Teaching About God to the Next Generation

Key Verse[s]: Colossians 3:1-16

Teaching About God to the Next Generation

Illustration

• Read Colossians 3:1-16

1. Cold War

• State of hostility between U.S. led & Soviet led countries
  • Began following use of atomic bomb 1945
  • Officially ended with collapse of USSR in 91

• More than conflict between weaponry and power
  • It was a war for the mind, ideals, and way of living

• Before Ronald Reagan was president (California governor; inaugural speech) he addressed California saying the following,

“Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.  And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”

2. Pass it On

• Victory already won:

• John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:57
  • `”Take heart I have overcome the world”

• Joy made complete in knowing this Truth
  • But with freedom and victory in Christ, the world still reaches for the silver lining of truth
    • The slaves in Galveston, Texas, hadn’t heard the news that the Civil War, and their salvation is coming soon

4. The war between death and life is won

• But being isolated from Jesus Christ (the way, the truth, and the life), anything they are being told is a lie!
  • Q. What can we do?
• The answer is simple:

• Pass it on!
  • Whenever you get the chance; Pass it on
• Let us verbally open our mouths and tell people
  • “The war is over, Christ is victorious, and He is offering you a chance to join the winning side”

4.         The Next Generation

1. “Passing truth on” is becoming more and difficult

• A wise man once that with the “freedom of speech comes the freedom to listen”
  • As Christians, the freedom to listen is our friend and enemy
    • Why?
      • Romans 10:17; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• If someone doesn’t first stop and listen, they won’t hear
• At the same time, this is one of the beautiful things about the Gospel
  • God did not create robots to love Him:
  • In His perfect compassion, He allowed the choice to love Him
• Jesus Himself, submitted His will to the Father (John 7:17)
  • This submission to Truth pleases God

• Today’s generation is listening to a lot of voices, some of which God allows
  • In every dispensation & age, God gives the choice of life and allows the alternative.
    • “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil”- Deuteronomy 30:15

3. Conduct is Important.

• Church father Francis of Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
  • Its witty, but contributes to the growing problem of Biblical illiteracy from generation to generation
• Salvation is not hingent on living a good life, it is hingent on the truth that Christ fulfilled the Law and made a way for sinners, by His death, burial and resurrection. 
• People are more comfortable with “living like Christian” but until “we speak like a Christian and share the Good news,” our example is going to lead people straight to Hell.
  • The sad thing is in this case, they are going to Hell and we are going to Heaven
    • Silence is not worth the eternal consequences to the unbeliever

4. Colossians 3:1-16

• We are to set our mind on those things which are above (3:1)
• Put on charity (Action words), set an example (3:14)
• Teaching and admonishing one another (3:16)
  • With (3:16), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• Read Ephesians 2:8-10
  • By Faith in the Word of Truth, Christ’s Gospel, we are saved and standing is in Him; unmovable.
  • Christ has a plan for your life, to walk in the good works set before you

5.     What does it look like?

What does this intentionality for the lost look like? How do I achieve it?

• Like most things in life, you must first evaluate yourself.
• What does your life look like? Identify opportunities.
  • Beautiful story in Acts 8:26-39
    • Philip was traveling under guidance of the Holy Spirit
    • Finds eunuch who was a servant of the queen, relaxing and reading the Book of Isaiah
    • Philip took this opportunity to ask if he understood what He was reading. The eunuch replied,
      • “How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
        • The rest is history

6. No secret formula or 12 step process better than willingness to open your mouth and ask:

• “Do you understand what your reading?”
• “Do you understand that Jesus loves you?”
• “Do you understand what Jesus did for you?”
• “Do you understand that Heaven and Hell are real places?”
• “Do you understand that I care about you?”
• “Do you understand God cares about you?”
• “Do you understand that you can have peace in a world that makes absolutely no sense and is lying to you, everyday of your life”
• “Do you want something that makes sense? Just believe?”
• “Do you understand and believe that Christ died, was buried, and rose again on the third day for you?”
  • “Oh, you do? Welcome to the Family of God!”

6.  Conclusion

1. Conduct with Truth is a powerful tool

• It’s manipulation free and important if our goal is to make,
  • “And to make all men [women] see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9)