Sent – Next Generation

Follow Along with the Message

Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the NASB (1995) translation.

God’s Kingdom looks forward through generations.

• Adam and Eve – the woman’s seed
• Abraham – Isaac, then Jacob (Israel), then the tribes
• David – the Messiah King
• Jesus – The one who comes after me (Holy Spirit), the Church

The promise of Jesus came through and continues through generations.

• Each generation is sent to the .

How are we sent to the Next Generation?

1.         Receive them ().

Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

--Matthew 18:4-7

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hand on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children along, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

--Matthew 19:13-14

• This step is hard for some.
• Pray that the Lord helps us see the eternal, not the temporal.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as a man sees, for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

--1 Samuel 16:7

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come.

--2 Corinthians 5:16-17

2.         Teach them ().

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

--Deuteronomy 6:6-7

For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet born, that they may arise and tell them to their children.

--Psalms 78:5-6

• This is more than behavioral management.
• Conversational, intentional, testimonial

3.         Send them ().

• Moses to Joshua
• Elijah to Elisha
• David to Solomon
• Paul to Timothy
• Are we still holding on to things we should be passing on?

Application: Make one step toward being Sent to the Next Generation.

1.   Repent from practices or outlooks that hinder the next generation who are seeking Jesus.

2.   Have or plan one intentional conversation with the next generation.

3.   Invite the next generation into partnership with you, or release to someone who has been alongside you.