Remembering God In Our Youth(s) Before It Is Too Late!
26 SEPTEMBER 2021 | TRADITIONAL SERVICE
Rev Adrian Ng
Scripture Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (NIV)
WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)
READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary | The Preacher interweaves wisdom and the realities of life to help us understand that life defined by earthly wisdom and its pursuits is futile, for worldly goods can never be enough. Moody Institute’s George Sweeting wrote that the finest attractions of this world become deadly when we become overly attached to them. The danger of delayed surrender of a pleasure may well bring our destruction.
Two important points to note:
1. Remember God (serve God) in our youth before it is too late! – Ecc 8:15’s seeming commendation to enjoy life, when read together with Ecc 7:26, is not a license to self-indulge but advice to remember God and to be content with what is given us. Praise and serve God, not the world. Who are of the world? Those who find no pleasure in serving God (v1), unconcerned about end times (v2), and is gender- and class-inclusive (v3). When is too late? When life grinds down, and all life-sustaining symbols of silver thread, golden bowl, water pitcher, well-wheel are broken (v4-6). Not even the strongest of bodies will survive the end when we revert to dust and spirit in futility (v7-8). But to remember and to serve God reminds us that God is sovereign and we have a citizenship in heaven and a glorious body hereafter (Phil 3:20-21).
2. Remember God in our youths (serve, disciple them) before it is too late! – Pastor Adrian, starting his 5th year in Wesley, and overseeing the Youth Ministry, has joy and privilege in developing future leaders to know and experience God. Today’s 10/30 window comprises the largest unreached age group, awash with free-flowing information, yet are more personally disconnected. Online Church outreach is poorly received by them. Poll studies reveal that their top priority is strong family relationships and that trusted relationships shape their worldview and character as they mature in life. A video showed evidence of how different age groups worked with the one below them, sowing, watering and nurturing them. Serve before it’s too late before a generation is skipped. When we serve others, we are nourishing a symbiotic relationship of mutual benefit. When we love God, we will naturally want to serve others, and we will ourselves be drawn ever closer to God. Respond only to God who is the one calling you.
(Sermon notes by Kwun Pillai)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Recall & share of a time in your youth when you felt God’s grace strongly. How has that impacted you?
2. How would you describe your relationship with God in the days of your youth? If you could re-live your youth again, what would you change?
3. Take time to reflect together on Ecc 12:2-5, picturing it describing you where an end of life seems imminent. What thanksgiving or confessions/regrets would you share?
4. Considering Ecc 12:6-7 in your own experience (while you were younger) – what/who kept you in the faith “before it is too late”?
5. How can you help our youths (and next generation) remember God “before it is too late”?