Vision (3): Church for All Generations

Acts 2:38-42

We are continuing with our Vision Series. We have looked at for the past two weeks how we can know about God and how we can live for God.

The way we get to know God and God’s will for us is through the Word of God. God’s Word also equips us to live out our lives for God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When you look at the life of Jesus, you see how Jesus lived the life centered around the Word. When he was tempted, he was victorious through the Word. He taught and explained the Scriptures to his followers. Even when he was dying on the cross, he recited the Scriptures. I believe if our lives were centered around the Word, like Jesus was, then our lives will be so much more meaningful. As Psalm 1 declares, we will enjoy the blessings of God much more if we were to meditate on his Word day and night.

This Word teaches us that the purpose of our lives is to glorify God. However, because of sin, we have fallen short of the glory of God. But Jesus accomplished what we could not. He lived the life we should have lived, and he died the death that we should have died. And the righteousness Christ earned through his perfect life, he gave to us and he took our sins upon himself on the cross. All this happens to us through the grace of God.

So the Christianity is unlike any other religious. Other religions say one must work and put in efforts to reach God, but Christianity says that we are considered righteous through the efforts of Christ. And to all us, who are recipient of this amazing grace, God promises the Holy Spirit to help us offer our lives for the glory of God. So, we, having received the gift of salvation, simply need to live our lives in thanksgiving for all God has done.

There is one thing we must take note here. And this is the vision of the True Light Community Church. In our text today, in verse 38, “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” When we are baptized and forgiven of our sins, we will receive the Holy Spirit, who will enable us to live the life that pleases God. This is spoken by Peter, already filled with the Holy Spirit, to the people who gathered in Jerusalem, for the celebration of Pentecost. Peter is saying that through Jesus Christ, the chasm that existed between God and us have disappeared, and we now have the ability to live for God’s glory, and that life is the blessed one.

But the important thing to note here is for whom is this life of blessing promised? Verse 39, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” This promise of blessing is for everyone whom God calls. The age, ethnicity, gender, or all those things do not matter. It is for all. And this is the point of emphasis for us.

What is the vision of our church? Vision 2020 “Community of faith, dedicated to building the body of Christ.” Our church’s vision is to be a community of faith that is dedicated to building the body of Christ together. When we say community, we mean all generations within this community.

Those of you who might be new to our church might have been intrigued that everyone worships together, which is not a common practice in Korean churches. From little children all the way up to Abraham Group, our senior adults, we worship together. And we do it bilingual at that.

That is not all. The Bible Study in Korean on Wednesdays and in English on Sundays are the same topic. Once we put everything in place, even our children will be learning the same thing.

The reason is simple. In order for us to be a church where all generations build the body of Christ together, then we all need to listen, learn, meditate, and do ministry together. It is our hope to truly be a church where all generations engage in ministry together.

We will explain more next week, but there will be changes in our worship and Bible Studies and our Sunday school programs. But one thing that will not change is that we will study the same materials, continue to have opportunities to meet together, and continue to minister together.

Why do we have to do this? Isn’t it easier if students were to worship with other students, children attend children’s church, and adults worship together with other adults? Then they can worship in the style they enjoy, and the messages can be catered to their needs. Doesn’t it make sense that I listen to the message that has relevance to me, sing the songs that I feel blessed by, and worship in the style that I can relate to?

Lots of people think this way. And that’s how lots of churches do their ministry. The first church that I served full time had a minister for each of the age groups: infants, toddler, kindergarten, children, youth, college, English speaking, young adults, adults, and senior adults. Everyone had their own pastors and everyone had their own worship services. Especially in the United States, where language barriers become an issue, people think this is the most effective way to minister.

But just because it is an effective way does not mean it is God-pleasing way. Biblically speaking, faith is practiced in the context of a family. Abraham received circumcision together with all his sons. Moses commanded Israelites to eat the Passover meals together as a family. He also told Israelites to teach their children to love God, and the Proverbs teaches people to instruct their children in the way of the Lord. We see in the New Testament that the entire household of Cornelius was baptized together into faith. Paul led the entire family of a Philippian jailor to the family of faith. Paul also addressed children directly in his letter to Ephesus church, indicating that children were regular participants in the worship.

Worshipping and ministering together like this is biblical model. Yes, this means that there are some uncomfortable moments and one must make sacrifices. It just does not seem all that effective way to do ministry. But is segregating worship or ministry more effective? I’m afraid not. Many of the studies recently point to the fact that the reason many youth and young adults are leaving the church is the youth group and children’s ministry. In children’s ministry and youth ministry, they might hear the relevant message, but they never learn to become spiritually mature. The tradition and spiritual practices and identities are not passed down.

Look at what’s happening in Korea. There are so many churches where they have a great, well-ran Sunday school programs. But what is the result? It might be effective in a short-run, but the fact that less than 3% of Korean young adults identify themselves as Christians speaks volumes. Passing down our faith to the next generation is a big homework the churches need to tackle.

I believe our faith can be passed down well by all generations working and doing ministry together. We need to worship together, do missions together, evangelize together, study the Word together, pray together, and through these learn from each other. Some of us feel that children might not be ready to engage in these practices, but when they are prepared well, they certain can do well. Often it is matter of us underestimating the ability of our children.

Sometimes we exclude children in worship out of fear that they might bother others. But I take it this way. The purpose of worship is not about us, but it is all about God. Rather than thinking about what I can get out of worship service, we need to think about whether God is glorified and pleased. Then what kind of worship will God be more pleased with? Is it where children are separated for the convenience of parents and others in the congregation or the one where whole family come together before God?

Think about this. Would a grandfather be more pleased by his 80th birthday celebration that runs smoothly, because children were excluded or one where children run, yell, and sometimes interrupt what people were trying to do?

Of course, it wouldn’t be right that children become so wild that they become a huge distraction. That’s where parents’ effort and discipline come in. If children are prepared throughout the week to look forward to worship services on Sunday, I have no doubt that they can be part of worship that honors God.

We talked a lot of children. Some of us might feel that this sermon has nothing to do with me. I do not have children, or my children go to different church…or even that I am a child. But this is something all of us need to hear and put into practice. We are all one family in Christ. So children in the church are our children and the elderly in our church are our parents. We need to love and value each child and also respect and honor each adult. And if we, with mutual respect, pray, share, serve with one another, then we will be able to build up the church God is pleased with. We will learn from each other and be more mature in Christ together.

We all know that God has given different people different talents and gifts. God called people into different ministries and offices. So everyone must work with each other in order to become more complete church. But there is one thing I would like to add here. God gave different people different gifts, but I also believe that God gives different talents to a person in different stages of their lives. The gift of God manifests itself differently when one is a child or a student or an adult. Even the same gift will have different fruits, depending on the season of one’s life.

What this means is that as various generations gather together, even more complete picture of a church can be painted. Adults can learn from children and children can learn from adults, and all can experience God more fully.

I have experienced immigrant churches from various regions of the country. One common thing every church seems to mention is how they need to work for the next generation. But too often that meant doing church education program well, so that the adults can worship God without any distraction of children.

But our church, the True Light Community Church, long before I became a pastor here, chose to not just work for the next generation, but have all generations work together and grow together. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Let us hold onto this promise and work to build the body of Christ together.

Even if you are little uncomfortable, let’s put in efforts to work together for the sake of others. This is what Jesus Christ, who did not just endure little discomfort, but gave all of himself up for us, desires to see in us.

Let us together become the True Light Community Church, a community of faith dedicated to building the body of Christ.