Please turn with me to 1 John 2 - starting at verse 12.

Over the last three Sundays we’ve been looking at fellowship.  We’ve been seeing that fellowship is much deeper than relationship.  Relationship is when we share things in common with other people - as Christians we come together for worship - Bible study - food.  Fellowship is much deeper.  Fellowship is when we’re possessed by God and experience life in Jesus together.

As we struggle with the issues and concerns of life - looking for answers - looking for someone to genuinely care about us - we long to belong to a community that heals and helps - a fellowship that encourages and builds us up as we face the stuff of life.  God desires to have fellowship with us - that’s amazing.  God desires for us to have fellowship with each other - often that’s a struggle for us.  Yet, God, in Jesus, God makes that fellowship possible.

We’ve been seeing that as we open our lives up to God - allow Him to deal with deep issues of our hearts - as we learn to live in obedience to Him - that God takes this odd assortment of people - us - let’s be honest - we’re an odd assortment - God takes us and binds us together in true fellowship in His Son Jesus Christ.

Today - in the verses we’re going to look at - John is focused on the generations of fellowship.

Have you seen Star Trek Generations?  If you haven’t your cultural education is incomplete.  Go rent a copy and see this movie.

One of the main issues in Star Trek Generations is the passing of the baton of leadership - Captain James Tiberius Kirk - getting along in years - needing more make-up - passing the mantle of leadership to Jean Luc Picard - the new captain of the Enterprise - leader of the next generation.  The producers of the movie went to great lengths - pre-release publicity - character and plot development - great lengths to make sure that that baton passing was handled well.  Millions of dollars in fan support - a franchise hung in the balance.  There’s something to be said for being able to pass the baton well.

Often in churches there’s an inter-generational struggle that takes place as the ministry of a congregation is passed - or not passed on - to the next generation.  Have you seen this?  One generation thinks the other generation will never get it.  The other generation thinks the first generation lost it a long time ago.  You decide what generation you belong to.  Often there’s a tension that exists between generations. 

The generations that exist in the fellowship of the church exist to strengthen that fellowship - to strengthen each other - to help us do ministry together.  God designed it that way.  That’s our focus this morning - the generations of fellowship strengthening each other.

1 John 2 - starting at verse 12 - let’s read this out loud together:  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I have written to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Let’s pause here and make some observations about what John is saying.

First observation - fathers and young men.

There are principles here that apply to mothers and young women.  In that sense - applying what John is saying to women - we wouldn’t be saying something that John isn’t saying.  But, we don’t want to lose the significance of John writing to men.

Looking at the society around us - and I don’t want to say this and somehow minimize the importance of mothers and women in our society - but - looking at where we live life - would you agree that the vast number of problems in our society would not exist or could be healed if men would step up to the plate?  That troubled kids are sign of troubled homes - mostly because fathers have failed to father - or to live as godly husbands with their wives?  Would you agree with that?

In the Bible there’s example after example - where the family is seen as the primary place where spiritual maturity is taught - and example after example - when the family fails at that responsibility - there’s tragedy.

The heaviest weight of this responsibility falls on the shoulders of fathers.  Its not by accident that John uses “fathers” to describe those we’re to look up to as examples of Godly maturity.  The head of the home is the father - he’s the one who is to set the spiritual tone of the family - the one to take the spiritual lead - the pattern for others to follow.

If a father is a believer in Jesus Christ there is a 75% likelihood that his children will be.  If the mother alone is a believer that likelihood goes down to 15%. (1)  If a father comes with his child to church there is a 80% likelihood that the child will continue coming as an adult.  If the mother alone comes that likelihood goes down to 30%. (2)

There is a serious importance to John addressing men - the crucial role men have - in the family - in the church.  We don’t want to miss that.

Second observation - chronological generations.

John writes to “little children.”  That is how a 90 or so year old patriarch of the church - an original disciple of Jesus - an aging warrior of the faith - that’s how John addresses the younger generation - with familiarity and love.  Grandpa writin’ to the kids.

That’s comforting.  If you’re under 90 you’re still a kid.

Fathers - are the next youngest generation.  Fathers in the sense of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - patriarchs.  Senior men of the church.  Young men come next.

Third observation - there’s a spiritual chronology.

On one hand John is talking about chronological generations - children - youth - adults - and the relationships between those generations.  On the other hand John is describing different stages of spiritual growth and maturity.

“Fathers” John describes as those who “know Him” - who know Jesus.

When I graduated from high school I spent my first year of college at a junior college.  In those days we used to call junior colleges “high schools with ash trays.”  Things were different back then.  In those days smoking was permitted anywhere.  So all these high school kids - who used to sneak around at high school to smoke - could do it right out in the open.  Along with the smoking there were drugs - alcohol - parties.  It was like high school - the maturity level was about the same - with ash trays.

What was sad - was seeing someone in their 30’s or older - sometimes in their 50’s - endlessly taking basic classes at a junior college - acting with maturity of a high schooler - with no direction and purpose in life.

Spiritual maturity - the kind that we look to as an example for how to live our lives - spiritual maturity doesn’t happen because we get older.  It doesn’t happen because we spend time in and around Christians or because our parents were Christians or we were raised in a Christian home.  It doesn’t happen because we know a lot of things about Christianity.  It doesn’t happen because of our position in the church or the number of years we’ve been attending.

Spiritual maturity is produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we learn to live in daily - total - consistent - obedient - unbroken fellowship and continued dependence on God.  Spiritual maturity comes as we allow God to work in us - through us - changing us to be more and more like Jesus - reflecting His character and fellowship with God.

“To know Jesus” means more than just knowing intellectually about Jesus.  It’s a maturity that comes from knowing Him deeply - His character - His personality.  It’s a knowing that comes with observation and experience - living life with Jesus - depending on Him - through the stuff of life.

“Young men” - those younger in faith - John describes as those who’ve “overcome the evil one.”  They’re new to salvation in Jesus Christ.  They’ve entered into His victory over Satan.  “They’re strong” in their faith.  “The word of God abides in them” - lives in them.

Often I think about the man who proudly showed me his “Sunday School 5 Year Attendance Pin.”  When he was a kid he hadn’t missed a day of Sunday School for 5 years.  At the time he showed me this pin he was in his 70’s.  That sticks in my mind because when he attended our neighborhood Bible study - which he came to because it was in his home - because his wife allowed us to come - during our Bible study it was sadly obvious that he had no understanding of God’s word - no evidence of God’s working in his life.

The word of God abiding in us means that our study of the Bible isn’t something we do just when we feel like it.  Abiding means serious examination - meditation - allowing the Holy Spirit to show us from His word where we need to change.  We lay hold of God’s word and pretty soon - with the working of the Holy Spirit - God’s word lays hold of us.  Grabs on and begins to change us from the inside out.

Do that and we become strong in our faith - confident - bold.  Like Jesus did when He was tested in the wilderness.  Remember how Jesus responded when Satan tried to tempt Him?  Jesus used the word of God to stand firm - to gain victory over temptation.

These young men have the word of God rattling around inside them and by the working of the Holy Spirit they’re learning to live powerfully for Jesus.

Fathers have gone deep in the faith.  Young men are beginning with Jesus.

Fourth observation - John is describing the bond between these generations - chronological - spiritual - a multi-generational bond.

One night in June 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower was walking the beaches of England - alone with his thoughts.  Occasionally he would stop and stare across the dark waters of the English Channel toward the coast of France where the Nazi armies had built a military fortress.  The next dawn would see hundreds of allied ships and thousands of soldiers storm that coast.  Eisenhower knew that for many of those soldiers it would be their last morning.

As he walked along he came across an American private - standing by himself - also staring across the channel.  The General asked him what he was thinking about.  “Home,” came the reply.  The Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces suggested that they walk together - that perhaps they would draw confidence from each other’s company.  So the two men walked on - one older - one younger - one experienced in the ways of war - the other inexperienced - but each man drawing strength from the other. (4)

John writes to his children - encouraging them - counseling them - giving them a pattern to follow.  Those who are looked up to as being spiritually mature - “fathers” - who are coming alongside - walking with - guiding those those who are new in their salvation - “young men” - teaching them how to live in a maturing - deepening - fellowship with Jesus Christ.  Each generation with needs.  Each generation respecting - honoring - valuing - strengthening each other.

That’s the bond.  Generations working together to mature together in Christ.     

Fifth observation - John’s words of encouragement.  John writes, “You know Him.”  “You are strong.”  “The word abides in you.”

You’re doing great!  You’re on the right track.  Young ones who are succeeding in the challenges of life - fathers who are enjoying a rich and deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.”

A lot of congregations have “Youth Sundays” where the “youth” are allowed to do stuff in the Service of Worship.  Normally, youth are not allowed to interfere with the important things we adults do.  But on “Youth Sunday” we put them on display and let them know we value their being around.  Since when have believing youth been any less a part of the congregation?

Last Sunday there were at least 6 youth working at crucial positions of ministry during the Service of Worship.  That’s pretty typical for around here.

Last Sunday - during the worship singing - John was sitting in the second row.  The reason was that Jennifer - our missionary to Rhode Island - was here on vacation and sitting in on bass guitar.  So John sat down.  To step aside - to encourage some one younger to participate in ministry.  That’s cool.

A lot of what John (the Apostle) is talking about is taking place right here.  With our Sunday School teachers - AWANA leaders - youth leaders - as we do ministry as a congregation.  There really is a desire to be multi-generational - to encourage and uplift and strengthen each other.  Do you feel good about this?

<>Turn to the person next to you - give them a high five - and tell them, “Good job!”

God has given us the generations of this fellowship to strengthen us - to grow us.

Coming to verse 15 - John gives a strong warning to the generations.  There’s a danger that threatens us - that we need to be on guard against.

Let’s read these verse out loud together - starting at verse 15:  Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

The enemy of our deepening fellowship with God and each other - the enemy of our growth towards spiritual maturity - is Satan.

Understand this - there’s nothing wrong with the world.  John 3:16 tells us that God loves the world - the people of the world - each of us.  Physically this world is beautiful.

What John is talking about is the part of this world that is under the control of Satan - that hates Jesus - that works in flagrant enmity against God.  Satan - who is continually seeking to destroy our fellowship - to delude us - defeat us - destroy us.

John warns us of the love of the world - a devotion to living the way the world lives apart from God.  In verse 16 he gives a description of what he means.

First - “the lust of the flesh.”  God has created us with certain urges and hungers and to satisfy these isn’t wrong.  The “lust of the flesh” goes beyond our satisfying God given desires.

We hunger for food because we need food to live.  “The lust of the flesh” pursues gluttony and devotion to food.  We need shelter to keep our bodies healthy.  “The lust of the flesh” seeks wanton luxury and ease.  God gives us the intimacy of sex.  “The lust of the flesh” urges us to lewd and immoral behavior.

Second John says there’s the “lust of the eyes.”  God has given each of us a desire to explore what’s around us - to seek to understand and experience  God’s creation.  But there are limits.  When I was in Sunday School we learned a song - one verse said, “Be careful little eyes what you see....”   Remember that?

“The lust of the eyes” goes beyond what God desires for us to see.  When we look into the world of the occult - seek out the erotic - pornography - the perverse - the vulgar - we’re giving into the “lust of the eyes.”  When we covet more - greed that’s never satisfied - seeing and wanting - we’re under the control of our lustful eyes.

Third is “the boastful pride of life” - desiring to create jealousy - envy - praise - from others.  It happens when we focus on having a more expensive house in the best neighborhood - a more prestigious car - when we send our kids to schools that others admire - even when we compare our church facility to others.  When our reputation matters more to us than the glory of God or the well being of His children then we’ve succumbed to “the boastful pride of life.”

The Bible teaches us - from cover to cover - that every breath we take - every beat of our heart - every talent we have - that we even know of God and His love - that we experience His grace and His mercy - our very salvation - all of this comes from God - not us.  Paul writes in Romans 3:27 “Where then is boasting?”  Who are we to draw attention to ourselves and not to glorify God?

And yet, this is where our world is today - focused on pleasing self.  Lost in the pursuit of the flesh - controlled by insatiable desires - climbing over each other to get to the top of the heap.  John warns us - these things are not from God - but from the world - which is dying.   They keep us from what really matters - a strong - deepening - maturing - fellowship with God that lasts forever.

Hear this - Satan uses the world to lure Christians into pride and ego - to focus on ourselves and our own selfish desires.

Mature Christians begin to think that this church is what we’ve built - a legacy of our own making - something we need to control and defend and protect.  We know how the church should be.

The growing Christian grabs some truth - and we want to launch off in new directions.  We lack humility and honoring of those ahead of us.  We demand what meets our needs.  Because we know how the church should be.

There’s a danger here for us.  As we move forward around here - building facilities that in a much greater way facilitate ministry - as God opens up new doors of opportunity for us in ministry - if we’re not tight together as generations in fellowship - Satan - who really hates us - Satan will try to us our uniqueness to shred us as a congregation.

The news is good.  God is doing a good work here.  Generations are moving forward together.  That comes as we let go of ourselves and pursue God together.

Church - can we covenant together - as generations brought together by God - to keep our guard up - to keep praying - to keep ourselves open to God - to help each other and encourage each other to follow God - as we serve Him together.

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1. Keith Meyering, in Discipleship Journal, issue #49, page 41
2. On the Father Front, Christian Service Brigade, Spring, 1995, page 4
3. Phil Downer, Eternal Impact, page 13