“We need more young people in the church!” I hear this cry in lots of smaller churches across the country. Why would God give your church more young people, if the older people are spiritually stagnant and unwilling to sacrifice to build and encourage the next generation? Could it be that the problem in your church is you, not them?

Revival always starts with me.

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:19-21

Sometimes the hardest people in the church to motivate for Christ, are older believers. There is a revival among young people happening around the world. We are seeing young singles and couples returning to church in record numbers. They are coming to faith in Christ, and their lives are transforming. But for this to continue, we need a “revival among older believers.” Let me explain by using the Apostle Paul as an example.

Consider the Apostle Paul when he wrote these words, not as an admonition to us, but as an explanation about how he was thinking about the last few years of his existence on earth. He was facing death but also knew he had some time left. He explains what he was thinking about himself, Christ, heaven, and others and how he intended to transform that thinking into his daily activity. These are his driving principles as he faced the end of his life. …

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