BRIDGING GENERATIONAL GAPS IN FELLOWSHIP

Hello everyone, happy sunday to you all. Wish you a blesed wek ahead. Today,I am going to talk about fellowships.

Acts 2: 42-47. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

So much of the conflicts we see in churches today fall into a general category called "Generational Issues." The various generations represented in the church today are radically different from one another in terms of how they communicate, how they form and maintain relationships, and how they worship. The problem is not as simple as sitting down and figuring out who is right and who is wrong, but much more on how we can work together in harmony, mutual love and respect. What young people need is not just knowledgeable elderly people who just preach at them. They want approachable mothers and fathers who will share a meal, listen, ask questions and invite co equal participation. The elderly also abhor proud and unteachable youths. We are often blinded to the discrimination that exists between old and young.

'Ageism' is a reality, and it works both ways. It is time we come together to understand the nature of the different generations and work towards better and interdependent fellowship in the church.

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THE NATURE OF OUR FELLOWSHIP

• Fellowship with God our Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ is, and should be, the basis, foundation and focus of our worship (1 John 1:1-3). It is in Him that we have hope and our faith is cemented.

• Fellowship with other believers who are members of God's family (Hebrews 10:25). Church members ought to have tender consideration and love for one another. We should in love, consider one another's strengths, weaknesses, needs and so on, in order to help one another become better in our race to eternity.

THE COMPOSITION OF OUR FELLOWSHIP

• We are many but one body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Our strength is truly in our differences. When we harness the strengths of the different generations, we are better off for it. We all cannot be old. And all of us cannot be young.

• We are each unique but not isolated (1 Corinthians 120). God HIS infinite mercy made each person and age group unique and special. We should work towards benefitting from this uniqueness because no generation can fully function without the other

• We are different by design and we have different needs (l Corinthians 12.22-26). When we appreciate our differences, we will appreciate our different mind sets and thereby work towards meeting the special needs of our different generations In worship capacity building and involvements.

• We all make special contributions for the good of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:7). There is a Yoruba saying that 'the older man's hand can't dip into the gorge and the young boy's hand can't reach the rooftops'. Every age group in church has specific contributions it can make. Any group left out leaves a huge vacuum in the whole.

THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS

• Parent-Child Relationship (1 Corinthians 4:14, 15). A wise child will never out-grow the counsel of his/her godly parents. Children will always have many things to learn from their parents. Such relationships are fully needed in the church always and vice-versa.

• Weak-Strong Relationship (Romans 15:1, 2). The weak in our midst will always need the strength of the strong to lean on. With that, we build up one another.

• Poor—Rich Relationship (2 Corinthians 8:14, 15). Jesus said the poor will always be in our midst (Matthew 26:11a). So, when the rich share with the poor, there is relief for the poor and reward from the Lord for the rich. Whichever way, it builds equality and comfort.

• One Body Many Members Relationship (1 Corinthians 12:2327). As every member of the human body draws balance from one another, so are we in the Body of Christ. Everyone is uniquely special. Everyone is needed and nobody is a nonentity before the Lord. There should be no division. This is important.
  
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BRIDGING THE GAPS IN FELLOWSHIP

• Do not neglect fellowshipping together (Acts 2:44). When believers of all ages associate together, we foster mutual love and understanding. These enhance our fellowshipping together.

• Acknowledge and appreciate the differences in age, gender and social needs (Matthew 19:13, 14; Acts 6:2-4). The Church should be sensitive to the unique needs of the different age groups, such as teenagers, youths, unmarried singles and young adults who are married. The church should also provide to meet those needs.

• Seek the common good of all (Philippians 2:3, 4). There is no greater enemy to Christian love than pride and self glorification. When each believer looks forward and seeks to esteem the other, we grow better. In the church, we should seek the good of others before our own.

• Make allowance for the unique needs of each group (1 Corinthians 12:23). When we understand the uniqueness of every group in the church, we will be in a better position to cater directly for the peculiar needs of each group. It becomes easier to cater specifically for the aged, pensioners, job seekers, young couples, teenagers etc. Then, the church becomes an allen compassing place to be.

• Use your graces, gifts and talents to serve others (Ephesians 4:16). By doing so, we develop those areas of grace, gifts and talents. We will thereby maximize our God given potentials.

Have a lovely week ahead.