Lessons from the Third Generation
Bro. Pat Briney
MBBC Discipleship Conference 2011 Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. -Proverbs 22:6 The results are tragic
-Many children choose to live lukewarm or cold, sinful lives
-Some reject Christ completely The ideal disciples
-most children do not continue the ministry of discipleship. Multiplication fails.
-Children are perfect test subjects for studying the claims and practices of discipleship. The judgement seat of Christ
-Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
-The decision to reject or accept Christ is up to the disciple, not the disciples. You are only responsible to GIVE the gospel. Unrealistic ideas
-it is not promised that proper teaching results in Christ-like children. -It is not biblical to place the weight of the child's decision on the parents. Your child's failure to choose Christ is not the fault of the parent.
-Children from lost homes can be saved, and children of Christian homes can be lost. A child is not bound by the decisions and discipleship of the parents. They are not 100% a product of their environment. Questions we need to ask:
-Is it possible to train up a child in the way he should go?
-How old is old?
-Is Proverbs 22:6 a guarantee that they will not depart? "Deterioration within a community tends to climax with the third generation." Dennis Bratcher, Nehemiah and The Question of Identity The third generation phenomenon is not unique to churches. -The first generation is marked by growth
-The second generation is marked by entrenchment (content with stories of past success and small current successes)
-The third generation is marked by decline (no passion or vision) Comparison: -First generation builds the church. 2nd and 3rd generation inherit the church. -1st generation willingly chooses to join the church, 2nd and 3rd generation choose to accept Christ, and then to stay in the church.
-Less second generation choose Christ than the first, even less in the third generation than the second.
Over time, loss of zeal occurs in the first generation too.
Biblical axiom of Human response to Christ: Most will reject Christ
-Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
-Matthew 22:14 (KJV)
For many are called, but few are chosen. Most will not be fully committed to Christ
-Mark 4:20 (KJV)
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it , and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. So, the first generation has already been called out as a select few that willingly joined the church to build it. Out of the second generation, they will also have many reject Christ, and many not be fully committed to Christ. A church that internalizes it's ministries will shrink with each generation and eventually die. For a church to grow they must take ministry outside of the church. A church of growth must continually work to win souls and bring in new members. -The second generation and third generation are typically saved at a younger age, and have not experienced the amount of sin of the first generation, and therefore don't love the Lord as deeply. Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. -Exposure to sin causes a falling away from the Lord. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
-wickedness is like a magnet Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, -Withhold each generation, there are less people with a drive to do anything, but are content to allow life to happen to them. -Those who do not show initiative are often entangled in the things of the world. 2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Church Growth Requires Hard Work!
-Must sow a lot of seed to have a bountiful harvest
-We tend towards failure, so. Have an uphill battle. 1. Be faithful regardless of results.
2. Be ready to reach out to any and everyone.
3. Because there are fewer people wanting to be disciples, we must continue to search for those who are willing.
4. We must be diligent with those who are willing to be disciples.
5. Appreciate those who are serving Christ!
Joshua Pettijohn
Minister of Youth & Music
First Baptist Church of Clute
josh@fbcclute.com
www.fbcclute.com
101 E. Brazoswood Drive
Clute, TX 77531
(979) 265-2871 Office
(979) 487-9213 Cell Phone
(979) 265-1950 Fax Sent from my iPad
Bro. Pat Briney
MBBC Discipleship Conference 2011 Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. -Proverbs 22:6 The results are tragic
-Many children choose to live lukewarm or cold, sinful lives
-Some reject Christ completely The ideal disciples
-most children do not continue the ministry of discipleship. Multiplication fails.
-Children are perfect test subjects for studying the claims and practices of discipleship. The judgement seat of Christ
-Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
-The decision to reject or accept Christ is up to the disciple, not the disciples. You are only responsible to GIVE the gospel. Unrealistic ideas
-it is not promised that proper teaching results in Christ-like children. -It is not biblical to place the weight of the child's decision on the parents. Your child's failure to choose Christ is not the fault of the parent.
-Children from lost homes can be saved, and children of Christian homes can be lost. A child is not bound by the decisions and discipleship of the parents. They are not 100% a product of their environment. Questions we need to ask:
-Is it possible to train up a child in the way he should go?
-How old is old?
-Is Proverbs 22:6 a guarantee that they will not depart? "Deterioration within a community tends to climax with the third generation." Dennis Bratcher, Nehemiah and The Question of Identity The third generation phenomenon is not unique to churches. -The first generation is marked by growth
-The second generation is marked by entrenchment (content with stories of past success and small current successes)
-The third generation is marked by decline (no passion or vision) Comparison: -First generation builds the church. 2nd and 3rd generation inherit the church. -1st generation willingly chooses to join the church, 2nd and 3rd generation choose to accept Christ, and then to stay in the church.
-Less second generation choose Christ than the first, even less in the third generation than the second.
Over time, loss of zeal occurs in the first generation too.
Biblical axiom of Human response to Christ: Most will reject Christ
-Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
-Matthew 22:14 (KJV)
For many are called, but few are chosen. Most will not be fully committed to Christ
-Mark 4:20 (KJV)
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it , and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. So, the first generation has already been called out as a select few that willingly joined the church to build it. Out of the second generation, they will also have many reject Christ, and many not be fully committed to Christ. A church that internalizes it's ministries will shrink with each generation and eventually die. For a church to grow they must take ministry outside of the church. A church of growth must continually work to win souls and bring in new members. -The second generation and third generation are typically saved at a younger age, and have not experienced the amount of sin of the first generation, and therefore don't love the Lord as deeply. Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. -Exposure to sin causes a falling away from the Lord. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
-wickedness is like a magnet Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, -Withhold each generation, there are less people with a drive to do anything, but are content to allow life to happen to them. -Those who do not show initiative are often entangled in the things of the world. 2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Church Growth Requires Hard Work!
-Must sow a lot of seed to have a bountiful harvest
-We tend towards failure, so. Have an uphill battle. 1. Be faithful regardless of results.
2. Be ready to reach out to any and everyone.
3. Because there are fewer people wanting to be disciples, we must continue to search for those who are willing.
4. We must be diligent with those who are willing to be disciples.
5. Appreciate those who are serving Christ!
Joshua Pettijohn
Minister of Youth & Music
First Baptist Church of Clute
josh@fbcclute.com
www.fbcclute.com
101 E. Brazoswood Drive
Clute, TX 77531
(979) 265-2871 Office
(979) 487-9213 Cell Phone
(979) 265-1950 Fax Sent from my iPad
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