Wayfinding Week 12

Wayfinding

• Set the course.
• Maintain the course.
• Reach the destination.
  
  

Expedition- A journey undertaken by a group of people with a definite objective.
Why we journey- to fulfill the great commandment and the great commission to make disciples who love God and people.

How we journey, how we choose to travel.

• Authenticity
• Community
• Intentionality
• Compassion
• Simplicity
• Kingdom- As citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, we will actively engage with, but be distinctly different from the culture of the world.
• Succession

To which, of course, you say, “What in the world does that mean?”

PRAY
Pic.- 1979 FSBC Photo - 100 kids.
Fast-forward to 2014, 35 years later.
Pic. 2014 FSBC Announcement

“They have an aging congregation of about 40 people (average age of 82) and wanted to leave the best legacy possible by ensuring that the ministry they started continues with the next generation.”

I don’t tell you that story to cast fault or to lay blame, I tell you that story as a cautionary tale. The question, of course, to ask, is how to we keep that from happening? Succession.

I had a conversation recently with a 25-year-old. “I love Expedition, I appreciate Expedition, but it feels like I go to a church that belongs to someone else.”

That broke my heart. We cannot have a church that doesn’t feel like it belongs to every generation. They are not the church of the future, they are the church… today. Right now.

It’s not just about what happens in the local church. It’s bigger than that. The final chapters of Deuteronomy talk about the succession of leadership from Moses to Joshua.

SUCCESSION

As his time on earth draws to a close, God told Moses to write a song, often called “The Song of Moses,” and teach it to the people.

Deuteronomy 32:7
Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

Moses says, “Think about and reflect on the past and the wisdom that God has given over generations. Talk with older family members and elders who can give you insight and valuable lessons learned from their personal experiences.”

Psalm 71:18
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Psalm 145:4–7
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts…They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

We are stewards of proclaiming the goodness of God and his kingdom. We carry the flame. As older generations age, it is imperative that the way of Jesus be handed down.

Succession is not about trying to be modern or hip or cool. They don’t care if you’re cool, they care if you care. They care if Jesus makes a difference. The church needs spiritual fathers and spiritual mothers. The church needs spiritual grandfathers and spiritual grandmothers. The church needs spiritual aunts and uncles.

Titus 2:2–8
[2] Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. [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. [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…

Wisdom and experience and time and maturity saying, “You’re going to be okay. Jesus loves you. I’m with you in it. Teach. Challenge. Encourage. Pray.”

Do you older men and women feel the challenge of that? To live as an example and an inspiration? To provide them with models of godly and mature Christian living that they can follow? To tangibly show them what it looks like to follow Christ?
The greatest thing we can do to ensure succession is to do a great job at our mission and values. Be committed to making disciples. Tell people about Jesus and help them to grow to become more like Jesus. Love God well. Love one another well. Be authentic, live in community, be intentional, demonstrate compassion, pursue simplicity, value Kingdom living and of course… succession.

I did some demographic research and 20-40 year olds in Payson = 3,315

Every number has a name and every name has a story and every story matters to God.

10% = 330

God wants you to see every single one of them. God wants you to see them at Home Depot. God wants you to see them at the park. God wants you to see them in your neighborhood and at work and God wants you to feel a burden for them.

Barna Research

• 33% 18–35-year-olds say they feel deeply cared for by those around them (2,221 in Payson who do not feel deeply cared for by those around them.)
• 32% say someone believes in them (2,254 in Payson who do not feel like someone believes in them.)
• 25% acknowledge feelings of loneliness and isolation. (828 in Payson)

What might it look like if we did this well?

VISION

I want marriages to be rescued. I want 20 and 30-year-olds who are getting destroyed by an anti-Christ culture to be liberated. I want addiction to be never started in the first place.

I want hundreds of children running around this place.

I want to ask for a lot of financial resources to be freed up in this direction. I’m praying that hundreds of thousands of dollars would come in to staff towards it and fund ministries. I want you to prayerful consider how you might do that.

Staffing. Shelly’s making a transition out of children’s ministry. We don’t want to just keep doing what we’ve done. We want to do even more.

It’s not just finances or ministries, it’s you. It’s you giving time.

There should be a waiting list to help with our kid's ministry or to work with our middle schoolers and high schoolers.

If you’re over 40, we need you to give and invest and sacrifice and serve and support.

Empty nesters volunteering to watch kids so young parents can go out on a date.

If you’re sensing just how significant this is. If you’re thinking, “We’ve got to pray about this.” You’re right. We’re going to do just that tonight at 6pm.

Questions:

• How can marriages be rescued from the influences of an anti-Christ culture?
• In what ways can the vision of having hundreds of children actively participating in the community be achieved?
• What strategies can be employed to ensure substantial financial resources are directed towards funding these ministries?
• How can empty nesters be encouraged to contribute to the community by volunteering for roles like watching children?
• What role does prayer play in mobilizing the community to support and expand children's and youth ministries?