By Randy Jumper
Psalm 145:4–6 says, "One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your greatness."
This passage highlights the importance of intergenerational communication. Almost always this passage is presented – and probably the intent of the writer – as support for older generations leading younger generations in the ways of the Lord. But, I think there is value in both generations speaking to each other about the goodness of the Lord. Young adults should not wait on the sidelines to talk about Jesus. There is no “waiting your turn” in Christian ministry. As young adult leaders, you should create opportunities for young adults to be active in ministry and share Jesus. Young adults can lead older generations into a deeper experience with God.
When generations pass faith to each other, this perpetuates the faith. When young people hear about the works of God from their elders, it helps them to understand and appreciate their faith. It also helps them to build a strong foundation in their faith that they can carry with them throughout their lives. When young people share their experiences of God with their elders, it helps to build a sense of community and belonging. It also breaks down the barriers between generations and creates a more unified faith community.
These all work together to inspire others. When young people share about the Lord, it rekindles the passion and fire of older people. When older saints speak of the great things God has done in their life, it inspires young adults to have a deeper faith in God. What He has done for others, He can do for them. Each generation can learn from each other.
Even though there are challenges, everyone has something to learn from each other. By sharing our experiences of God, we can all grow in our faith and build a stronger community.
To help young adults do this, young adult leaders can teach them specific ways to speak to an older generation about the works of God:
Share personal testimonies. Tell elders how God has worked in your life. Include stories of answered prayer, miracles, or times when God has helped you through difficult times. Share how your faith has grown over time. This could include stories of how you have learned more about God, how you have experienced His love, or how you have been challenged by your faith.
Speak with honor and thanks. Younger believers should know the elders they are sharing with have paved the way for them to be there. Teach young adults to speak with respect and honor. Include times of thanks and blessing each other. When our young adult group first started, we regularly attended the senior adult events and served them. We brought breakfast to their Sunday school class. We helped them with projects. In giving honor and respect, we received it.
Ask questions. Don’t just say things, ask things. Teach your young adults to learn from the decades of experience the previous generations have. Learn from each other. If you have questions about your faith, don't be afraid to ask your elders. They may have insights that you haven't considered. Be open to learn. Be willing to listen to your elders' experiences and beliefs. Even if you don't agree with everything they say, you can still learn from them. Be genuine and sincere in your desire to learn from your elders and to share your faith with them. When you do this, you can build a stronger faith community and inspire others to live for God.
Give God the glory. If you aren’t careful, sometimes your testimony sounds more like your successes than God’s work. Make sure that you do what this scripture commands – talk about what God has done. God has done great things, make those things known!
The vision of the Acts 2 church is one where young adults and senior adults minister to each other. One group sees visions and another dreams dreams. Build a church full of the vision and dreams of the Lord. Make sure that each groups shares those visions and dreams with each other. The Lord designed His church to be multi-generational.