Training the Next Generation

June 17

(Acts 13:5b NIV) “John was with them as their helper.”

(Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV) "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. {7} Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

(Judges 2:10 NIV) "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel."

When Saul and Barnabas set off on their first missionary journey, they took a young man by the name of John Mark with them as an intern. Their ministry team was intergenerational. Saul later did the same thing with Timothy. He was always training up someone younger. We should also be training up the next generation, and whether we know it or not, we already are. We all have a John Mark of some kind watching us -- a teen, or a child, or a grandchild. As they follow you around today and observe your walk, will they be inspired to follow Jesus? Who will be serving the Lord in the next generation because you modeled faith for them and made a difference in their lives? Someone has said that the church is always only one generation away from extinction. Do your part to prevent that from happening. Make disciples in the generations that follow in your footsteps. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Proclamation

June 16

(Acts 13:4-5 NIV) "The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. {5} When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues."

(Colossians 1:25-29 NIV) "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- {26} the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. {27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. {28} We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. {29} To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."

(1 John 1:1-3 NIV) "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. {2} The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. {3} We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

(John 12:32 NIV) "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.""

When Saul and Barnabas arrived at Salamis, their mission’s purpose immediately became clear. They had come to proclaim the word of God. They preached the good news of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of all who would repent and believe. As individuals and churches, we may use various methods to share the love of Jesus, and point people to the Lord… feeding programs, big events, great music, or children’s programs. We find ways to love people and give glory to God, but our highest calling is to share the gospel -- to proclaim the word of God. If we fail at this, we have failed our mission. Whatever it takes, we must proclaim it. We tell people about Jesus. We don’t save people -- only Jesus does that. But we lift Him up, because if we lift Him up, He will draw people unto himself. That’s our calling. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Called, Affirmed, Sent Out

June 15

(Acts 13:3 NIV) "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

(Luke 9:1-2 NIV) "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, {2} and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."

(John 17:13-18 NIV) "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. {14} I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. {15} My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. {16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. {17} Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. {18} As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

There is a sense in which all who follow Jesus are “sent”. The call to “go and make disciples” in Matthew 28, and the call “be my witnesses” in Acts 1, are standing orders for all who believe that Jesus is Lord. All Christians have been “sent” in some way, to someone, somewhere. But the Holy Spirit led the church in Antioch to bless Saul and Barnabas for a special mission. They were sent out as traveling evangelists and church planters. They were called, affirmed and sent out by a local church just like yours and mine. God’s blessing came through the church where they were serving. Today, we have too many “lone rangers” who see gifts in themselves and call themselves. They seek counsel from no one, and have little, if any accountability. But the pattern set by the early church is for those who feel a call to seek the counsel and blessing of their church. That’s still a good plan. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Set Apart and Called

June 14

(Acts 13:2 NIV) "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

(Romans 1:1-4 NIV) "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- {2} the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures {3} regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, {4} and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."

Saul and Barnabas were “set apart” and “called” by God. Is this still important? Many churches today look for a leader with a higher education, rather than a leader with a higher calling. Too many see ministry as a profession rather than a calling. To be truly effective for God’s Kingdom, a call is essential. Without a calling, we may become good employees of a church, but seldom excel as great servants of Jesus Christ. Without a calling, we are doomed to being duty- bound workers rather than Spirit-filled laborers. Without a calling, we will lack the stamina and zeal necessary to complete the difficult missions set before us. Barnabas and Saul would need that sense of calling to carry them through lonely nights when they’d been rejected, beaten, and jailed for disturbing the peace. Being called and set apart would keep them going when others were giving up. It still works that way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day