Generational Unity

For the past couple weeks God has impressed a Scripture upon my Spirit. And I’ve been fixated on this one thought that sprouted roots within my heart and burst forth a truth that we all need to hear. And it’s this…. “ In the final days the old and young will dream together.” My first ever board meeting as a Christian led me to believe that ministry is a war between the older generations and the younger.

I was a youth leader pursuing a calling to be a pastor. The Senior pastor had asked if I would come to the next board meeting to kind of see what goes on behind the scenes in leadership. But Before long in this meeting, I was called by the pastor to give to the board what would help our teens grow physically but also spiritually. And so I poured out my heart.

The teens don’t feel like their group is their group. They are put in a large rectangle Sunday school room with four extremely white walls, a metal desk, and about 25 metal chairs. Half of the room was closed off with a wooden divider. The teens have mentioned coming in, painting, getting some couches, some modern decorations and making the room an extension of their culture. An extension of their generation and who they are and becoming in Christ.

And since the teens were not allowed to have fundraisers, it would be nice that the teen budget could increase from $25 dollars per quarter to something a little higher to help encourage and fund fellowship moments and outings. And finally, I would suggest that the older generation make a commitment to come down to the teen room and interact, pray with, tell the stories of faith and to encourage the teens.

There was a pause that felt like forever and then one older gentleman, who’s I would say was over 60 Spoke and said, When I was a teen. We served the older generation because the older generation had the wisdom and we had the strength. Our generation served at the fellowships, we served in church services, we played softball and we did everything that was asked of us….We’ve paid our tithes, we’ve done what was asked and now we’re the older generations and we’re looking at retirement and it’s our time to be served by the younger.

Immediately in that moment, I just realized that there was a great divide between those who were over 60 and those under 20. From the moment we’re born, our birthdate begins to define you and me within a generation. Every person here today, whether you’re 8 or 80.. you are a part of a specific group of people that define what you as a group will be known for.

You have the traditionalist’s born between 1922 - 1945. Traditionalist were raise in the depression and fought in WWII and the Korean War. They are known for their hard work, their respect for people in positions of authority and they followed the rules. With heroes like FDR, General Patton & Winston Churchill. This generation is loyal, stable and detailed oriented. But they are uncomfortable with conflict, they are hesitant to buck the system and tend to be reserved when they disagree with you.

The baby Boomers were born between 1946-1964. Baby boomers were raised when there was a remarkable increase in the standard of living in America. They lived in a era of turbulent times such as the Assassination of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. Baby Boomers has a tendency to be optimist and focused more on personal gratification, growth, health and wellness and youth. They are team players, but often sensitive to critique, they tend to be judgmental and not naturally budget minded.

The GenXer’s were born roughly between 1965 - 1980 This generation were the first latch key kids. Meaning they had duel working parents and would return home often from school to an empty house. GenXer’s were children of divorce, a declining educational system, and government scandals. They witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Persian gulf war and the aids pandemic. GenXer’s are a bit impatient and tend to lack people skills.

However, they are technically literate, independent and creative and adaptable. Finally, millennials born between 1981 - 2000 This group challenged the size and impact made by the baby boomers. Raised by child focused parents, these children lead extremely busy, stressful lives full of sports, lessons and other activities which has created a generation of confident and sociable multitaskers. They are tech savvy, highly tolerant, and optimistic generation. They witnessed the Columbine shooting, the Twin Towers attack & Hurricane Katrina.

Those events have instilled into the hearts of the millennial with the strong sense for civic duty and ethical response. However, this generation needs supervision and structure, and more attention and praise than any of the previous generations. Where do you fit into this spectrum? Now, I’m not going to split us into who’s young and old. You can do that yourself and it will save me the embarrassment of saying that you’re old when you might believe you’re still young.

But what I am going to do is ask you to think real hard about this question… Regardless of whatever camp or tribe or generation you decide to claim to be a part of…. “Are you still drawn to the local church to pursue being a part of the unified body with the unified message of Jesus to glorify Jesus Christ among the nations and among all generations? Let’s stand as we read Acts 2:17 together.

(And all of God’s people said? Amen.) There is a lot we can take from our Scripture today… One, this is Peters first sermon filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Two, this is a quote from the book of Joel of a prophecy where God called Israel to repent. And if they did repent, He would pour out his Spirit on all people. But three… I see this as a unifying message of when Peter reminds us that the final last days are here.

We need the Holy Spirit in HIs fullness to be poured out into our lives. Every generation. Every person, male and female… Needs to hear this message. It’s the final days and in the final days, “Your Sons and Daughters will prophecy. You’re young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams” Not one generation or person of gender will be left out. And When the Spirit comes, he does what?

He draws together in ministry and the Sons and daughters will prophesy (v. 17) and servants will prophesy (v. 18). The Spirit will draw men and women together in ministry, he will draw low and upper class together in ministry, and he will draw old and young together in ministry (v. 17). The Spirit comes upon all, and gives His fullness to all who have bene born again by faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds us that the Spirit fills all in Ephesians 5:18: 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, Paul also reminds the Corinthians that the Spirit gives gifts to all… 1 Corinthians 12:7 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. Peter reminds us the same in I Peter 4:10: 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.

Use them well to serve one another. But here is some truth.… It is not of the Spirit when old or young withdraw from the other or from the ministry. God gives the Spirit to make, or to transform the believer who has come by faith into a witness of the gospel that serves in ministry. Now, before you get scared when I say ministry I do not mean that every person here is called into pastoral ministry, or to sell all of your belonging and become a missionary.

If God has called you then yes, hear this as an encouragement to serve hear or wherever God Calls you in a more intimate way to glorify Jesus. But God pouring out His Spirit should be an encouragement. *