1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Introduction:
• 1 Corinthians 12:32 speaks of “David’s mighty men.” Listed among them are 200 and their brothers who had a “specific understanding of the times” of David. They were used in battle and studied the political, cultural & generational climates of their day. (If we are serious about winning the lost of this generation we are going to have to do the same. This is Spiritual War against a formidable foe.)
• Millennials and Gen-Xers are the largest generation the world has ever known.
• Only 28% of Millennials attend church weekly. - viralsolutions.net
• God was reprioritized in their life as a matter of convenience.
• Sunday schools were phased out because workers could not commit to a faithful, systematic process of teaching.
• Both parents worked and let digital media raise their children.
• The dollar became more important than their children upbringing because they were raised by the greatest generation who suffered through poverty and Work Wars and did not want their kids to lack when it came to food and material things.
• The result: AN ENTIRE GENERATION WHO DON’T KNOW THE WORD SO HOW CAN THEY EMBRACE IT AS SOMETHING THAT HAS VALUE?
I. THE PROBLEM
A. Attitude - I’ve heard, “It would be a mistake to shelve generations of leaders to make room for millennial leadership.”
1. First of all, Their generation is so large that we need all the leaders we can get! (The Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, Millennials, Homebound…)
2. Secondly, I’m not hearing any from the Millennial Generation asking us to “shelve” our leadership. If anything they are asking us to help them!
B. Marketing to Millennials - How dehumanizing!
1. Don’t market to them just include them.
2. THEY ARE PEOPLE NOT A COMMODITY TO BE MARKETED TO!
C. Failure to Understand that we are living through the largest communication shift in 500 years!
1. Luke 14:12-24
a) Read V12-14 Another common thing I have heard is “But they don’t tithe like the other generations do…” What does the Bible say about that?
(1) Most Millennials I know are pretty much broke…
b) V17-20 The directive from Jesus to “Go into the highways and hedges and bring people in for supper,” is in direct response to people making useless excuses to get out of coming.
(1) I need to go look at a piece of property I just bought…
(2) I just bought some new livestock and I need to go see if they are any good or not…
(3) I just got married!!!
(4) Every excuse could have been tended to later but the “Great Banquet” was not a priority for these people!
c) V21-24 Jesus said, Go get the poor and go into the highways and hedges… In His day that’s where the people were. Where are they today?
(1) They are involved in the digital revolution (Social Media, Youtube…)
2. Youtube is the second most visited website in the world. - Even more popular than Facebook. Here is a Big Truth - YOUTUBE IS A SEARCH ENGINE!
a) Example: Every month more than 500,00 searches are made within America alone for the keywords “Bible Study, How To.”
(1) Guess how many Local Churches show up in the results? ZERO!!!
(2) THE PULPIT ON SUNDAY MORNINGS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL!
b) 500,000+ searches are made every month on Youtube in America on “how to study the Bible” and the local church is silent…
(1) Do you know who is teaching millennials how to study the Bible? Other Millennials! (These Christian Millennials are effective leaders for this generation!) LET’S EMBRACE THEM!!!
c) One month ago Benny Hinn downloaded a video called, “How to Study the Bible (10 Steps for Bible Beginners) - AS OF FRIDAY IT ALREADY HAD 52,000 HITS!
(1) The Harvest is there and is listening…
(2) We just have to work in the right fields!
II. THE SOLUTION - THE HOPE OF THE WORLD IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
A. Be honest and take responsibility to address the challenges before us in a Godly manner!
1. Prepare yourself for the defense of the Gospel! - Saying, “Because I said so…” is not good enough anymore. WE ARE TALKING TO ADULTS NOT CHILDREN!
1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV
15. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
16. keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
B. Re-Prioritize our lives to make room for others who have a different background than we do.
1. Reach them where they are
a) Social Media
b) Youtube
c) Coffee Shops
d) Anything that is community driven
e) Buildings don’t matter
C. Be available for God to use. (It worked with you!)
1. Let the older women teach the younger women how to be faithful to their husbands, keep the home & raise children.
Titus 2:3-5
3. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4. and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5. to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
a) The Proverbs 31 woman is not born that way… She is developed!
2. Let the older men teach the younger men to sober, vigilant, a provider and protector but most of all how to be the spiritual leader of their home!
Titus 2:2
2. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Titus 2:6-8
6. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8. and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
D. Develop “Community Style Ministries”.
1. Conversational Evangelism
2. Small Groups for Discipleship
3. Intimate “Worship Services” where connectivity to a real God who loves them and cares for them is emphasized.
4. Anything One-On-One
E. Praying for the lost is always a good idea…
III. YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GOD USED IN THE BIBLE
A. King Josiah - Began to reign at 8 years old
B. Shepherd David - killed Goliath as a teen-ager.
C. Pastor Timothy - Was a young Pastor who was encouraged to “Stir up the gift that was in him by his Mother, Grandmother and mentors.”
D. God’s Son Jesus - was 30 years old when He began His public ministry and 33 1/2 when He was crucified.
CHALLENGE:
• God can use anybody - even me!
• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
