05/09/2019
It seems to me that Millennials are being given the award for apathy in today’s world. They are called the “meh” generation. If I am not mistaken, the Simpsons first coined the word “meh” which seems to provide some clarity to the description of apathy.
Some call the millennials the “meh” generation.
How do you feel about things? Meh.
Did you want to get involved? Meh.
What are you passionate about? Meh.
Indifference, boredom...apathy...I personally am not so certain that one generation has more of a hold on apathy than another. I think it exists in the Boomers, the Xers, the Zers, and all other generations before and inbetween. I think that all of us are vulnerable to becoming filled with apathy at any time in our lives. Scripture has a lot to say about apathy and compares it to being a sloth.
As we confirmed 15 sixth graders this last Sunday into CUMC, I cautioned them that they are now at risk of spiritual apathy. How? For the last year they have had high expectations and commitment for growth in their faith. With the completion of the confirmation process, more commitment will need to come from them to continue to grow in their faith. They will have to decide if it is important. They will have to decide that other choices do not distract them. They will have to decide if they care enough. In other words, spiritual growth continues or spiritual apathy begins.
Hmmm...I said that I cautioned the 6th graders about this...perhaps this too crosses the lines to all generations?
Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
Gandhi and the Sugar
I wasn’t preaching Sunday, Reverend Jackie Chandler was. And she talked about the power of influence you get when you practice what you preach. This famous illustration came to mind. It fits Jackie’s points quite well. Enjoy!
Not Just for Parents
Our current sermon series is about How To Talk Parent, but it doesn’t require any of us to be parents to appreciate the bits of wisdom OUR parents shared with us growing up.
If Not Higher
Here’s a story I wanted to use when talking about ‘what you do when no one is looking’ yesterday. It’s a wonderful illustration of what Jesus was saying in Matthew 6:1-6—do what you do because of who you want to be, not so that others will take notice and praise you.
The Perfect Church
There is an old joke about the perfect church. We talked just a little about the perfect pastor, but turnabout is fair play. It goes like this:
The Clothes You Wear
Sunday I talked about Joshua the High Priest having his filthy clothing replaced by a cleaned and beautiful garments. I also used the illustration of a boy becomes a dragon—who ‘wears’ dragon scales—and is stripped of those scales in order to be restored to a boy. In fact, I could have done the whole sermon around all the clothing imagery in scripture.
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”
One of the Longest Benedictions I Ran Out of Time to Share
Maybe you know the story of how Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus at the gas station on their way home from Jerusalem. Well, not the gas station bathroom in Jesus’ case. Joe and Mary are far down the road before they realize Jesus isn’t with them...