Empowering Generations: Discipleship and Community in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Sharpening One Another in Community

God calls us to grow together in faith, not in isolation, but by coming alongside one another to encourage, challenge, and strengthen each other. Just as iron sharpens iron, our relationships within the church are meant to help us become more faithful disciples, holding each other accountable and building each other up for the sake of God’s kingdom. Whether through friendships, small groups, or acts of service, every interaction is an opportunity to help someone else grow and to be sharpened ourselves. Who are you intentionally investing in, and who is investing in you? [37:47]

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Reflection: Who in your life has helped “sharpen” your faith, and how can you intentionally encourage or challenge someone in your church family this week?

Day 2: Jesus Models and Calls Us to Raise Up Others

Jesus not only invited His disciples to follow Him, but He also modeled a life of raising others up—healing, teaching, forgiving, and sending them out to do the same. He calls us to continue His mission, promising that those who believe in Him will do even greater things as we work together in His name. Our calling is to follow Jesus’ example by coming alongside others, equipping and empowering them to serve, and multiplying the impact of God’s love in the world. [46:52]

John 14:12 (ESV)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Reflection: What is one way you can follow Jesus’ example this week by helping someone else grow in their faith or service?

Day 3: Passing Down Faith to the Next Generation

We are entrusted with the responsibility to tell the next generation about God’s mighty deeds, His power, and the wonders He has done. This means not only sharing stories from Scripture but also testifying to God’s work in our own lives, so that faith is not hidden but passed on. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, mentor, or friend, your words and actions can inspire others to know and trust God, ensuring that His story continues through every generation. [50:27]

Psalm 78:1-4 (ESV)
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Reflection: What is one story of God’s faithfulness in your life that you can share with a younger person this week?

Day 4: Every Disciple is a Disciple-Maker

God’s design is that every believer not only follows Jesus but also intentionally invests in others, teaching and encouraging them to do the same. We are called to entrust what we have learned to reliable people who will also teach others, creating a ripple effect of faith and transformation. This means making a plan to mentor, encourage, and walk alongside others, just as others have done for us, so that the good news of Jesus continues to spread and grow. [56:16]

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Reflection: Who is someone you can intentionally invest in or mentor in their faith journey, and what is one step you can take to begin that process?

Day 5: Living Out the Praiseworthy Deeds of the Lord

Our lives are meant to be living testimonies of God’s power, love, and faithfulness—not just for our own benefit, but so that others may see and know Him. By sharing what God has done, both in Scripture and in our own stories, we help build up the church and expand God’s kingdom. Let us not take this calling for granted, but commit ourselves to raising up others, inviting them to experience the hope and love found in Jesus Christ. [55:41]

Psalm 105:1-2 (ESV)
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

Reflection: What is one way you can “make known” God’s deeds—through words or actions—so that someone else might be drawn closer to Him today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a family of faith to celebrate God’s ongoing work among us, welcoming new members and renewing our shared commitment to support one another through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness. This unity is not just a formality, but a living reminder that we are all in this journey together, called to build up the church and expand God’s kingdom. We paused to pray for spiritual revival—over our families, our city, our nation, and the world—trusting in the power of Jesus’ name to bring new life wherever it is spoken.

Our focus was on the vital step of “raising up”—investing in others so that faith is passed from generation to generation. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This sharpening happens in community, as we intentionally pour into each other’s lives. I shared the story of Miss Lou, my childhood Sunday school teacher, who faithfully reminded us that Jesus loves us and rooted us in the truth of Scripture. Her simple, consistent witness shaped my faith and illustrates how each of us can make a lasting impact.

Jesus himself modeled this for us. He called his disciples to follow, taught them by example, and then sent them out to continue his mission. He promised that those who believe in him would do even greater things, not because of our own strength, but because together, empowered by the Spirit, we multiply his work in the world. We are called to hear God’s word, listen deeply, and put it into practice—passing on the stories of God’s faithfulness, power, and wonders to the next generation.

We looked at examples from Scripture—Joseph, Moses, David—and from our own community, like Roger Pritch, who invested in children and youth, living out his faith in tangible ways. The call is clear: we are to be disciples who make disciples, intentionally investing in others so that the story of God’s love continues to spread. Even if we are not famous or in the spotlight, like Albert McMakin who brought Billy Graham to faith, our faithful investment in others can have a ripple effect for generations. May we not take this calling for granted, but commit ourselves anew to knowing the way, showing the way, and going the way of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. True community in Christ means every member is essential. We are not called to be spectators, but active participants in building up the church and supporting one another. Our shared commitment—through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness—reflects the heart of God’s family and the unity Christ prayed for. [28:39]
2. Raising up others is not accidental; it is intentional and generational. Like Miss Lou, who faithfully reminded children of Jesus’ love, we are called to invest in the next generation, passing on the truth of Scripture and the reality of God’s love. Our small, consistent acts of faithfulness can shape lives in ways we may never fully see. [41:39]
3. Jesus modeled discipleship by inviting others to follow, teaching by example, and sending his followers to continue his mission. He calls us to do the same: to know the way (rooted in Christ), show the way (by our actions), and go the way (living out our faith in the world). This is not reserved for a select few, but is the calling of every believer. [44:07]
4. The stories of God’s faithfulness—both in Scripture and in our own lives—are meant to be shared. We are stewards of these stories, called to tell of God’s praiseworthy deeds, power, and wonders so that each generation may know and trust Him. Passing on these stories is an act of worship and a means of spiritual multiplication. [54:46]
5. Every believer is both a disciple and a disciple-maker. Whether through formal teaching, mentoring, or simple acts of encouragement, we are called to intentionally invest in others. Like Albert McMakin, whose quiet invitation led to Billy Graham’s conversion, our faithfulness in raising up others can have an impact far beyond what we imagine. [61:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:39] - Welcoming New Members: Commitment and Prayer
[30:09] - Praying for Spiritual Revival
[36:07] - Calling on the Name of Jesus
[37:47] - Scripture Reading: Proverbs 27:17
[39:02] - Prayer for God’s Word
[40:44] - The Power of Simple Faithfulness: Miss Lou’s Story
[41:39] - The Foundation: Jesus Loves Me
[43:36] - Leadership: Know, Show, and Go the Way
[44:07] - Raising Up: Jesus’ Model and Our Calling
[45:24] - Jesus Sends Us to Continue His Mission
[47:41] - Hearing and Listening to God’s Word
[50:01] - Passing Faith to the Next Generation
[51:21] - Living Faith: The Example of Roger Pritch
[52:48] - Remembering God’s Wonders in Scripture
[54:46] - The Resurrection: The Ultimate Wonder
[56:16] - Making Disciples Who Make Disciples
[57:45] - Every Believer is a Disciple-Maker
[59:00] - The Story of Albert McMakin and Billy Graham
[61:26] - Our Call to Raise Up Others
[63:08] - Knowing, Showing, and Going the Way
[63:51] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) — > As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Psalm 78:1-4 (ESV) — > Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
> I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
> things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.
> We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV) — > and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 27:17, what is the result of people interacting with one another in community?
In Psalm 78:1-4, what are God’s people instructed to do with the stories of God’s deeds and wonders?
What specific actions did Miss Lou, the Sunday school teacher, take to “raise up” the next generation, as described in the sermon? [41:39]
In 2 Timothy 2:2, what is the process Paul describes for passing on the faith?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the image of “iron sharpening iron” is used to describe relationships in the faith community? What does this suggest about the nature of Christian growth?
The sermon emphasized that “raising up others is not accidental; it is intentional and generational.” What are some reasons it might be easy to neglect this calling in our daily lives? [41:39]
The pastor shared stories of people like Miss Lou, Roger Pritch, and Albert McMakin, who made a difference through simple, faithful actions. What do these examples teach about the impact of “ordinary” faithfulness? [59:00]
Psalm 78:1-4 talks about telling the next generation about God’s wonders. Why is it important for each generation to hear these stories directly from those who have experienced them? How might this shape their faith?

Application Questions

The sermon described how every member is essential and called to support the church through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Which of these five areas do you find most challenging to practice consistently? What is one step you could take this week to grow in that area? [28:39]
Think of someone in your life who has “sharpened” your faith, like Miss Lou did for the pastor. What did they do that made a difference for you? How could you intentionally do something similar for someone else this month? [41:39]
The pastor shared that Jesus modeled discipleship by inviting, teaching, and sending his followers. Who is someone you could invite to “come and see” or walk alongside in faith? What would that look like in your context? [44:07]
The sermon highlighted the importance of sharing stories of God’s faithfulness. Is there a story from your own life where you saw God at work that you haven’t shared with the next generation? What’s holding you back from sharing it? [54:46]
The story of Albert McMakin shows that even small acts of faithfulness can have a big impact. Is there a simple act of encouragement, invitation, or service you could offer this week that might help “raise up” someone else? [59:00]
The pastor challenged the church to “know the way, show the way, and go the way” of Jesus. Which of these three do you feel strongest in, and which do you want to grow in? What is one practical step you can take to move forward? [43:36]
The sermon called for praying for spiritual revival over families, the city, and the world. What is one specific area or person you feel led to pray for this week? How can your group support you in this? [30:09]

Sermon Clips

A leader knows the way. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the way. truth, the life. We know that because the Bible tells us so, right? A leader shows the way by how we live. We follow Jesus, what he told us to do, what he told us to say, even the hard stuff, even the messy stuff, right? And a leader goes the way. A leader puts their money where their mouth is, doesn't just speak the truth, they live the truth. Amen? [00:43:38] (38 seconds) #LeadByLivingTruth

Did Jesus say that you, that me, that we who are sinners in need of God's grace, seeking to follow him would do greater things than he did? Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Yes, he did, because I am going to the Father. And what he was telling them is, I'm going to leave you to be my hands, my feet. And the reason why we'll do greater things is it's not just one of us going out. It's all of us going out, right? And so Jesus modeled it. Jesus called those who followed him to continue the mission, to do all they can to raise up others. To do all they can. [00:46:52] (50 seconds) #GreaterWorksTogether

Listening is an active thing. It means taking it in, but it also means processing it, putting it into practice. And so we're called to hear, but we're also called to take that Word, whether we hear it on Sunday mornings, whether we hear it through the app, whether we hear it come in from our computer, whether we're reading it, we're called to put that Word into practice in our lives. [00:48:50] (27 seconds) #LiveOutTheWord

We will not hide them from their descendants. We will tell the next generation. So important to pause there. We'll tell the next generation. And in this psalm, it says, Tell that generation, So they'll tell the next generation. They'll tell the next generation, and the kingdom of God will continue to grow. There will be multiple leaders out there that know how to go, that actually show the way, and they go the way, right? To raise up the next generation, right? So important. [00:50:15] (40 seconds) #TellNextGeneration

May we share the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. His powers and the wonders he has done. I've shared with my family how he got a hold of this pastor. I've shared with you all some of it. I haven't shared enough the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord that he gave me, Heather, to walk alongside and go through this call with me. And we could go on and on. Two great children, David and Sarah Catherine. You all can fill in your story. But may we tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. [00:55:07] (43 seconds) #SharePraiseworthyDeeds

Like Jesus, we must intentionally invest in others. And I want to say that again. Intentionally invest in others. That means we have to make a plan. We have to think about it. We have to execute the plan. And we've got to do it again and again to intentionally invest in others like Jesus did. Mentoring, just like I shared with Roger, just like Miss Wu, right? Teaching, encouraging. May we not take this for granted. And may we strive to pass it on. [00:56:03] (40 seconds) #IntentionallyInvestInOthers

We're not called to keep these praiseworthy deeds to ourself. We're called to teach them to the next generation. We're called to live out the words of Jesus as he tells us to go and heal. As he tells us to forgive 70 times 7. As he tells us to seek out the lost. As he tells us to do unto the least of these, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick and in prison, right? Welcome the strangers. We are called to do these things. So we're called to know, we're called to show, and we're called to go. But in going, we're also called to go and make disciples. [00:57:02] (43 seconds) #TeachAndServeNextGen

Friends, we can't all be Billy Grahams, but we can all raise up others to help build up the church, to help make a difference in God's kingdom. We can raise up, we can help tell the story of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and what He's done. We can share it with our children, our grandchildren, our teenagers, our student ministry. We can share it in our life groups. We can share it in women's ministry, men's ministry, in Bible study, as we serve alongside each other in the garden and on habitat. And as we do rise against hunger in this room. As we help feed meals, supply meals at Lynn Road Elementary. And the list goes on and on and on and on. We can help raise up. We are called to help raise up. So that others will know. Amen. [01:01:39] (57 seconds) #RaiseUpToBuildKingdom

May we commit ourselves as leaders. Leaders in the church and the kingdom of God. Maybe not by position or title. But may we remember that we're called to know the way. We're called to show the way. And as importantly and significant, we're called to go the way. [01:02:53] (25 seconds) #LeadKnowShowGo

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