Think Orange: Leverage Influence

Personal Comments: Before we get into our message this morning, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and words of encouragement this week following my car accident this past Sunday afternoon.



As you can see from the photo on the screen, I am truly grateful to be able to walk away from this “head on accident” with just a few bruises and a banged up knee. The amazing thing is that last Sunday, Cindy Garland shared during a Communion Meditation about her recent car accident and some spiritual lessons that she learned from that experience. As I listened to Cindy’s testimonial, I had no idea that in approximately 5 hours, I would be experiencing a car accident of my own!

It is truly amazing how many times what is shared or discussed on Sunday mornings, I will personally experience that specific challenge during the coming week. With that said, we would like to schedule upcoming testimonies of individuals who have recently won the lottery, or have recently experienced the challenges of unexpected blessings in their life! If you have had that experience, then please let me know and we would like to schedule you to share in the weeks to come!!  Seriously, we are looking for more individuals who would share communion meditations as we plan for an exciting fall at Southwest Church. Let’s Pray (Hurricane Irene)!

Introduction: This morning, we are going to wrap up our 5 week discussion on learning the importance of beginning to “Think Orange.” Throughout this message series, we have looked at the importance of the church (represented by the color yellow) and families (represented by the color red) combining efforts to Think Orange and have a greater impact in the lives of children and students!

This morning as we draw this series to conclusion, we hope that it is only the beginning of us Thinking Orange and learning to Leverage (our collective) Influence to make a difference in future generations not only in the church, but in the community. And as we think about our theme this morning which is for us to understand the importance of learning how to work together as a church and families and Leverage Influence to make a difference in the lives of children and student. How are we doing? And how can we improve? Traditionally the church has approached children’s ministry and student ministry with a “teaching approach” model seen through Sunday School Classes and/or some type of classroom instructional model. And yet we have to ask ourselves: Is that the most effective way to lead the next generation to become passionate followers of Christ?

Bear with me this morning, as we seek to draw a parallel from a popular activity for some of our teens and adults … rock climbing or its more challenging cousin, “mountain climbing.”




Can you imagine how silly it would be for us to schedule an hour presentation or class on the subject of “Mountain Climbing” and think at the conclusion of that presentation that everyone in attendance would be proficient rock climbers? Or even for that matter would you be inspired to begin rock climbing?

The truth is that the best way to learn how to climb a mountain is to begin climbing … whether it is in Joe Garland’s garage or at the Urban Crag in Dayton and then eventually build up to climbing a mountain. My hunch is that Joe Garland, would tell you the best way to teach someone how to climb is to hand them a rope!

Well … what’s the best way to help the next generation become Lover’s of God and followers of Christ? Is it to simply put them in a class once a week, or is it to help them put into practice what faith they do have so they can exercise and develop their faith. That is why I was so encouraged a few weeks ago, when I walked out of the Y following our Sunday morning services to find a note on my windshield that my car windows had been washed by the 5th and 6th Grade Students! I thought … wow we have teachers who are getting it!!! The same is true for students and adults as well … this fall along with our 4 week September series, our small groups are going to be experiencing in October and November a very different small group series entitled, The Tangible Kingdom, in which we will be encouraged and challenged in small groups to put our faith into practice in tangible ways.



Remember what the Bible says …

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17 NIV

That is why I like what … Reggie Joiner the author of Think Orange said, when he wrote …
“If what they have heard doesn’t move from their heads to their hands, it will probably never make it to their hearts” - Reggie Joiner “Think Orange”

So as we plan for the future “Thinking Orange” let’s look for ways that the church and parents can work together to help leverage our influence to help future generations truly experience in a personal way, Wonder, Discovery, and Passion.

Let’s first help the next generation of worshippers to experience the wonder of …

A Dynamic Faith in God (Wonder)
Listen to the powerful instruction on this matter found in Psalm 78 …
O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.

So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. Psalm 78:1-8 NLT

Let’s look for creative “hands on opportunities” that the church and parents can work together to help the next generation set their hope anew on God!!! Let’s continue to look for worship experiences both in our collective setting together and in our homes & beyond to help our children and students to truly be amazed at how great God is and give their hearts to the LORD!!

Back to our parallel this morning, let’s not simply talk about rock climbing … let’s hand them a rope! Let’s not simply talk about worshipping God, let’s create opportunities for our children and students to sense the wonder of God and to give Him their hearts!!!