Gary Minnick
Midland SDA Church
July 18, 2020
It was a total disaster. The contractor could not believe what had just happened. He sat in stunned silence gazing over the blueprints of the construction site. All he could think about was the money invested and lost; the time and effort that had been put into the project. And now… everything was over. All the workers had left.
You may wonder what happened. Had forces of nature wrecked the construction site and ended the work? Did the workers form a union and refuse to work unless they were paid more money? Did they run out of resources and were not able to finish the project? The answer is “no” to all of these questions.
The reason the work stopped is because there was a breakdown in communication. The workers could not understand each other and since they could not understand each other, the work came to a screeching halt. Most of us are familiar with this story. You’ve probably heard it many times. We refer to it as the story of the Tower of Babel.
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
It is at this time that God confuses the languages and scatters the people over the earth. God had said, “Nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” if they were working together. So, God takes away communication and their effort fails.
There is an obvious lesson for us to learn today. If we are not communicating clearly, we will not be successful. Psychologists teach that the most critical element to a good relationship is communication.
A good definition of communication is the transferring of information so it can be understood.
The church is God’s chosen people who are to communicate God’s message to the world. Therefore, in the church we have a constant struggle to make sure good communication is taking place, both outside and inside the church.
The church is most effective when all of her members communicate clearly with one another.
It is a daunting task when we consider how many different people there are in the church. Today we want to focus in on two age groups. I want us to ask how the older adults and the young families are doing in their communication with one another.
A few months ago special times were set to meet with the young families and discuss the needs of the young families and to give suggestions on things that we can do to support and attract more families that would see that this church is willing to try different things that shows love for everyone and that we are putting forth an effort.
Young families are the lifeblood of any church. And not just because they bring energy and excitement to the Sabbath service and the outreach efforts of the church. They also bring their children, which enables the church to teach and train the future generation of Christians. In this area, we’ll discuss a few church outreach ideas to keep our church vital and growing.
Young families are going through a lot of transitions. Along with new children, they might also be facing issues of a new job, new homes and new locations. As a result of these changes, many young families may have spiritual questions and also want to make sure they have help in properly raising their children. Therefore, many young families seek a good local church to attend that will love them with unconditional love and respect. In some cases, there may be older church members who want to push the young children aside, seen but not heard. This is the case in Matthew 19:13-15.
Matthew 19:13-15 New King James Version (NKJV) 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
19:13-15 It is well when we come to Christ ourselves, and bring our children.
Little children may be brought to Christ being capable of receiving blessings from him, and having an interest in his intercession. We can but beg a blessing for them: Christ only can command the blessing. Those who are given to Christ, as part of his purchase, he will in no way cast any out. .
To You Who Bring Small Children to Church
There you are sitting in worship or Bible study. Your child, or baby is restless. Perhaps they’re even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing.
You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing works. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the sanctuary. All the while, you’re a little embarrassed. Maybe you’re a little frustrated too. You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my children.”
I want you — you mothers and/or fathers — to know just how encouraging you are to so many. The little elderly woman who often sits alone the side has a pleasant smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear or see that brings back precious memories.
To see young parents and their small children brighten her day, and she may have just received bad news this week about her health, but seeing the vitality of young ones removes — if but for a moment — her fears.
The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of good. But eventually he sees you — a young family — in church, almost every Sabbath. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. Mr Wilkinson.
You give him hope that maybe the church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to worship. You look back and try to remember when you were very young and had to sit still for 1 to 3 hours.
Bring your children to church. If we don’t hear babies crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent who’s half-asleep, from taking care of a sick child all night, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should.
Many churches in America have aging congregations and a constant prayer in all of them is that they attract young families to the church.
A primary response to this need is for churches to upgrade their children’s programs and make certain their nurseries are spotless, attractive, and well-staffed. Though facilities responses are essential, communication responses are also important if your church wants to have a family come back more than once. We need to follow this bible verse, John 13;35
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” This love we have to each other is the greatest sign the world will ever see that we are the disciples and followers of Jesus.
We can preach doctrinal sermons, sermons that are perfectly sound, and strongly evangelistic, but if those people who come into our services do not experience a profound outpouring of Christian love in our church, they will not see in us anything unusual then what other churches may have.
But when they come into services and fellowship times and actually see us loving each other – then will they be impressed to say, “These are the people of God. These are the people who know Jesus and follow Him.”
The wonderful thing with Jesus, is that age makes no difference. Here is one example. Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit Mark 9:14-29
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowds answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So, I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.
But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
I simply want to draw your attention to the fact that Jesus paid a great deal of attention to children, teenagers, and young people in general. You find that over and over as you read the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
We have a tendency to think that those who followed Christ were older people. I think we get that impression from some of the medieval paintings we have seen in museums. But those paintings are wrong. Most of those who followed Christ were quite young. Peter was about thirty. The rest of the Disciples were in their twenties, except the Apostle John - who was a teenager when he first came to Christ.
: The Bible does not specifically give the ages of any of the original twelve disciples. However, a few observations can be made regarding their ages.
First, Scripture teaches Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His public ministry (Luke 3:23). In Jewish culture, disciples (or students) were generally younger than their teacher.} Therefore, it is likely the disciples were under 30 years of age. Jesus also referred to them as “little children,” possibly indicating they were several years younger than He.
Second, many of the disciples worked as fishermen. James and John specifically left their father in the boat to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:21–22). This means they were old enough to work full-time. They were likely at least teenagers by this time, since they could leave home to follow a rabbi.
Third, Peter is noted as already married when he began following Jesus. His sick mother-in-law is mentioned in Matthew 8:14. This means Peter was at least old enough to be married; at the very least, Peter was in his mid-teens.
Fourth, the later lives of many of the disciples help to reveal their possible ages. John lived the longest, passing away in the last decade of the first century, according to church history. This was 60 years after walking with Jesus. Even if John were in his 90s when he died, he would have been no more than 30 years old at the time he was with Jesus. Since John was old enough to care for the mother of Jesus (John 19:26–27), he was probably at least 20 at the time of the crucifixion.
Peter referred to himself as an old man when he was in his 60s, about 30 years after walking with Jesus. This may mean Peter was in his 20s or 30s at the time he was with Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew was written 30–40 years after Jesus’ resurrection, indicating that Matthew was perhaps in his 20s when following Jesus on earth.
Though the Bible does not give the exact ages of the disciples of Jesus, it is likely they were all between the ages of 13 and 30 at the time they followed Jesus. This view allows for some variety in their ages, with John likely the youngest and Peter perhaps one of the oldest since he was already married.
Recommended Resource: Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur
Did you know that about 90% of all conversions to Christ occur before the age of thirty-five, even today? Living, vital Christianity has always centered on young people. That's the reason we reach out to the colleges, and other places young people gather - and we invite them to come and hear the preaching of the gospel.
We have sometimes been criticized for focusing our evangelism on young people. But I always defend that by saying, "If we don't reach young people, the church has no future." The whole future of our nation, and our churches, will be in your hands sooner than we realize. The young people are the most important people in this area. There are three reasons I say that.
As I said, all the Disciples were quite young when they came to Christ. There were some older converts, but the vast majority of the Jews and pagans who were converted were quite young. The early Church was alive and vibrant, and filled with joyful young people.
It should be remembered that, in the first century, most people died before they reached forty. A fifty- or sixty-year-old man was considered ancient in those days. It was a harsh and cruel world in the days of the Roman Empire.
How is it today. Have you ever experience this that many of the adults felt that the young people needed to show more…respect Respect
Here are three samples. “I wish the young people would respect others and not make fun of them.” A person in their 40’s wrote, “I wish the young people knew how to talk to adults.” An elderly member in their 70’s wrote, “I wish the young people who run (in the church) would show more respect to us and the sanctuary .”
You could get the feeling that this was a “hot” issue with some individuals. But I must agree with them. Young people need to respect their elders. Leviticus 19:32 reads, “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.”
I wanted to know what the young people think. After all, communication is both talking and listening. In one survey a kid wished that the adults would stop parking under the basketball goals in the parking lot. And while they are at it, fix the net.
As I went through the responses, I really was surprised at what the young people said. Some of them caught me totally off guard. The young people wished that the adults would be…Understanding.
A 10-year-old wrote this, “I wish the adults would take time to listen to kids about what they have to say.” A 12-year-old wrote the following: when given a safe way to communicate, the kids want to know that you care about them, understand them and will listen to them. we’re just kids and that we make mistakes sometimes, sometimes they get mad too easily.”
Attitude. “I wish the adults would quit being boring and just have some fun every now and then. Start getting excited!” That was from a teen.
This is why young people are good for the church… they keep it alive! Young people have all this energy, they constantly want to do things, to be active… and they see some of the adults, who look like they were baptized in pickle juice, sitting in a pew looking like they are so bored and just waiting for the sermon to be over.
A little girl had been baptized following the morning message. She went home and the family had a huge get-together. The little girl was so happy and joyful and skipping around the house. She came by her grandfather and he snapped at her for being so joyful. The little girl, saddened by her grandfathers’ lack of joy, went out to the barnyard. She saw the mule in a corner of the barnyard. She went over to the mule and looked in his sad eyes. She said, “You must go to the same church grandpa goes to.”
Adults, there is nothing wrong with having joy. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is joy! Do you realize that if you are a Christian, you are on your way to heaven? You better notify your face! Smile some! Be excited about being in the family of God.
The Christian Home Is an Object Lesson—(Adventist home 311-312) The mission of the home extends beyond its own members. The Christian home is to be an object lesson, illustrating the excellence of the true principles of life. Such an illustration will be a power for good in the world.... As the youth go out from such a home, the lessons they have learned are imparted. Nobler principles of life are introduced into other households, and an uplifting influence works in the community.
0ut reaching influence for good. Other families will mark the results attained by such a home, and will follow the example set, in their turn guarding the home against Satanic influences. The angels of God will often visit the home in which the will of God bears sway. Under the power of divine grace such a home becomes a place of refreshing ..
Now I just want to talk about using common sense. Not just to young parents, but older parents as well, we all are involved in raising the children. Prov.22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Is that just for young parents? When a baby is dedicated in a church service, is that a calling for all the adults to share in that responsibility with the parents. I believe yes. We are all children of God. The church is a part of God’s training ground.
The way we live our entire life is a worship service for God. However, as the church body, we gather weekly to worship God together. This is a good thing. The Hebrew writer said, Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Question – Does this include our young children? It sure does. When is the last time you or I have talked one on one to a young person.? Sure, we put offerings in the basket when the children come around, but we can do better than that. We can hug them, tell them that we appreciate the things they are doing in church. Reading scripture reading for church service, some are overseeing the PA system, being a Jr deacon and the list could go on.
Are there any volunteers here that would come here on an evening night and watch the young children for a few hours, so the parents could have a night out? Or offer to go to their home and baby sit them. By playing and maybe reading stories to them you will be blessed and they will get to know you. Example! Anthony Sandoval. + U Ma Tilla in Florida -- AttendHope Seminars.org Sealy Al.
Young and older families all have needs. But by working together, families will be strengthened, and the church will be more alive for Jesus.
The key to a successful worship is found in John 4. Jesus said His followers will worship in spirit and truth. Our worship service is nothing unless it is focused on God.
Young people… I want to challenge you as well. These adults have sacrificed much for you. And I know that sometimes things may not be as perfect as you want them to be… but always remember, there are other people who have worship tastes different from you.
A prayer that is needed for each of us is that we would not judge one another by our appearances.
James 2:2-4 New King James Version (NKJV)J
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in [a]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in [b]filthy clothes, 3 and you [c]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not [d]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
I hope that everyone knows regardless of the kinds of clothes you have; you are welcome here at the Midland SDA church. And if we agree with that statement, none of us should show favoritism or neglect to anyone based on the appearance they have. We must remember that God looks at the heart not the outward appearance. It goes back to that first principle of respecting one another.
Now, I wish I could just move on, but sometimes we may deal with clothes that the younger women are wearing. “I wish the young women would dress more appropriate in church or out of church.”
“Clothing decisions can lead young men to have thoughts they shouldn’t have. If we are a light to the world. We need to be different.”
Do you remember the verse we looked at in 1 Timothy? “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
Key in on how the younger men and women are to treat each other. They are to be like brothers and sisters. Girls, you may think that you are wearing the latest style or fashion, but you are causing your Christian brother to stumble. It isn’t that the church doesn’t like fashion… it’s about being modest.
Peter wrote, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
I would just like to challenge all the ladies, regardless of age… when you choose the clothes you wear, think of your Christian brothers and don’t give them cause to stumble. Let your beauty come from the inside out.
If you are a young person, at this point in the sermon you might be thinking, “Wade, these comments the adults gave are killing us!” So, I do want to lighten up on our young people just a little bit.
It has never been easy to be young. It seems like the young people are always being picked on. I want you to hear these quotes from two influential people from the secular world.
“Youth today love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, no respect for older people, and talk nonsense when they should work. Young people do not stand up any longer when adults enter the room. They contradict their parents, talk too much in company, and guzzle their food.
Listen to this second quote. “The world is passing through troublous times. The young people today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they know everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them.
It is surprising to learn that Socrates made the first quote and Peter the Hermit made the second quote in AD 1274. It has never been easy to be young!!
Even though Peter the Hermit said that what the young people think of as foolishness is really wisdom,
It is interesting to me that the second most mentioned item was commented on by both groups. The adults and young people wish that the youth were...
More involved with the worship.
Let me start with the adults. A member in their fifties wrote, “I wish the young people were more active participants as a group in our worship services.” Another member in their forties wrote, “I wish the young people could be more involved in the church service.” One member exclaimed, “I wish the young people would want to come to church without being threatened!”
Now, listen to the young people’s wishes… “I wish the adults were more on fire for Jesus. I wish we were more involved in the worship services.” “I wish we could have more young people sermons.”
I was surprised to see that youth being involved with the worship service was the second most mentioned item on the wish lists. But then again, worship is one of the most discussed issues in the church. Sadly, worship is many times the most divisive issue in the church; especially, when we consider the young people and the adults.
The reason worship becomes divisive is because we forget what worship really is. Worship is not something that takes place for an hour on Sabbath, worship is a lifestyle. Our entire life is a worship service to God. Paul wrote it this way in Romans 12, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”
The way we live our entire life is a worship service for God.
However, as the church body, we gather weekly to worship God together. This is a good thing. The Hebrew writer said, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (10:25)
Gathering for worship is encouraged in the New Testament. But when we gather, we have to remember why we are here. It is not for our glory, but for the Lord. Every time I come into this place, I must remind myself that it’s not about me. And that is tough.
I think the main reason worship is divisive is because of people putting the focus on themselves instead of God. I love how Ben Merold put it, “I want there to be at least one thing each service I don’t like.” That way, he knew there would be something in it someone else liked.
If we went to a restaurant, we’d have the same menu… but we might not order the same dish. Food is a matter of taste. And in some respects, worship style is a matter of taste as well.
As we study the Bible we see there are two components of Biblical worship: Joy and Awe.
If you grew up in a more traditional background, you know worship has a sense of awe. The song leader might quote Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” You appreciate the quiet times in the worship service. It bothers you when people are disrespectful. It bothers you when someone wants to play loud music. “I can’t believe they want to bring drums in here!”
But if you grew up in a more charismatic background, you realize there is to be a sense of joy! The song leader would quote Psalm 47:1, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” You appreciate a worship service that expresses thankfulness to God in an expressive way. And when people who have the joy aspect of worship see people who have the awe aspect of worship, they clash. “I can’t believe they want us to be quiet. Don’t they know Jesus isn’t dead?! This isn’t a funeral, it’s a praise service!”
Let me ask this question: Which side is right? Is it Awe or Joy? The answer is they are both right. When we worship, we must come joyfully before God. But we must also come with a sense of awe. We never want to forget that HE is God.
When worship becomes wrong is when one side forgets the focus is on God and places it on them. In the church, we must constantly remind ourselves that it’s not about me.
The key to a successful worship is found in John 4. Jesus said His followers will worship in spirit and truth. Our worship service is nothing unless it is focused on God.
I know this was a difficult section of the sermon. The good news is it gets better from here on out.
n fact, most comments from the adults were very positive concerning the young people. An 89 year old member wrote me this note on their survey, “Wade- first of all I’m so grateful that we have so many teens in our church.” I thought it is so wonderful to hear that from one of our adults.
It was really encouraging to tally up what the number one response was from the adults. The number one response that came from the surveys was for the young people to always stay close to Jesus. I was amazed at the love that came from everyone.
Here’s a survey from a member in their 40’s. “I wish the young people (knew) how important they are to the church family. I wish the young people knew the importance of Christ in their daily walk. I wish the young people know they need to go to God for answers, not the world.”
I sense a real concern from that individual for the young people.
I love this last one that I’m going to share. “I wish the young people could feel safe, loved and accepted within the church body. A place they never want to leave.”