What Each Generation Wants to Know

by Tom Goodman

At Hillcrest we say "Every Generation Counts."  Every generation feels they "count" when leaders prove sensitive to the questions that people in different generations ask.

In a Leadership article, Gordon MacDonald said that as he prepares his sermons he tries to keep in mind what people in various stages of life may need to know.  He was writing for preachers, but no matter what role you play at Hillcrest, keep these questions in mind.  It will help you serve everyone in the wide age-range of adults in our church family.

Here is the excerpt from MacDonald's article:

Twenties

When I preach to people in their twenties, I am aware that they are asking questions such as:

• What makes me different from my family of origin or the people around me?
• In what direction am I going to point my life in order to pay my way through life?
• Am I lovable, and am I capable of loving?
• Around what will I center my life?

Thirties

Those in their thirties tend to have accumulated serious long-range responsibilities: spouses, babies, home mortgages, and serious income needs.  Suddenly life becomes overrun with responsibilities.  Time and priorities become important.  Fatigue and stress levels rise.  The questions shift to:

• How can I get done all of these things for which I am responsible?
• Why do I have so many self-doubts?
• Why is my spiritual center so confused?
• What happened to all the fun I used to have?
• Why haven't I resolved all my sin problems?
• Why is there so little time for friendships?

Forties

For people in their forties, the questions do not get any easier.  Now they are asking:

• Why are some of my peers doing better than me?
• Why am I so often disappointed in myself, in others?
• Why isn't my faith deeper?
• Why is my marriage less than dazzling?
• Why do I yearn to go back to the carefree days of my youth?
• Should I scale back some of my dreams?
• Why do I no longer feel attractive?

Fifties

People in their fifties are asking:

• Do these young people think I'm obsolete?
• Why is my body becoming increasingly unreliable?
• Why are so few of my friendships nourishing?
• What do my spouse and I have in common now that the children are leaving?
• Does this marriage of mine offer any intimacy at all?
• Why is my job no longer a satisfying experience?
• Are the best years of life over?
• Do I have anything of value to give any longer?

Sixties

Those in their sixties ask:

• How long can I keep doing the things that define me?
• Why do my peers look so much older than me?
• What does it mean to grow old?
• How do I deal with angers and resentments that I've never resolved?
• Why do my friends and I talk so much about death and dying?

Seventies

Those in their seventies and above have questions such as:

• Does anyone around here know who I once was?
• How do I cope with all this increasing weakness around me?
• How many years do I have left?
• How long can I maintain my independence and my dignity?
• When I die, how will it happen?
• What about all these things I intended to do (and be) and never got around to?

Yes, I'm aware that for our church MacDonald stopped about 15 or so years too soon!  We're blessed with a seasoned gathering of those in their 80s and 90s at Hillcrest, too!  But this is a good start.

Here's what I suggest you do.  Re-read this post again.  This time, think of someone in the age range you're reading about.  Pray for those in the Hillcrest Family who are in that age range.  Pray for the unchurched in our community who are in that age range.  And pray that our church will always be a place where every generation counts!

--Tom

The excerpt was from Gordon MacDonald's article, "Incarnate Preaching," Leadership Journal, Summer 2007.