Luke 5:37 (NLT)
”And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.”
I wonder why people keep trying to implement new ideas with old church models. Some think that by wearing “cool” clothes, playing the “latest” worship music, or get rid of the pews and use chairs with cup holders for the coffee that they are thinking outside of the box. All programs are centered around a building; fund-raising, dinners, evangelism, discipleship, and yes, even the worship services.
Ministries spend so much money buildings trying to impress themselves and others while a generation of young people called the Millenials are out there lost because ministries refuse to change their ministerial paradigm. Too many ministries have held on to church model that only resonate to a generation that is dying off. There’s a new wine God want’s to pour into our ministries, but ministries refuse to become new wineskin because the process of becoming a new wineskin is hard one.
Where are the mentors/fathers-Mothers in our churches who God has called to raise up a new generation of men and women to take the Kingdom across the River Jordan (traditions) unto a place where honey and milk are flowing.
What has happened is that many are trying to be relational by dressing different, singing new songs, and disciplining/mentoring from the pulpit. It is basically a one man show takin place in many ministries. Why? Because they are afraid of trying something new, afraid of navigating through unchartered water; they think that if they forsake old proven patterns, they are dishonoring/forsaking the great men and women of God that came before them.
I thank God for the Moses of the Faith that God used to bring us out of the Egypt we were in. That place where we idolize a system rather than loving God with our heart, soul, and mind. I thank God for the Moses and that generation of saints, that generations of deliverers God has used. But today is NEW day with a NEW generation of young men and women who are possessors like Joshua.
So lets “REALLY” think out of the box not just peek out of the windows and called it out of the box. Let’s not only trust God, let’s believe in the vision God has given. Remember God will not bring a new generation into your ministries until you are prepared to receive them.
To reach the next generation for Christ, help change the way you do church. It’s time to shift gears. The next generation is the net generation. They’ve grown up on the internet. They’ve grown up networking. In my parents generation, the Church focused on buildings and institutions. Thank goodness, or we’d have nothing to stand on. In the baby boomer generation, we got involved in programs. Thank goodness, because the Church needs those too. For the next generation, you must shift your emphasis from programs to relationships – from organization to networking – from committees to connecting – from boards to teams – from elections to spiritual gifts. The truth is still the truth. And Jesus is still the center. But the methodology to reach this generation is relationships, discipling, and mentoring. Now that sounds a lot like the New Testament!
