"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Monday evening Women's Ministries hosted a Table Talk Event* focusing on Titus 2 as, "...a call for us to live differently, do relationships with others differently and speak and act differently because of God's grace that saves us and instructs us to live in a new way" (Marcia Lichte). This multi-generational gathering focused on God's transforming grace and the yearning to live in a way that is pleasing to Him and, "The realization that [our] daily relationship with God is based on the infinite merit of Christ instead of on [our] own performance..." (Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace).

The Gospel provides the gravity (Christ's blood) that pulls us to our knees at the cross where we can mercifully cling; grounded, changed. The unifying force of the Holy Spirit creates an accordance with the Lord that transcends and overrides any propensity towards divisiveness as we are drawn to other believers (Ephesians 4:3). Knowing God gives us a desire deep inside to love one another as Christ first loved us, sincerely and deeply from the heart (1 John 4:19, 1 Peter 1:22). Christ's presence binds us into an intergenerational body enabling accessible, familial relationships, mentorships, and friendships to grow.

Titus 2 outlines the mutual benefit and blessing derived from life together where we support, serve, encourage, and learn from each other bound by the mercy and grace of our Lord* (Titus 3:5-7). It is through these examples that we reflect the light of Christ as "God's people not good people" providing an opportunity for those who do not know Him to see the unique way our shared joy in His presence unites us in community (1 Peter 2:12) and reflects His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

"Spirit filled, multi-generational unity is a powerful witness to God’s work in our churches" (Daniel Renstrom, Multi-Generational Worship). As foreigners and exiles living in the world let's endeavor to present a genuine closeness that defies logic outside of the unifying work of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:11-12, Titus 2:12)!

*For those of you who were unable to attend the above mentioned event, click here for the evening's Bible study: "Titus 2" Table Talk Bible Study.

*Scripture makes it clear that we should be involved in each other’s lives, teaching, encouraging, and correcting each other in accordance with sound doctrine. For additional information about mentorship, click here: Mentoring Relationships

Multi-Generational Worship by Daniel Renstrom

This is pure speculation, but it seems to me that when the modern worship movement came into town, churches became more and more age segregated. There is probably a doctoral student somewhere in America working on this topic right now, so I’ll wait for that book to come out to tell me more about it. But as a general observation, I do not remember churches in my youth having such radical age divides as they do now...

Continue reading here: Multi-Generational Worship – TGC Worship.

Related link: What Young Christians Can Learn From the Elderly | Life is Better in Community