Our Future

Our Legacy, Our Future: Faithfully Together

By Rev. David Bonnema, March 16, 2025

9:30am

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Opening Song - “Battle Belongs” - Makenzie Payne

Time of Greeting

Children’s Time

Song - “Revelation Song”

Reflection on Our Future - Rev. Dana Seiler

Song - “Fear is Not My Future”

Sermon - “Our Future”

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. – Judges 2:10

“The word ‘knew’ probably does not mean that they did not know about the Exodus, the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, and the walls of Jericho falling, but rather that the saving acts of God were no longer or central to them…In other words, they had forgotten the gospel. —Timothy Keller

How could this happen? Why did one generation fail to tell the next about God? (List some possibilities)

Joshua’s generation had been in solidarity with Moses’ generation. But the solidarity is now broken. The previous generation served God. The new generation will not.

God encourages us to heavily in the next generation.

According to the Barna Group, 46% of teens are very open to spirituality. Conversely, only 28% of Gen Z are very open to spirituality.

Paul encourages us to strengthen God’s church for the next generation.

Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his , purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. —Acts 20:28

This capital campaign will strengthen Unity for the next generation. Let’s create a church that opens wide the doors for a new generation.

Offering and Prayer

Song - “The Blessing”

Benediction


11:00am

Prelude - Jeff Perks

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler

  • Leader: Friends, we are invited to journey through this season of Lent
  • People: making a way for those who come after us.
  • Leader: We walk with Jesus wherever he leads us,
  • People: bringing our fears, our doubts, our longings with us.
  • Leader: We seek to trust the God who is always with us,
  • People: faithful to us from generation to generation.

Hymn - “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” - #210 - Verses 1, 3, 5

Prayer of Confession:
Everlasting God, we admit that we don’t often think of the legacy we leave for others. We are so consumed with our own needs, with building our own lives, and with collecting our own treasures, that we often forget that what we are building will reach far into the future. Remind us that our actions now will be felt far beyond what we may know, that one kind word, one small sacrifice may change the course of events and better the lives of those yet to come, as we see in the example of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray today, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Reflection on Our Future

Anthem - “Surely the Presence” (Wolfe/Brown) - Unity Choir

Sermon - “Our Future” - Rev. David Bonnema

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. – Judges 2:10

“The word ‘knew’ probably does not mean that they did not know about the Exodus, the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, and the walls of Jericho falling, but rather that the saving acts of God were no longer or central to them…In other words, they had forgotten the gospel. —Timothy Keller

How could this happen? Why did one generation fail to tell the next about God? (List some possibilities)

Joshua’s generation had been in solidarity with Moses’ generation. But the solidarity is now broken. The previous generation served God. The new generation will not.

God encourages us to heavily in the next generation.

According to the Barna Group, 46% of teens are very open to spirituality. Conversely, only 28% of Gen Z are very open to spirituality.

Paul encourages us to strengthen God’s church for the next generation.

Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his , purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. —Acts 20:28

This capital campaign will strengthen Unity for the next generation. Let’s create a church that opens wide the doors for a new generation.

Anthem - “Faithful to the Vision” (Hallquist) - Unity Choir

Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving

Doxology - “Thank You” - see screen

Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn - “Find us Faithful” - 2 Verses

Benediction

Postlude