“The Necessity of Generational Congruence”

(Part 1)

I.                   ELIJAH AND ELISHA

1 Kings 17:1

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

·         Ravens feed him by the Brook. 1 Kings 17:2-7

·         Widow woman feeds him by a miracle of oil and flour. 1 Kings 17:8-16

·         Raises Widow’s Son from the Dead. 1 Kings 17:17-24

·         Confronts Ahab and the Prophets of Baal. 2 Kings 18:1-46

1 Kings 19:1-3

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. ² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” ³ And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

·         Prayed to die

·         Angels ministered to him

·         He heard a still small voice

·         God told him to do 3 things

1 Kings 19:15-16

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazel as king over Syria. ¹⁶ Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

1 Kings 19:19-21

¹⁹ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. ²⁰ And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. “And           he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” ²¹ So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

II.                  U.S. GENERATIONS

1.     The Builders

Born 1925 to 1945

·         There were 56 million builders.

·         The great depression, Roosevelt’s new deal, The Korean War, World War II, and the G.I. Bill affected builders.

·         49% of college freshmen in 1947 were veterans due to the G.I. Bill

Values:

o   Authority is very important; Hard work; Honor; Delayed gratification

o   These People are willing to work their whole life to achieve something and it was not uncommon to spend an entire career at one company.

2.     Baby Boomers

 Born 1946 to 1964

·         There are 80 million baby boomers

·         Vietnam, the Cold war, the civil rights movement, the women’s liberation movement, television and Rock-n-Roll affected this generation.

·         Boomers protested in favor of equality for everyone.

·They were introduced to credit cards (this drove their builder parents crazy who remember the great depression and learn not to buy things on credit)

·         The John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations deeply affected their psyche. It caused them to lose their innocence in some ways

·         A man landing on the moon caused boomers to feel like they can do anything they set their minds to.

·         Values like: personal identity, health, wellness and material wealth are all very important.

·         Boomers like to stay young forever.

·         Boomers find much of their identity in their work. They often use technology to do more work.

3.     Generation X

Born 1965 to 1977

·         There are 38 million gen Xers.

·         They were influenced by the Persian golf war, The Challenger explosion, AIDS epidemic, corporate downsizing, but Tripling of the divorce rate, Both parents working (Latch key kids), video games, MTV, Computers. Internet

·         Gen Xers became a bit disillusioned with their parents. How can you put a man on the moon but you can’t get a rocket to launch properly?

·         Values that came from their experience things like mobility and I’ll talk

·         Gen Xers need to be able to move around they want to be their own person.

·          Gen Xers don’t perceive and need to be in the office– They can sit on the beach and do their work

·          

4.     Generation Y (Millennial’s)

Born 1978 to 1996 (20 to 38 years old)

·         There are 78 million millennial’s and they make up more than 25% of this country’s population

·         Millennial’s have been shaped by 9/11, terrorism, the Columbine massacre, the girls movement– (vice girls, Dixie Chicks,) the Hip Hop movement –(Bad Boy production, Death Row Records), cell phones, text messaging, technology based social networking and a strong emphasis on social responsibility.

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FACTS ABOUT MILLENIALS

·         They comprise the fastest growing segment of the workforce

·         They are the most educated and technologically savvy generation ever

·         They are the most sheltered generation in our country’s history.

·         One in three is not in Caucasian

·         One in four comes from a single-parent home

·         Three out of four have a working mothers

·         This generation wants and needs constant feedback. Always asking why? Households were raised and praised based families. They grew up in an era where the focus of parenting was nurturing.

·         Diversity is important to them.  If they walk into the workplace and don’t see diversity they think something is wrong period.

BOOMERS vs MILLENIALS

·         Boomers live to work – Millennials work to live

·         For baby boomers authority and hierarchy are important– For millennial’s not so much they don’t care what your title is they want to know if you have the goods.

·         Baby boomers are convinced they need to work hard earn a salary and wealth–Millennials simply expect wealth to happen

·         Baby boomers believe in position, performance and individual reward– millennial’s not so much.

·         Due to technology millennial’s are the first generation does not need an authority figure access information

WE MUST GET ALONG – THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT

·         In the work force 60% of employers say they are experiencing tension between the employees from different generations

·         More than 70% of older employees are dismissive of younger workers abilities

·         50% of younger employees are dismissive of the abilities of their older coworkers

·         Every organization’s future vitality is dependent on its ability to work with Millennials

III.             CONTRAST BETWEEN ELIJAH AND ELISHA

Both were appointed by God to be prophets of Israel

1.       Differences:

·         Elijah and Elisha were vastly different in social upbringing, emotions, and ministries, but they developed a mentor/mentee relationship that enabled both men to serve the Lord.

·         Elijah’s miracles were dramatic (e.g. a severe drought and fire coming down from heaven on three different occasions) / Elisha's miracles were modest and personal.

-          He cleansed the waters of Jericho (2 Kings. 2:19-22).

-          He increased a widow's supply of oil, which saved her children from being sold into slavery (2 King 4:1-7).

-          He cleansed a pot of food into which a poisonous herb had been mistakenly added (2King 4:38-41).

-          He fed one hundred hungry men by multiplying a few barley loaves and a small amount of corn (2King 4:42-44).

-          He cured a Gentile named Naaman of his leprosy (2King5:14).

-          He recovered a lost ax-head that a man had borrowed (2 King 6:1-7). 

·         Elijah was a hairy man (2 Kings. 1:8) / Elisha was (like Bishop Kyle) bald. (2 Kings. 2:23).

·         Elijah was prone to mood swings - Elisha was more even-tempered.         

·         Elijah came from Gilead beyond the Jordan River-probably poor / Elisha, came from Abel Meholah in Israel with a wealthy upbringing (i.e. plowing with twelve yoke of oxen required wealth).

2.       Similarities:

·         Both were empowered by God to do extraordinary miracles.  

·         Both instructed the "sons of the prophets" as a lead teacher (2 Kings 2:3, 4:38).

Their union resulted in great blessings to Israel

IV.              LESSONS FROM ELIJAH ND ELISHA

1.      Elijah was a Boomer or Gen Xer but he reached a plateau

2.      Elisha cultivated a good work ethic.

3.      Elijah learned the value of rewarding others (He threw the mantle on Elisha)

4.      Elisha had respect for Authority (He went home to settle his family)

5.      Elijah allowed Elisha to serve him.

6.       Elisha served Elijah for a number of years

1 Kings 19:21

²¹ So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.  Elisha wanted to go further than his mentor

2 Kings 2:9

⁹ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.

And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

7.      Elijah was ok with him being more than he was

8.      Elisha did not become a clone of Elijah