Silhouette Andrew Pano

Connecting the Generations in Celebration

“In the larger celebration gathering, we see the teaching ministry worship, coming together as a family. Those who are gifted teachers and pastors can use their gift in teaching all small group members. The small group lesson then connects with the celebration, giving small group leaders an advantage. These aspects add to the discipleship process.”

Let me break this statement down:

  • “family” implies every generation (adults, teens, and children).
  • “all small group members” includes every generation (adults, teens, and children).
  • “small group leaders” implies those of every generation (adults, teens, and children).
  • “The small group lesson then connects with the celebration” implies every generation (adults, teens, and children) will be connected in their small groups to the Sunday celebration!
  • “The discipleship process” implies that the primary discipleship of teens and children takes place in the home - families need to receive the same message, the same theme, and the same challenge, so they can walk in the same direction.


Sadly, this is not generally what happens.

Solution: If all generations do not meet together for the full celebration, the lead pastor could give the children and youth leaders the following from which they can take the message to their areas of influence:

  • Theme of the message (e.g. The Love of God is beyond our understanding)
  • Main scripture (e.g. John 3:16)
  • What they want the people to go away knowing (e.g. That God not only loves us but He loves others, too. We are carriers of that message.)


Parents can be given tools/resources/information, following the celebration, to take home and do with their children/family.

This way we really are ONE body, going in ONE direction with ONE message given by God to the Church (which is every generation).

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Comments?

Daphne Kirk