1) you lead up by 1st making yourself easy to lead…
if you first sow the seed of being easy to lead (not being a puppet) and you will reap that from those above you

2) you lead up out of relationship….the better the relationship the better they will trust and listen to you

3) lead up by building a track record of wins and being right….most young leaders jump on the scene with an arrogance of knowing it all and haven’t proven themselves to those older than them…those older are looking for fruit…not just ideas…

4) lead out of submission and humility….you have to realize…you are not the lead or the sr….you have to submit your ideas with humility and realize they may get rejected…you can’t wear your emotions on your sleeve and get upset….the rejection of your ideas is not a rejection of you…don’t take it personal

5) defend and honor the Older Generation…and not just in front of them to see…again…seed being sown…

those are a few ways to lead up…

I think the biggest challenge for the Older Generation….Handing over what they have worked so hard for,,,given so much for…for so many years…handing it over and delegating it to a young, crazy, somewhat immature leader…with fear they will destroy what they have invested years building…

For the Younger…
We take for granted what the older has invested…we don’t see the blood sweat and tears they have given….we just think…”get out of our way…we can do better” We must value them and realize that it is only because of the sacrifice of the older generation and the trail they have blazed that we can continue to do bigger and better things…We are standing on their shoulders….and we need to continue to stand on them…receive from them…and value their wisdom and experience…

There is a great power and synergy when Generations are working together…The Crazy Energy and risk taking attitude added to the wisdom, experience, and stability of the Older…makes an unbeatable Combination…

I recently listened to a list of stories about parents of adult children. Parents today face a very real problem in that their adult children are asking to both be parents and to treat them like equals. I think my generation is guilty of two things; Not wanting to earn their place (it should just be given to us) and no honoring our elders.

I myself have found myself guilty of cutting my parents out of my life because “they didn’t treat me right.” I punished them without offering any chance to correct behavior or even considering their point of view. The my father died suddenly a year and a half ago.

From that point on I tell my mother that I love her. I call her several times a week, and let her know how proud of her I am for her accomplishments and how grateful I am to be her son. The simple act of honoring my mother has greatly improved our relationship to a point where I can’t expect a better mother.

I also find this to be a problem in a professional world. Often I see my peer generation just barging into an office guns blazing with little regard to respect toward the person whom they address. We don’t understand how to honor and respect those who’ve earned their position. We are revolutionist who want to change the face of business by speaking harsh truths without any regrets.

Now we could blame someone here… Let’s say my generation for not honoring or respecting the older generation. Or maybe we can blame the older generation for raising us up this way, since it was their responsibility to ensure that we grew up knowing how to do this. But I think that doesn’t matter as much as the solution. Both generations need to be humbled, and we need to learn to influence one another. It’s an ugly monster, and it will hurt a lot of people…

I could go on for days…

For what it’s worth, I am 26 and attend a church that is rather segregated by age because of its Sunday school and worship service structures.

The biggest challenge for older people is to trust and inspire young people. Trust by letting people make mistakes and learn by leading. (this is essential to allow young people to lead up) Inspire by using the wisdom gained by age to guide direct and encourage the next generation of leaders to step up.
The principle is that it is the older generations responsibility to train the younger. The tension is that we don’t like change, or we are afraid of mistakes. (Andy Stanley had a great lesson on letting younger people make mistakes so they become great leaders in his Leadership Podcast)

The biggest challenge for younger people is respect and discipline. Respect those God has placed above you and follow them even when they are wrong. Learn the Discipline to work hard no matter what, find what you can do and do it with all your strength. You lead up by being Aaron and Hur and doing whatever you can to fulfill the dreams and vision of those who are over you.
The principle is that the younger generation serves the older. The tension is that we don’t want like to wait.

(Side note about music: one of the biggest tension in churches is over music. It is generally seen as a generational issue. The issues is normally that every generation loves the music that they had an encounter with God with. It is my opinion that music should be used to teach theology and to have an encounter with God for the next generation. So the older generation. I don’t need music to inspire me, if I want it I will listen to my iPod. But I want this generation to encounter God and the truth of who he is stuck in their mind. So those who have had their experience with God encourage trying to reach the next generation.)

Nathan: 29 Student ministries pastor

2. The greatest challenge for the older generation is to develop deep relationships with people in the younger generation. Biblically they are to be teaching the younger generation yet in my church they seem to be withdrawing from the younger generation. I think the greatest challenge for the younger generation is to see the value of what the older generation has accomplished and to learn from their mistakes. Too many in the younger generation appraise things based on its newness or oldness.

3. How can we make both generations see the value of the other generatoin? How can we get the two generations together to effectively minister to the community?

I heard this said years ago and it has stuck with me to this day: “Support in public gives leverage in private”. This has been such a huge success for me in the ministry that I am in with my bosses. If they know that I have their back in front of people, it gives my thoughts and ideas weight with them in private.

The one thing I have learned with trying to lead up is that it takes a HUGE amount of humility. At our core, we are prideful people and we like to think that our dreams and thoughts and interpretations are correct. But, we must learn to submit to the authority that has been placed above us. It may be God using this time to refine our hearts in these sometimes difficult situations.

For the younger generation, mirroring the older generation in acting like we have it all together when we usually don’t. Also, I know I struggle with thinking the world needs to hear my voice. I guess that’s why I often blog, tweet and update my Facebook status. I’m only 24. It isn’t like I have tons of wisdom, but I think that is something my generation struggles with altogether is the tension of thinking our voice is the most important and should always be heard by those older than us. (That’s why I commented on here I suppose :) )

Now that I think about it, I think the tension derives itself from one word: PRIDE.

For the younger generation (which includes me) it is the tension that we want to look like we have it together when we often don’t. Also, that my voice is important to the world. This thought

First, I think we should focus not just on what tensions exists, but how they can be leveraged for good and the progress of the church. Considering the fact that the Catalyst Conference is called “Tension is Good” and Andy Stanley talked about “The Upside of Tension”, we should see what we can take this tension and make it work.

Second, I am a sixteen year old. I see first hand the tension that exists between the older and newer generation. At times, the younger generation is treated as the future, not as the now. I think that is a mistake. At times, the older generation is treated as distant and unneeded, as if their time for leadership and service was already up.

Thirdly, to use this tension for our benefit, we need to treat both generations equally but differently. Equally in the sense that both the thoughts, dreams, and hopes of both generations are valid and should be listened to. Some churches try to take out the tension by just letting one group decide and discuss, either the young or the old. For example, while my church was having a leadership meeting, I was downstairs babysitting. The next way we can resolve tension is look at where both people are coming from. The new generation has new ideas and passions, while the old generation has more experience and wisdom. When we try to discredit one or the other, things don’t work.

Fourthly, I think that the older generation needs to invest and love the young generation so that they in turn will respect and honor the older. If we have that mentor-ship relationship with each other, we will be able to see that both generations are important. We shouldn’t treat the young or the old generation as the future or the past, but as the now.

This tension is never going to go away. It will always exist. I want to be part of ministries that loves, invests, and prepares the younger generation to take its place to be part of the church, not to wait until the old generation dies. I want to be part of a church where the old generation knows that their time is not forever and its not about their legacy, but about the kingdom of God. I want to be part of a church where the older generation is respected and honored, not because of their position or their power, but because of their influence and leadership they provide. I want to be part of a church that doesn’t see generational tension as a problem, but as a tool to advance the kingdom of God. I want to be a part of a church where every person has a Paul to lead and love them and a Timothy to empower and equip. Are you type of church? Are you that type of leader, whether young or old?

2.) The biggest challenge for the older generation is possibly accepting the way God is lifting up the younger generation and the methods and technologies being used. Jesus’ methods weren’t always accepted by everyone…they were sometimes unusual, unorthodox, and outside of the box. The challenge for the younger generation…well let me speak from my perspective…do I limit what God has placed in me and the message he has given me to please and submit to the older generation…or do I continue to seek the will of God and do what He has called me to do, even if it means people will dislike me, accuse me, condemn me, say that I’m going against the “order” and “tradition” and “doctrine” of the church??

3.) As you can see Pastor Craig, there are many questions raised from this. Thank you so much for tackling this subject. Here are some….
- How can we create peace between the two generations?
- How can I prevent or understand the differences that will come when I become the “older generation” and my kids are the “younger generation”…or their kids?

These is so much to be said and asked. I thank God for your ministry and for what He is doing through you and LifeChurch.tv. I am so blessed and haven’t given up because of your teachings.

Danny T.
Brooklyn, NY
Age: 24

CHALLENGE FOR THE YOUNG: Honor
The older gen deserves it. You would have nothing if others had not gone before you. Real, heartfelt, genuine honor will do more to open doors for the young to LEAD UP than any boastful actions trying to prove something. Even if you are not able to lead up, Honor will guard your heart from bitterness that will poison your leadership when your time comes.

THE GREAT CHALLENGE: LOVE
Errors will be made on both sides of the fence, but if we can no longer love and forgive than we lose…old or young.

I have heard too much of the senior church members making fun (or criticizing) the way the younger ones dress and the more contemporary music (guitars, drums) in worship. On the other hand, I have heard younger church staff make jokes about the use or organ music and people wearing suits and ties in the “older” churches.

If both generations can agree to quit making fun of styles of worship music and how one should dress, then I think that would start with more common ground. They also need to realize there are exceptions to this rule. There will be older baby boomers want to wear jeans/t-shirts and listen to contemporary worship while you might see some 20-somethings wear a suit and tie and jam out to organ worship music.

In summary, a respect for generational values and lifting each other up in prayer.

I also think it helps that we all know people (some their own children) who won’t come to church or who have fallen away. I ask what do you think would reach them and keep the discussions about others and Christ, and not let it become about my values vs your values.

Our community is healthier because we are able to embrace each other despite our differences which is one of the measures of a loving community which is one of our core shared values. No love, you are not going to grow spiritually or numerically.

So the biggest challenge for the younger generation, in my opinion, is learning to revere, honor, and enjoy what their elders bring to the table as though are the ones who have often fought through to build what the younger ones are a part of. What a loss if we chase off those who were supposed to be training the younger men & women spiritually.

Biggest challenge for the older generation? Being willing to change. Being willing to hand off the baton and/or move into different areas of leadership. Realizing their time is NOT over and God’s creativity is still very much alive and well within them and that they have tons to offer to the body of Christ! Being relatable no matter what your age.