I landed in Manila around midnight last night. I probably should have “just said no” but during a non-jet lag moment, I agreed to preach the Victory Fort 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services. I hope I am able to stay awake during my sermons tomorrow morning.
Did my usual Manila Saturday routine—meeting with ten Victory preachers, exchanging ideas about our sermon. I get to work with the best sermon team in the world!
Here’s a summary of our current series, “www.victory – the Why, What and Who of Victory”
Week 1
Q: Why Does Victory Exist?
A: To Honor God
Week 2
Q: What Does Victory Do?
A: Make Disciples
Week 3
Q: Who Does Victory Target?
A: “Every Generation in Our Nation”
We often talk about leadership in terms of “passing the baton” to the next generation. Like all illustrations, this baton image is incomplete, and might actually communicate the exact opposite of how a “multi-generational” church should work.
In an Olympic relay race, as soon as the baton is passed, the runner who passed the baton has nothing left to do. He has finished his part of the race and heads to the locker room. This is why some older leaders are hesitant to pass the baton. They are not ready to quit their race. So, some refuse to let go until they are in a coffin.
Rather than the baton pass, I think there is a better picture of how a multi-generational ministry should function. Few blog-readers remember Phil Jackson as a backup during the New York Knicks 1973 NBA championship. Most today know Phil as the “zin-master” who collected ten NBA championship rings coaching the Jordan Bulls and the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. But before he was super-coach, his claim to fame was leading the NBA in personal fouls (330) in the ’74–’75 season.
When Phil’s average NBA career was over he had three choices. He could become a spectator, a commentator, or a coach.
So many church members have become spectators and commentators. They are no longer in the game, so they watch or they become expert talkers. Rather than being spectators or commentators, we should become spiritual coaches—not passing the baton then retiring, but staying involved and helping the next generation become great.
Paul described this multi-generational approach to ministry in 2 Timothy 1:5 when he reminded Timothy of the “sincere faith” that was handed down from his grandmother to his mother to him. Then Paul told Tim to give that faith to faithful people who would be able to give it to others (2 Timothy 2:2). That’s five generations of multi-generational church!
1. Lois, the grandmother
2. Eunice, the mother
3. Timothy
4. Faithful people
5. Other people
Since this is supposed to be a sermon preview, I’ll stop there and save the rest for tomorrow morning. . .
See you at Victory-Fort.
