Rise Up Pt. 3: For Future Generations - 10/15/2023

Pastor Dale Benson Psalm 102   The “What If” questions of today will have repercussion for the realities of tomorrow. Throughout scripture we have times and places where the people of God are called to do something big. Then they are called to commemorate these things and remember them.   Psalm 102:18 (NLT) - Let this be recorded for future generations. The nation of Israel had ways of passing down information to their children and their children’s children. Even before they began writing on paper, they would leave tributes or monoliths, or stacks of stones to remind them of stories. - We do the same things here. Over the last 15 years I know that we have talked about Ebeneezer and setting up stones that serve as reminders to our children so that as they grow, they can remember the lessons they learned. We do this so that when people walk by and ask, “why is this here” we can tell them a story about what God did.   For many of us, these stories have meaning in our lives because we are remembering stories we taught our kids. We remember the sacrifices that were made, and the miracles God did. We tell our children.  
As we think about our families and children, and the world they will be living in, there are some things I think I need to address as the pastor of this people: - I do not believe that I have ever urged people to vote for or against anything. As a church, we very strongly believe in sanctity of human life. While we do describe situations and circumstances where exceptions may be necessary, the amendment that is before our state is, so I am urging and pleading with you to vote no on issue 1. This is not a political issue. This is a moral and spiritual issue.   - I could not, in good conscience, speak to you today about “recording something for future generations… for a people not yet born,” and not address this issue and again ask you to “Vote No on Issue 1.” - These are tough decisions for so many people. Part of our job as the church is to educate our families, our children, our students on a Christian view of healthy sexuality and how to raise our children.    Our NextGen ministries, Grove City Christian School, and Grove City Christian Childcare are all pieces of the puzzle that help families begin to have a biblical worldview and an understanding of the fullness of God and His love for us.   The changes come at a cost. There will be other stories on this property where others will hear about the goodness of God.  Things will be recorded there for future generations to tell of the good works of God! We are building a testimony to the goodness of God.  When people ask, “Why would a church build all this stuff and have disc golf and gymnasiums and football fields and on and on,” the answer is going to be way different than what they think. You see these things are being built so that others can learn about the goodness of God. They can declare His works for generations to come.