In 2001 our premarital counselor said to us, “you will need to figure out what you want to keep and what you want to change”. He was asking us to dream about what kind of marriage and what kind of family we wanted to have. Who were the Mattesich’s going to be? What was going to be our family identity? The work began that day to think about what the positive things that our parents and families did that we wanted to continue and what were some things and areas that we wanted to change. This kind of exercise is common for many of us as we are used to thinking in these ways, especially at beginnings. Whether it be at a graduation, a new job, getting married, having children, or any host of new beginnings that life bring to us.

In many ways the book of Acts is a new beginning in the story of God. While “newness” shows up throughout the book (and will in this weeks message too), Acts also contains many things that have been part of the Bible from throughout the Old Testament and the Gospels. Acts then serves as a voice telling the Church, as this new beginning starts do not forget your roots. This week we will look specifically at one part of those roots as we see the intentionality of intergenerational relationships and the ways that God created us to live together in His world.

In many ways we have gotten away from these roots in the Church. We can gravitate and prefer to be among only those who are either in our life-stage or age range. With great intention and thought we have based our ministries on age. In our intentionality and desire to disciple and care for specific ages and stages, we have forgotten how to be together. Having a child in “big church” bothers many of us and we have hundreds of young people who do not even know the names of those who have given their lives to build Lake Avenue Church. We sing different songs and fail to see the beauty and appreciate why those songs matter to one another. We are simply disconnected from one another and this is not how it is supposed to be! My prayer is that each one of will either learn or be reminded of our family roots found in the Scripture and see what role we are each to play in getting back to those roots at Lake Avenue Church.

To His Glory,

Jeff Mattesich
Associate Pastor of Children's & Student Ministries