Guardians of Faith: Nurturing the Next Generation

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as a Sacred Trust

Faith is a sacred trust, much like the eternal flame in the story of Lumora. It is not something to be hoarded or hidden but to be nurtured and passed on to future generations. This responsibility requires resilience and dedication, especially during challenging times. Just as Ezrin stood firm against the storm to protect the flame, we too must stand firm in our faith, ensuring that it continues to burn brightly for those who come after us. Our actions today determine whether the next generation will stand in light or darkness. [42:25]

"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children." (Deuteronomy 4:9, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your faith is being actively passed on to the next generation?

Day 2: Discipleship as a Means of Grace

Discipleship is a vital practice through which God's grace works in our lives and the lives of others. Psalm 78:4 reminds us of the importance of actively sharing God's truths with the next generation. This is not a passive endeavor but one that requires intensity and intentionality. By teaching and sharing God's story, we participate in a communal faith journey that strengthens our own faith and that of others. Discipleship is a means of grace, a channel through which God's transformative power flows. [46:35]

"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." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally disciple, and how can you begin this journey with them today?

Day 3: The Transformative Power of Personal Testimony

In the Wesleyan tradition, personal testimonies are powerful tools for inspiring and transforming others. By sharing our God stories, we contribute to the continuity of faith across generations. Our openness and vulnerability can shape and inspire those around us, offering them a glimpse of God's work in our lives. Personal testimonies are not just about recounting past experiences but about illustrating the ongoing work of God in our lives. They serve as living illustrations of God's grace and power. [50:39]

"Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul." (Psalm 66:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one personal testimony of God's work in your life that you can share with someone this week?

Day 4: Building a Legacy of Faith

The Great Commission calls us to connect people to Jesus Christ, which is our greatest legacy. This legacy is built through faithfulness, Christ-centered living, and the intentional passing on of our faith. It is a responsibility, not an option, to ensure that the next generation knows of God's power and mighty wonders. By living a life that reflects Christ's teachings, we create a lasting impact that extends beyond our own lifetime. Our legacy is not measured by earthly achievements but by the spiritual inheritance we leave behind. [54:34]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (1 Chronicles 16:24, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your life is building a legacy of faith for future generations?

Day 5: Living Illustrations of God's Grace

The Wesleyan view of God's grace is threefold: prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying. God's power works before, during, and after our decisions of faith, transforming our lives through redemption and deliverance. We are called to be living illustrations of this transformative power, embodying the characteristics of kingdom citizens and proclaiming God's mighty acts. Our lives should reflect the grace we have received, serving as a testament to God's ongoing work in the world. [54:34]

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a living illustration of God's grace in your daily interactions and decisions today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound responsibility of nurturing and passing on our faith, much like the guardians of the flame in the story of the ancient city of Lumora. This tale serves as a metaphor for our spiritual journey, emphasizing that faith is not ours to keep but to steward and pass on to future generations. The story of Ezrin, a young guardian who stood firm against the storm to protect the eternal flame, illustrates the resilience and dedication required to maintain our faith amidst life's challenges. This narrative parallels our own call as followers of Christ to ensure that the light of faith continues to burn brightly for those who come after us.

We delved into Psalm 78:4, which underscores the importance of not hiding the truths of God's deeds from our children but actively sharing them. This scripture reminds us that faith is communal, not solitary, and it is our duty to teach and share God's story with intensity and intentionality. The act of discipleship is a means of grace, a practice through which God's grace works in our lives and the lives of others.

The sermon also highlighted the significance of personal testimony in the Wesleyan tradition, encouraging us to be open and vulnerable about our God stories. Sharing these stories can inspire and transform others, contributing to the continuity of faith across generations. We are called to be living illustrations of God's work, embodying the characteristics of kingdom citizens and proclaiming God's mighty acts.

As we reflect on the Great Commission, we are reminded that our greatest legacy is to connect people to Jesus Christ. This legacy is built through faithfulness, Christ-centered living, and the intentional passing on of our faith. It is a responsibility, not an option, to ensure that the next generation knows of God's power and mighty wonders. Let us commit to this sacred duty, trusting that God is indeed big enough to guide and sustain us in this mission.

Key Takeaways

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2. The Importance of Discipleship: Psalm 78:4 teaches us that we must actively share God's truths with the next generation. Discipleship is a means of grace, a practice through which God's grace works in our lives and the lives of others. It is our duty to teach and share God's story with intensity and intentionality.

3. The Power of Personal Testimony: In the Wesleyan tradition, personal testimonies are valued as a way to inspire and transform others. By sharing our God stories, we contribute to the continuity of faith across generations. Our openness and vulnerability can shape and inspire those around us.

4. Building a Legacy of Faith: The Great Commission calls us to connect people to Jesus Christ, which is our greatest legacy. This legacy is built through faithfulness, Christ-centered living, and the intentional passing on of our faith. It is a responsibility, not an option, to ensure that the next generation knows of God's power and mighty wonders.

5. God's Grace in Our Lives: The Wesleyan view of God's grace is threefold: prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying. God's power works before, during, and after our decisions of faith, transforming our lives through redemption and deliverance. We are called to be living illustrations of this transformative power.

** [42:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Invitation to Confession
[01:45] - Prayer and Forgiveness
[03:00] - Announcements and Welcome
[05:15] - God is Big Enough Campaign Update
[07:30] - Story of the Guardians of the Flame
[12:00] - Lessons from the Story
[15:00] - Psalm 78:4 and Passing on Faith
[18:30] - The Role of Discipleship
[21:00] - Importance of Personal Testimony
[24:00] - Building a Legacy of Faith
[27:00] - Understanding God's Grace
[30:00] - The Great Commission
[33:00] - Communion Invitation
[36:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Sermon Clips

We are entrusted with a faith that has been given to us and by those who came before us. A faith really, which is not ours to keep, but to nurture and to pass on. So the challenges of these times, the challenges of the times in the future, we will always have seasons of life within the church and individually that will try to extinguish faith and extinguish the flame. [00:42:36] (31 seconds)

What we do today does determine whether the next generation will stand in light or possibly be left in darkness. So it does matter what we do today. Now, we have learned some spiritual truths during our God is Big Enough campaign. During this series, we have talked about some movements of God and the truth behind those movements of God. [00:43:56] (27 seconds)

We will not hide these truths from our children. We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. And so what I want to do is, you keep your scriptures there. We're going to just sort of break down that one verse. It teaches us a lot of these important truths about a faith being passed on. [00:45:38] (24 seconds)

Discipleship is part of the means of grace in the church. It's a part of what we have to practice. And God's grace works through the moments of discipleship in our life. So, it goes on, and it says, these truths from our children. So we won't hide these truths from our children. It implies responsibility of God's people. [00:47:24] (25 seconds)

We have a communal faith, not just Lone Ranger faith. We have the responsibilities to pass it on to the next generation. And the responsibility, you could say, of the elders, of those who are mature in faith, have the responsibility for the upkeep of the community. I think about that in our JW Next Generation ministry that we have here. [00:48:33] (25 seconds)

Not only will we not hide, but we will tell. And this is a declaration, a proclamation. This is not a casual storytelling. I mean, there's, this means something. This is an intentional thing that's going to happen. And we're going to make something known. If you study the original Hebrew, it actually says, we will tell. [00:49:56] (23 seconds)

We need to be more open. We need to be more vulnerable about our God stories, because God has made a collection of beautiful stories, where he has done some mighty works and wonders, and we can't hide those things. And when we share those things, people are inspired. They're transformed. It shapes people. Well, God uses those in some amazing ways. [00:51:23] (25 seconds)

We will tell the next generation. We already knew that was coming, but, you know, the future age is really what that. We will tell the future age. It's central to God's work to continue faith, the continuity of faith. Each generation would respond to the next. And so in Psalm 145, verse 4, it even says, let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts. [00:51:57] (26 seconds)

We pass down not just knowledge, but we pass down the very, we are a demonstration of the transformative power of God in redemption and deliverance. God's power has changed our life. And that's what we pass down. His amazing grace is working. The Wesleyan view of this, of God's grace, is threefold. [00:55:03] (26 seconds)

That is a legacy that is built by daily centered, Christ -centered living. That is a legacy that is a responsibility to pass on and not an option. And that is a legacy that proclaims, I believe, God is big enough. We will not hide these truths from our children. We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. [00:57:50] (37 seconds)

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