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#23: NextGen Ministry Lessons from King David (Psalm 71)
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Episode Overview
In this deeply personal and Scripture‑saturated episode, Rich walks through Psalm 71 and shows how an aging, battle-worn King David becomes a surprising mentor for today’s NextGen leaders. Drawing from David’s life in his early 60s during the heartbreak of Absalom’s rebellion, Rich unpacks what it means to declare God’s greatness to the next generation even when we feel tired, limited, or overwhelmed.
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation.” (Psalm 71:18)
This episode is a call to remember God’s faithfulness, embrace our limitations, and recommit to the lifelong calling of discipling the next generation.
Key Themes
David’s Context: A King in His 60s on the Run yet Trusting God
- Rich explains that Psalm 71 was written when David was likely 62–63 years old, during or immediately after Absalom’s rebellion.
- David is no longer the giant‑slayer. He’s older, physically diminished, emotionally drained, and carrying the weight of family brokenness — yet still clinging to God.
Three Angles on David’s Life
Rich frames Psalm 71 through three lenses:
- Past Dependence — “From birth I have relied on you.” David remembers God’s steady presence across every season.
- Present Vulnerability — “Do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” David feels his limits, his aging body, and the pain of betrayal.
- Future Purpose — “Even when I’m old and gray… let me declare your power to the next generation.” David doesn’t want comfort — he wants usefulness.
What This Means for NextGen Leaders
Rich connects David’s story to the calling of ministry leaders today:
- We all have history with God — sacred moments where He met us.
- We all feel limitations — fatigue, discouragement, cultural shifts, aging.
- But we still have a calling — and it doesn’t expire.
“Your calling doesn’t have an expiration date. Your influence doesn’t have a retirement age. Your voice shouldn’t get weaker but weightier.”
Resources Mentioned
Next Gen Matters – https://www.nextgenmatters.com/
Email for Rich Brown (NGM): rich@nextgenmatters.com
Subscribe for NGM Thursday Tools email
Watch this episode on YouTube
The Bible (Scripture references in order: Psalm 71-1-24; 2 Samuel 15–18; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Psalm 78)
Timestamps
00:01 – Introduction to Psalm 71 and the Next Gen focus
01:17 – Context and authorship of Psalm 71
03:18 – Historical setting: David during Absalom’s rebellion
09:49 – Understanding David’s emotional and spiritual state
12:42 – Three perspectives: past dependence, present vulnerability, future purpose
18:51 – Applying David’s story to modern ministry leaders
25:13 – The ongoing calling to reach the next generation
27:54 – Practical call to action: reflect, pray, share, and lead
33:06 – Personal story and legacy-driven leadership
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Psalm 71
00:00:01
NextGen Matters
Last week I read Psalm 71 while in my daily chronological time in the Word and I thought the message of this passage needs to be addressed in the upcoming Next Gen Matters podcast. So with that as the backdrop, today we're talking about the life of King David and the ministry lessons we can learn from this old king.
Influence on the Next Generation
00:00:24
NextGen Matters
Just like David, you and I are seeking to declare the goodness and the greatness of God to another generation. So whether that is the students in your ministries, or if you have children at home, your own kids, or in my case, it's grandkids that are climbing all over my furniture and climbing all over GPOP.
00:00:44
NextGen Matters
So no matter what place of influence you have with the next generation, this Psalm, Psalm 71, resonates with our hearts. So get ready to learn about the Next Gen Ministry Framework from a 60-something King David.
Guidance for Ministry Leaders
00:01:04
NextGen Matters
Hey friend, this is Rich Brown and welcome to the Next Gen Matters podcast, a show for ministry leaders seeking to move beyond overwhelm and move into leading with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
00:01:17
NextGen Matters
So yeah, let's step right into the context of Psalm 71. As we step into it, i want to point out that this Psalm speaks to the heart of the matter of why you and I do what we do.
King David's Dual Roles
00:01:33
NextGen Matters
You know, you and I both seek to declare the goodness and the greatness of God to another generation. And I would say this includes the students that you serve and if God has so blessed you with children, your own family.
00:01:48
NextGen Matters
Just like David, as we're going to see as we play this this passage out in this shortened episode, we're going to be seeing that David is thinking of himself as a king, but also as a dad and a grandfather.
00:02:03
NextGen Matters
Just like you and I, so many of us are serving in places of influence in our local church or our or our Christian organization, but we also have our own families. And our heart's cry is for both of those, let's say, places of influence, our home and our ministry position, that the next generation would catch fire of the things of God.
00:02:26
NextGen Matters
Well, who wrote this? Because I say that because most Psalms that David writes, his name is at the very top of of that Psalm. In this case, Psalm 71, there is no, you know, a...
00:02:39
NextGen Matters
a Psalm of David type, you know, heading.
Authorship of Psalm 71
00:02:43
NextGen Matters
But yet when, when you look into it, most commentators, matter of fact, all that I read would say that David, yes, David was the,
00:02:53
NextGen Matters
let's say the writer, the psalmist of Psalm 71. So while this Psalm doesn't necessarily state that David was the author, the evidence is there. Most scholars attribute this to David. Plus, I'm going to get in the weeds with y'all. The Septuagint even does add at the top of Psalm 71, you ready? Quote of David of the sons of Jonadab and the first ones taken captive. So yeah, David...
00:03:18
NextGen Matters
David wrote this, all right? So that's who wrote it. But when did he write this? And this is imperative for us to really see the depth and the riches of this psalm.
00:03:32
NextGen Matters
How many times have I read this psalm? I have no idea. I read the word through every year, so it's probably been over 40 times, if not more.
00:03:43
NextGen Matters
And yet I never knew until I just called a timeout, stopped, did some investigating of the actual timeline of David's life when he wrote this psalm.
David's Reflection Post-Rebellion
00:03:54
NextGen Matters
This is huge.
00:03:56
NextGen Matters
You see, what's going on when David writes this? This is at the back end of his life. Now keep in mind, David becomes king at the age of 30. He passes away at the age of 70.
00:04:08
NextGen Matters
This is in his 60s. So his age is in his 60s. Probably, again, many many commentators and different sources I was looking at puts him about the age of 62 or 63. And my mind blows as I say that because that's exactly my age. I'm like, this dude is my age or I'm his age as he's writing this. So that's his age, his early sixty s But what is going on and why does he write this? And this is the goal to this passage. This is the goal this passage.
00:04:44
NextGen Matters
What's going on right now? David is writing this either during the rebellion of Absalom against him when David was on the run for his very life, when he had to leave Jerusalem, leave his own throne, leave his palace because his son took over,
00:05:03
NextGen Matters
or it's right afterward. Either case, and I would kind of lean into as you see this passage play out, it's actually during his time of absence from the throne. It's so fresh for him as he's writing this.
00:05:18
NextGen Matters
But my goodness, when and when when you see this passage in light of David in his early 60s, David on the run from Absalom, and David's heart's cry for the next generation, oh,
00:05:32
NextGen Matters
got yeah Guys, it all makes sense. It all makes sense. Now, again, in the weeds a little bit. Timeline of BC, if you will. okay So David's death takes place around 985 BC.
00:05:48
NextGen Matters
Absalom's rebellion. This is just historical you know frameworks here. Absalom's rebellion. is eight years before that, 1993 BC. David dies at 70, that's how we kind of place him about 62 years of age.
00:06:04
NextGen Matters
So if Absalom's rebellion occurs roughly eight years before David's death, then David would have been, like I said, about 62 at this point in his life. We see this in 2 Samuel verse i mean chapters 15 through 18, where David is clearly the older individual. He's not the young gun anymore. He's older. He's physically diminished. He's emotionally drained.
00:06:28
NextGen Matters
Yet he's still capable of strategic leadership and also deep paternal grief.
Challenges in Leadership and Family
00:06:34
NextGen Matters
Because right after the death of Solomon, right after the death of Absalom, he cries out,
00:06:42
NextGen Matters
Oh, Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son, which is reflecting such deep emotional depth of this older father. Also think what's been going on. You know, David is no longer this young warrior king, as we've seen in chapters earlier, whether it's in 1 Samuel or even throughout the Psalms.
00:07:01
NextGen Matters
His household is fractured. His household is fractured. I mean, guys,
00:07:08
NextGen Matters
this is This is just the honesty of the Word of God. His oldest son, Amnon, had raped his stepdaughter, Tamar.
00:07:20
NextGen Matters
And while David, the dad, was angry about it, the Scripture says he didn't do anything about it. Let that hang in the air. And I've wondered...
00:07:33
NextGen Matters
Basically, every time I read that every year, it's like, why, David, why didn't you step in? Why didn't you step in and and and and at least see your daughter, at least hear from your daughter, at least do something?
00:07:45
NextGen Matters
Why were you just silent? I don't know. I don't know David's heart on this. Scripture is silent on why he didn't do anything or say anything. But here's my hunch.
00:07:58
NextGen Matters
David has so many of his own sexual conquests and sins. And I just wonder if he felt
00:08:05
NextGen Matters
inadequate. Who am I to bring this up? I don't know. my heart My heart weeps when I read that passage of what Amnon did to his sister.
00:08:17
NextGen Matters
She has an older brother. His name is Absalom. And as you know the story, Absalom then took care of Amnon. He had him murdered. He had him murdered. It was a hit job. He had Amnon murdered.
00:08:29
NextGen Matters
And now Absalom begins to get this idea in his head. Hey, I could do better than Pops. I could be a fantastic king. It's already coming out that Solomon will be the next king. But Absalom's like, nope, I got this. I'm older than Solomon. He came along many years later.
00:08:45
NextGen Matters
I've got this. I'm going to take the throne. It's mine. And he begins to win the hearts of the people. He's playing political games. all right He's promising all kinds of stuff, just like politicians do, over-promise and under-deliver, right? So he's promising all kinds of stuff to the Jewish people, and they're buying it.
00:09:02
NextGen Matters
And all a sudden, David realizes hes he's developed an army, and he's coming for me. David and his faithful loyal soldiers and counselors bounce out of Jerusalem.
00:09:16
NextGen Matters
Again, this is when this passage is being written. So yeah, David's no longer young. His household is fractured.
00:09:27
NextGen Matters
His authority is being challenged. And even his body itself is showing signs of aging.
Legacy and Influence on Future Generations
00:09:34
NextGen Matters
So as we begin to get into this passage and how this relates to Next Gen Ministries, because it does, see the narrative fit here.
00:09:43
NextGen Matters
We have an older, weary David who is facing one of the most painful crises of his life. So as I was reading this passage last week and then stopped and just really reflected back on it, I wrote a lot of thoughts down and that actually was last week's Thursday Tool email as well.
00:10:05
NextGen Matters
Because it just this passage has been resonating with me. So what we're going to do is we're going to see this passage. I'm actually going to read it in a moment. I want us to think through this passage as it reflects David's life and then how it connects with you and with me.
00:10:24
NextGen Matters
Because it does. So as I've already been saying, many scholars see Psalm 71 as coming from David in his later years. You know, after the giant slaying, after the the, think about this, he's slaying giants as a teenager, well, a giant as a teenager. He's anointed king by the prophet Samuel, and yet they already have a king, that's Saul.
00:10:46
NextGen Matters
He then, because he slayed the giant, he gets the girl, you know, he gets the the princess, if you will. michelle and And then he's invited into the palace because of this incredible gift he has of music. And through worship music, he calms the demonic influence that's over King Saul. He calms that presence, the calms Saul's heart. And those those demonic presences leave. And David is now part of, yeah, his his own personal worship team, King Saul, but also already became one of Saul's mighty warriors, right?
00:11:20
NextGen Matters
Yet he knows that he's supposed to be the king, but like no one else really knows that but him. So he's now in this in-between spot. I know I'll be the next king, but there's King Saul. I'm loyal to him.
00:11:33
NextGen Matters
But we know Saul was not loyal to David. And then comes this whole... fiasco of now Saul trying to have David killed and murdered. And so now David is on the run. He begins to join with a small group of men. It comes to be 300 or 400 soldiers. And that's this is a few years. And you think about this.
00:11:53
NextGen Matters
He's actually now in his early 20s when this is taking place. In his early 20s, right?
00:12:00
NextGen Matters
Then he finally gets to the palace. He finally gets to the throne at the age of 30. And as he's doing well, managing the people of God, I've already said it, he's not managing well his own family.
00:12:14
NextGen Matters
So this dude that we're looking at is not the young gun. He's not the young shepherd with a killer slingshot skill anymore. He is seasoned. He is battered. he He's a king that knows and has experienced God's faithfulness, but he's also known and experienced his own failures and especially his moral failures.
00:12:35
NextGen Matters
What I want to do is take like a 360 look, but really this is more of a three-angle look at David based on this passage. We're going to see his past dependence on God, his present vulnerability, and then his future purpose.
00:12:54
NextGen Matters
I'm going to read this passage. I know many ministry podcasts don't really read the Bible. I'm laughing I shouldn't be, but But I'm going to read the Bible.
00:13:05
NextGen Matters
I'm going to read Psalm 71. And I even read this last night in our our life group with those my age in our 50s and 60s. And I got very emotional over it And I was sharing with them what I'll be recording in the podcast right now, you know it's sharing this last night with them.
00:13:23
NextGen Matters
and And as I read this, honestly, I was getting very weepy and teary-eyed because I am, again, that age group of this guy, King David. And while I've not, to you know, done the the the the different sins he's done, thank God, and I don't have my oldest son, Rich III, you know, coming into our house and kicking me out, thank God, you know, so I don't have all that to relate to. i can kind of get the feels for David being the same age and the same passion that he has. But let me read this passage, Psalm 71.
00:13:57
NextGen Matters
Remember, he's on the run from Absalom when he writes this.
00:14:02
NextGen Matters
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge. Let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go.
00:14:17
NextGen Matters
Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men,
00:14:30
NextGen Matters
For you have been my hope, O sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you. You brought me forth from my mother's womb.
00:14:42
NextGen Matters
I will ever praise you. I have become like a portent. That means an example. I have become like an example to many. But you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
00:15:00
NextGen Matters
Do not cast me away when I am old. Do not forsake me when my strength is gone. For my enemies speak against me. Remember, he's talking about Absalom and the army that Absalom has, let's say, developed.
00:15:16
NextGen Matters
For my enemies speak against me. Those who wait to kill me conspire together. They say God has forsaken him. Pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.
00:15:29
NextGen Matters
David's response. be not far from me o god come quickly o my god to help me may my accusers perish in shame may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace but as for me i will always have hope i will praise you more and more my mouth will tell of your righteousness of your salvation all day long Verse 17.
00:15:56
NextGen Matters
i will come and proclaim your mighty acts o sovereign lord i will proclaim your righteousness yours alone verse seventeen since my youth o god you have taught me and to this day i declare your marvellous deeds Even when I am old and gray, this is verse 18, even when I'm old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
00:16:33
NextGen Matters
He's referring to his grandchildren and even eventual great-grandchildren he may never meet. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God. You who have done great things, who, O God, is like you?
00:16:48
NextGen Matters
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again from the depths of the earth. And that does sound like, by the way, his understanding of the resurrection.
00:17:02
NextGen Matters
You will increase my honor and cover me once again. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God. I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O holy one of Israel.
00:17:15
NextGen Matters
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you, I whom you have redeemed. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who want to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
00:17:30
NextGen Matters
Makes a lot more sense, doesn't it, when you realize that he wrote that. when he was running for his life. And yet he knew, as he reflected back on God's faithfulness, what God would do for his future. So let me unpack a few of these thoughts really quick. Past dependence. We see this in verses 1 and verse 6. He says, in you o lord i have taken refuge let me never be put to shame And then in verse he says, and from birth i have relied on you I love this. I love this. David is looking back and he's realizing that God has been the steady presence in his life through every season of his life. From being that teenager, alone with the sheep, if you will, being anointed king and yet now on the run from King Saul, becoming king with both the triumphs and also those wrong and sinful choices, the tragedies.
00:18:27
NextGen Matters
And then now being exiled as his own son seeks to kill him. Lord, I have taken refuge in you. Let me never be put to shame.
00:18:39
NextGen Matters
From birth, I have relied on you. David expresses his past dependence, his past dependence. Now, his present vulnerability We also see in verse 9, he says, Do not cast me away when I am old. Do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
00:18:58
NextGen Matters
So David has felt exposed by his enemies. He's had these false accusations. Obviously, he's had his own sinful choices that have been so corrupt.
00:19:09
NextGen Matters
And let me see, if you're 50 years of age and older, you may get this one. He's also dealing with aging. And when you realize that there's more, this is my word picture, y'all, here it is. When you realize there's more of your life in the rear view mirror than what you're seeing in your front windshield.
00:19:30
NextGen Matters
That hit me in my 50s, so I'm going to say it again. I realized that in my timeline, there's more behind me than there is ahead of me. So he understands his present vulnerability.
00:19:42
NextGen Matters
But then he steps into his future purpose. Oh, I love this. This is verse 18. Even when I'm old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation.
00:19:58
NextGen Matters
In other words, he wants to step into the lives of another generation to speak of the good and great things that God has done in him and even through him.
00:20:10
NextGen Matters
See, David just doesn't want survival. He wants usefulness. I'm going to say that again. David just doesn't want survival. He doesn't want a coast. He wants usefulness.
00:20:21
NextGen Matters
He wants his remaining years to echo God's greatness into the lives of those coming behind him. That includes his nation, and in our case, our ministries, and that includes his own children and grandchildren.
00:20:37
NextGen Matters
So that's David's look, our look of David into that passage. But what about our look into ourselves? How does this passage connect with you and I? I get excited about this.
00:20:49
NextGen Matters
Well, we're not the kings of Israel, and yet we do have places of influence, and we probably have places of leadership over another generation. So yeah, we can absolutely relate to the complexity of King David.
00:21:04
NextGen Matters
Well, you and i both have... history with God. I want you to think about times in your life you have experienced sacred moments over the years, especially if you have walked with Jesus when you were younger.
00:21:24
NextGen Matters
These I'm referring to are the times where you met God because God met you. want you to think back to his faithfulness And then praise him.
00:21:39
NextGen Matters
That's what David was doing, and that's what I want to do. All my life, you have been faithful. All my life, you have been faithful.
00:21:49
NextGen Matters
And I'm just praising the goodness of God. We have history with God. We also, like David, we feel our sense of limitations. We feel our limits.
00:22:00
NextGen Matters
Okay, so hey, you're in ministry, whether you're listening and you're a volunteer, you're part-time, full-time, or you're training to become in ministry. You know, think of yourselves in that ministry seat.
00:22:12
NextGen Matters
And with that ministry seat, that responsibility comes fatigue, discouragement, yes, aging, a changing culture around us, which is not getting better.
00:22:26
NextGen Matters
And also, then you think about inside the the church, shifting church dynamics. I continue to say this. So many leaders I keep hearing from are saying, Rich, I'm so tired. I heard it again this last week. I'm just so tired.
00:22:43
NextGen Matters
And I feel beaten down. Then we begin asking ourselves, is my calling even worth it? We feel our limits. So please hear this. Please hear this.
00:22:57
NextGen Matters
It's okay to feel your limits. Feeling weak doesn't take you out. It actually sets you up. gonna say that again. I wrote this yesterday in my script, so here it is. Feeling weak doesn't take you out. It actually sets you up.
00:23:15
NextGen Matters
But there's a caveat. If you position yourself under the authority of God and you trust in his sovereignty, You see, feeling weak will take us out. It will take me out. I know my heart. It will take me out. It will lead to depression. It will lead to where I want to unplug. It will lead to where I want to give up if I don't surrender it to the Lord God and trust in his sovereignty.
00:23:45
NextGen Matters
This reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 10. He's referring in the in the context to that thorn-thorn In his flesh.
00:23:57
NextGen Matters
And he says, for when I am weak. Can you finish it? For when I am weak. Finish it. Then I am strong. I'm asking you, as you're feeling your limitations, I feel them. Trust me. If we were doing coffee, and I do have my coffee mu right here, okay? If we were having coffee together, i would share with you some of the things I am going through even now.
00:24:21
NextGen Matters
I'm not in this podcast, but I'm going to say, I get it. I'm tired. I feel like I'm aging because I am. I feel the limitations around me. I get David, but I'm right now in my heart, I am Honestly, I'm surrendering these things to his authority and leadership in my life, and I'm trusting his sovereignty.
00:24:43
NextGen Matters
I will cry this out to my father. Then the third takeaway for us from this passage is we still have a calling. Verse 18, David wrote it, but I embrace it.
00:24:59
NextGen Matters
David wrote it, but I embrace it. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, until I declare your power to the next generation.
00:25:15
NextGen Matters
That's it. That's it. that that That is the heart of what we do. That is the why to what we do. You know, you and I cannot lead out of our own strength. We know that, but we still seem to kind of wrestle with God on it, right?
00:25:32
NextGen Matters
Just letting it go and just letting God, leaning into God's strength. God has been so faithful to me.
00:25:43
NextGen Matters
God has been so faithful to me over the years.
00:25:47
NextGen Matters
How about you? You know I would love you to write in the chat, you know, and not in the chat, but in the year comments, just share something about God has been faithful to you over the years. Share something specific in the comments, how God has been faithful to you over the years. You know, you've been leading a ministry, some of you for a very long time.
00:26:08
NextGen Matters
And while you have that long history, want you think back to how you've had a long history of faithfulness from God. And as long as he gives you breath, you're going to keep declaring his power to another generation.
00:26:27
NextGen Matters
This includes both those in your ministry and if you got some of those little mini-me's running around, or in my case, the grandkids. I'm going to bring this to a close.
00:26:39
NextGen Matters
Here's the heartbeat of Psalm. 71, it's verse 18. I've been saying it. I want to declare this, your power to the next generation.
00:26:50
NextGen Matters
You know, this is the verse that'd be great to have framed in every next gen office. Now, if you're watching on on YouTube, you see behind me, have Psalm 78. That's my go-to, a very similar passage, but that's from Asaph, a worship leader of King David.
00:27:06
NextGen Matters
Psalm 71, verse 18, Come on, y'all. Write it down. Print it off. You know, do the do the Etsy thing. Put it somewhere in your office. Here's the thing. This psalmist, David, this psalmist, he's not asking for comfort in his old age.
00:27:24
NextGen Matters
He's not looking at just, you know, rolling it up and playing golf or going fishing for the rest of his days. He's like, when I'm old, I want to keep spitting this truth to the next generation. He's asking for three things I see.
00:27:38
NextGen Matters
One is purpose. Two is impact. And three, one more chance. God, give me one more chance to tell the next generation of the greatness of God. Folks, I'm going to be honest with you, so honest with you right now.
00:27:54
NextGen Matters
I love speaking to middle school and high school students. No matter when I get the chance to speak, I get excited and I lean in and it doesn't get old.
00:28:10
NextGen Matters
I'm no longer the youth pastor. That was a long time ago. I no longer have college students around me in a classroom setting. I'm doing what I do from my home office. When I get a chance to share, take that mic, grip it and rip it and share the greatness of God To another generation, I'm in. That doesn't get old.
00:28:35
NextGen Matters
Those dudes I'll see tonight, I'm recording this on a Wednesday. My guys in 11th, 12th grade in my small group, you know, I'll be talking again tonight. Listening to them, we'll be sharing back and forth, but I'll be sharing again the good things of God in my life.
00:28:51
NextGen Matters
It's more than just a hobby. It's a passion and a calling. Do you feel that? Is that yours as well?
00:29:02
NextGen Matters
Psalm 71 reminds us of three things. Your calling doesn't have an expiration date.
00:29:09
NextGen Matters
Your calling doesn't have an expiration date. Your influence doesn't have a retirement age. Now, may look different as you get older, but your influence remains.
00:29:24
NextGen Matters
And your voice, you ready? Should not get weaker as you get older, but actually weightier. Students don't just need cool leaders.
00:29:37
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They need consistent leaders. And they need, let me say, legacy leaders. People who know a thing or two because they've seen a thing or two. Liberty Mutual shout out, right?
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Students need leaders who have walked with God for a long time. So that leader can look at those students and say, I've seen God come through again and again.
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I was putting this together yesterday, i thought about the Cody Carnes Maverick City song. And many of you already know the lyrics, but I'm just going to read them the first two verses.
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Christ is my firm foundation, the rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaking,
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I've never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus because he's never let me down. He's faithful throughout the generations.
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So why would he fail now? And all God's people said, he won't. Are you singing yet? He won't. No, he won't. He won't fail.
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And I've still got joy in the chaos. I've got peace that makes no sense. And I won't be going under. I'm not held by my own strength. Because I built my life on Jesus.
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He's never let me down. He's faithful for every through every season. So why would he fail now? Come on, shout it out, right?
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He won't. He won't. I hope this passage of scripture and even capping it off the little Cody cards should get you fired up and gives you the courage to stay true to your calling. You and I, we're being watched. People are watching us.
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How consistent are we, right? You and I, and here's here's here's an honest thing to state. You and I will always be here. And I don't mean in your specific position. I mean,
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In this body, you and I will not always be here. This life that God has given me, that I'm a steward of, is meant to be a living sacrifice and a living testimony to declare his good works.
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What matters is how we declare the power of God displayed in our life to the next generation. to share something I shared last week on my social media post. I had a picture literally sitting right here at my desk.
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with my three and a half year old grandson, Rhett. My son, my daughter-in-law and their two littles, three and nine months are living with us for about two months as their home is being built. So they're in transition of the apartment is done for the year and the home is being built and be done in a few weeks. So we said, come on, just stay with us. So I get Rhett time all the time.
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And he's always down here in the office here with GPOP. He's going to be in the podcast at some point, I think. But I had a picture of Rhett sitting on my lap. We were both doing the old thumbs up, right? And I wrote this.
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My daily prayer is that my five grandchildren would genuinely come to salvation in Christ in my lifetime. I want to be faithful in declaring his working in my life to them.
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Because at the end of the day, what else really matters?
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Our call to action, there's four, let me say verbs that I have and I'll explain. four There's four. Our call to action is simple, it's four and they're they're they're easy, okay?
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First of all, reflect. Verb one, reflect. Reflect on God's faithfulness. Faithfulness, listen to me. Faithfulness. Whether you write it down in a journal, for me it's my full focus planner journal, or maybe as something else or just something on your phone, in your notes, you just want to speak it into it, speak into your notes or write it in.
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But think of a few areas where God has been faithful to you. Reflect. Second verb, pray. Pray. Pray Psalm 71 verse 18 over your calling.
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Pray this verse over you. Share, share, share one story of God's faithfulness with your students. I'm to say in your next lesson, and if you're not the key speaker, if you have a small group, share it in your small group, or even just in a one-on-one conversation. Be intentional to share with those around you a story of God's faithfulness in your life.
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And the last verb is lead. Lead with your legacy in mind. When I say your legacy, I'm not talking about you thumping your chest or me thumping my chest. It's all about me. No, no, no. It's all about the glory of God. Lead with our legacy in mind because those that are around you need to know the power of your God.
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I hope this passage of Scripture has resonated with you. Blow up the comments. I want to hear from you. Email me, Richard, Next Gen Matters. Reach out to me on either Instagram or Facebook with our Next Gen Matters page. I want to hear from you. How has this passage of Scripture blessed you? How has this these words, these simple words I've shared been a blessing to you? All right.
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So, hey, look, if you've not yet subscribed to our weekly email, do so. Love to hear from you. The links in the show notes. Also, make sure you're subscribing to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and even on YouTube.
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And share it with some friends, y'all. Come on, let's get this word out. Thanks for joining me today in the Next Gen Matters podcast. Until next time. Remember, your leadership matters because your ministry matters because the gospel matters.
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Let's go.