The Heritage Tree, Cape Perpetua, Central Oregon coast. This giant spruce is called The Heritage Tree because it stands almost 200 feet tall and because it started to grow as a seedling about the same time Martin Luther was pounding his theses on the church door at Wittenberg. What's really fascinating about this tree, however, is that there's this tunnel about 3 feet in diameter that runs through its base, making it appear that the tree is standing, or rooted into the ground on a tripod. This tunnel, this empty space running through the root "fingers" or buttresses is the space where a nurse log once was located. This giant Sitka spruce began its life as a seedling on a nurse log.
Nurse logs were once great, giant trees themselves. Then they died and fell to the earth. The log became a nursery for an entirely new ecosystem of life. With the nurse log down on the forest floor, light, as well as rain, now streams through the canopy. In such a high-moisture environment, the nurse log decays rapidly, and soon the seeds of mighty trees, caught in the mossy layer that now grows on its surface, sprout and take root. As they grow larger, their roots will surround the girth of the nurse log, and the tree will shoot up to take its place in the forest, and soon, strong and viable on its own, the tree stands alone, and the nurse log, utterly decomposed, has disappeared. Such has been the case with the 500-year-old Heritage Tree on Cape Perpetua.
This sermon this morning is about being a person, or a church, that nurtures and trains others who will follow, passing on our teachings and traditions, stepping aside so that others may grow in our place, making use of what we have learned.
The Church who nurtures and trains it future leaders
Author Bill Hybels said, "The church is the hope of the world, and leaders are the hope of the church." Satan does not want churches to develop leaders because of the positive impact such a process will have in promoting God’s kingdom over his.
The church at Union Grove can no longer be effective in the coming years if we do not train our youth and young adults. We must emphasize the need of Biblical training and teaching in their lives.
We must change how we train our future leaders in a way that is the example of Christ. Jesus serves by leading and leads by serving.
Foresight & Insight
Mark 1:40-44
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
41 (Here is the serving part) Moved with compassion,* Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 (Here is the Leading Part) Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.* This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
So the Lord needs to teach us another principle. This method this world uses is not God’s method.
Mark 10:41-45
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
(Expound on the Above Statement)
43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
If we want leaders in the church again then I say to those under 60 you must learn to serve. You must learn to be willing to go at all costs and help those in need and pray for those in need. When we become to preoccupied in our own little world of always concentrating on doing the things that benefit us most then we are not following the example Christ has for us. Jesus wants us to learn to give up everything for the cause of Christ.
Church I want to say to you this morning that we need to be nurse logs to the coming generation. Willing to die out, but willing to die out only to help another grow up. Nurse logs still had a purpose, And, to our older generation and those who have lead the church it is time to plant seeds into the lives of this younger generation imparting the truth that you have learned along the way. Older Generation I say to you when a young man or young woman is in the alter I am calling you out to come in behind them and be there prayer warrior, be the one who speaks new life into their lives.
The Church who passes on its teachings and traditions
We get caught up as a younger generation complaining about the tradition of the church and the ways that we hold on to as we have gotten older. We must be careful on two plains the first is the younger generation needs to honor our past and the great things that where accomplished in our past. In addition, our older generation needs to recognize our future and where we are headed.
Honoring our past: 1 Thessalonians 5:12 "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love"
1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine".
1 Corinthians 9:14 “The Lord commanded that those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it.”
Recognizing our future: Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
The Church who steps aside and allows its new leaders to lead
Allowing the Elijah's to preform what God has called them to do. The Elijah's are getting old, the Elijah's are getting tired. And, it is time that we stand up church and recognize the need for us to still fulfill the purpose God has for you.
Allowing the Elisha's to rise up and preform. If we want our children and grandchildren to continue on in the work of the church then we must adamant on following this scripture in Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Church our young folks have a calling on their lives and it is our obligation to cultivate that calling in their lives and help them to grow into who God wants them to be. Allowing them to be used in church and outside of church.
-------------------------
1 Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. (3rd ed.) (Mk 1:40–44). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
1 McGee, J. V. (1991). Vol. 36: Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Mark) (electronic ed.). Thru the Bible commentary (128). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2 Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. (3rd ed.) (Mk 10:41–45). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
