Passing Down Faith: A Generational Responsibility

 

Summary

In this new year, we reflect on the generational impact of faith and the responsibility we have to pass down the truth of God to the next generation. As we celebrate the growth and new members in our church, we are reminded that each generation is shaped by the influence of those before it. The future of our faith community depends on how well we impart the wisdom and teachings of God to our children and grandchildren. This is not just a familial duty but a spiritual mandate that transcends time and culture.

Psalm 78 serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of teaching the next generation about God's mighty works and His commandments. The psalmist Asaph urges us to learn from the past, to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous generations, and to ensure that the truth of God is not hidden from our children. This is a call to action for parents, grandparents, and the entire church community to engage in generational discipleship.

The statistics are sobering: many young people walk away from their faith after high school. This highlights the urgent need for intentional discipleship that goes beyond mere attendance at church services. We must cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ in our children, teaching them not only to know God's truth but to love and live it. This involves more than just intellectual understanding; it requires a transformation of the heart.

As we embark on this journey, we must remember that God is a generational God, faithful to every generation. Our task is to ensure that the chain of faith remains unbroken, that each generation knows and loves God, and that they, in turn, pass this legacy on to the next. This is the most important work we can do, and it starts today, in our homes and in our church.

Key Takeaways:

1. Generational Responsibility: Each generation has the responsibility to pass down the truth of God to the next. This is not just a familial duty but a spiritual mandate that ensures the continuity of faith. We must actively engage in teaching our children about God's mighty works and His commandments. [23:49]

2. Learning from the Past: Psalm 78 reminds us of the importance of learning from the past to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous generations. By understanding history, we can make better choices today and ensure a brighter future for our children. [27:06]

3. Heart Transformation: True discipleship involves more than just intellectual understanding; it requires a transformation of the heart. We must teach our children to love and live God's truth, not just know it. This is the key to a lasting faith. [34:25]

4. The Now Generation: Our children are not just the next generation; they are the now generation. We must invest in their spiritual growth today, ensuring they have a strong foundation in Christ that will carry them through life. [31:14]

5. A Call to Action: The statistics of young people leaving the faith are a call to action for the church. We must prioritize generational discipleship, ensuring that our children know and love Jesus Christ above all else. This is the most important work we can do. [39:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:15] - Celebrating 2024 Achievements
- [03:30] - Understanding Generational Impact
- [06:45] - The Importance of Learning from History
- [10:20] - Introducing Psalm 78
- [13:00] - The Mandate of Generational Discipleship
- [16:40] - The Reality of Youth Leaving the Faith
- [20:10] - The Role of Parents and Grandparents
- [23:49] - Teaching God's Truth to the Next Generation
- [27:06] - Learning from Past Mistakes
- [31:14] - The Now Generation
- [34:25] - Heart Transformation in Discipleship
- [37:19] - Creating a Christian Home
- [39:57] - A Call to Action for the Church
- [42:50] - Preparing Children for the Future

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 78:1-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Psalm 78:1-8 emphasize about the role of parents and grandparents in teaching the next generation? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about generational discipleship? [23:49]

2. According to the sermon, what are some of the reasons young people walk away from their faith after high school? [23:49]

3. How does the sermon describe the concept of God being a "generational God"? What implications does this have for our faith community? [27:06]

4. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between knowing God's truth and living it? [34:25]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does Psalm 78 encourage us to learn from the past? How can this be applied to avoid repeating mistakes in our own lives? [27:06]

2. The sermon mentions a "spiritual mandate" to pass down faith. How does this mandate challenge or affirm your current approach to discipleship within your family or community? [23:49]

3. How does the sermon define the "now generation," and why is it important to invest in their spiritual growth today? [31:14]

4. What does the sermon mean by "heart transformation," and why is it considered essential for true discipleship? [34:25]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own family or community. How are you currently engaging in generational discipleship, and what changes might you need to make to ensure the faith is passed down effectively? [23:49]

2. The sermon highlights the importance of not just knowing God's truth but living it. Identify one area in your life where you can better live out God's truth this week. [34:25]

3. Considering the statistics mentioned in the sermon about youth leaving the faith, what practical steps can you take to support young people in your church or community in their spiritual journey? [23:49]

4. How can you personally contribute to creating a "Christian home" that centers on Jesus Christ, regardless of whether you have children? [37:19]

5. The sermon calls for a "chain reaction" of faith. Who in your life can you intentionally disciple or mentor to continue this chain? [31:14]

6. Reflect on the concept of God being a "generational God." How does this perspective influence your understanding of your role in your faith community? [27:06]

7. What specific actions can you take this week to ensure that the truth of God is not hidden from the next generation in your sphere of influence? [23:49]

Devotional

Day 1: Generational Faithfulness
Each generation holds the sacred responsibility of passing down the truth of God to the next. This is not merely a familial duty but a spiritual mandate that ensures the continuity of faith across time and culture. The influence of one generation on the next is profound, shaping beliefs, values, and spiritual practices. As we celebrate growth and new members in our church, we are reminded that the future of our faith community depends on how well we impart the wisdom and teachings of God to our children and grandchildren. This generational responsibility calls for active engagement in teaching our children about God's mighty works and His commandments. [23:49]

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally share God's truth with today, and how can you make this a regular practice?


Day 2: Learning from History
Psalm 78 serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of learning from the past to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous generations. The psalmist Asaph urges us to understand history so that we can make better choices today and ensure a brighter future for our children. By reflecting on the past, we gain wisdom and insight that can guide our actions and decisions. This understanding is crucial for breaking cycles of error and fostering a legacy of faithfulness. As we look back, we are called to discern the lessons that God has woven into the fabric of history and apply them to our lives. [27:06]

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (ESV): "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

Reflection: What is one mistake from your past that you can learn from today, and how can you use that lesson to guide your future decisions?


Day 3: Heart Transformation
True discipleship involves more than just intellectual understanding; it requires a transformation of the heart. We must teach our children to love and live God's truth, not just know it. This transformation is the key to a lasting faith that endures beyond mere knowledge. It involves cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, where His truth becomes the foundation of our lives. This heart transformation is essential for nurturing a faith that is vibrant and resilient, capable of withstanding the challenges and trials of life. [34:25]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need a heart transformation, and how can you invite God to begin this work in you today?


Day 4: Investing in the Now Generation
Our children are not just the next generation; they are the now generation. We must invest in their spiritual growth today, ensuring they have a strong foundation in Christ that will carry them through life. This investment involves intentional discipleship, where we prioritize their spiritual development and equip them with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the world. By focusing on the now generation, we are building a legacy of faith that will impact not only their lives but also the lives of those they will influence in the future. [31:14]

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV): "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Reflection: How can you actively support and encourage the spiritual growth of a young person in your life today?


Day 5: A Call to Action
The statistics of young people leaving the faith are a call to action for the church. We must prioritize generational discipleship, ensuring that our children know and love Jesus Christ above all else. This is the most important work we can do, and it starts today, in our homes and in our church. By fostering an environment where faith is lived out authentically and passionately, we can inspire the next generation to embrace their faith wholeheartedly. This call to action challenges us to be intentional in our efforts, recognizing the urgency and significance of this mission. [39:57]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What specific action can you take today to contribute to the spiritual growth of your church community, and how can you commit to this regularly?

Quotes

"Generations all eventually die and then new generations are eventually born yet one thing is true about all generations the future of any generation is determined by how past generations have impacted and influenced and she said I heard this reagan movie was really good well I always liked ronald reagan so we watched it and I was reminded of a quote uh that he had had made many years ago they repeated it in this movie he said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction it is not passed on to our children telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free now that's not only true about freedom it's true about truth it is true about morality it's true about right and wrong good and evil godly and ungodly and that's why history is so learned from the mistakes of yesterday we will repeat those mistakes today and it'll doom us tomorrow and that's why we're starting off the new year with a new sermon series of calling back in my day every one of us have heard that from grandparents parents and" [00:21:57] (67 seconds)


"Now, what if the lessons that these folks were taught are beneficial for us today? See, God is for all generations. He is a generational. So there is no generation gap with God. He is faithful to every generation, and He wants every generation to be faithful to Him as well, to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him, to worship Him. And He also wants every generation to be sharing with the next generation the truth of things more vital to the race than these. What man shall marry what woman, and what shall be the first things taught to their children?" [00:23:04] (34 seconds)


"Psalm 78, things from of old, things that we have heard and known that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children, but tell them to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord in his might and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, and he commanded our fathers to teach to their children that the next generation might know them, the children keep his commandments, and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. Heavenly Father, we come before you this day, Lord, just grateful and thankful that we can boldly approach your throne of grace through the shed blood of your Son, Jesus Christ. God, we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, and we thank you for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus, who was born to us. Amen. You suffered and died for our sins. We thank you, Lord, for his glorious resurrection and for the abundant and eternal life that he offers to us as a free gift, simply by placing our faith and trust in him alone to save us. So, God, I just pray you walk down. We pray all this in his precious name. Amen. You may be seated." [00:25:57] (69 seconds)


"Now, the psalmist is encouraging the people not to let history repeat itself, but to learn from the mistakes of the past and to defeat them in the present. So, in these eight verses, we're going to see three things. Now, the psalmist, known as Asaph, is exhorting the present generation of the possibility for teaching and reaching the next generation. He says, 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, and I will utter dark sayings from old, things that we have heard in Israel, because what he's referring to is the past." [00:27:06] (33 seconds)


"God does not recognize a generation gap. It's to be one unbroken chain of truth from one generation to the next, not just so they will know the truth, but so they will live. From the dead, you will be saved. You see, that's the key to salvation. So you've got an intellectual understanding of who Jesus is, but then you have a volitional, a choice of the will to trust in Jesus and in his resurrection." [00:34:50] (25 seconds)


"And that's what we need to be teaching our children. Not just Jesus is Lord. Yes, he is. Jesus is Savior. And that's what this is. That's making Jesus the Lord. He's the Lord of your life. You know something with your mind, but you can trust something with your will. Verse 7 says, so they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. And that is the spiritual chain reaction that God wants. You see, he wants the truth that gets into your head. So teaching the next generation to put their trust in God, because what you really believe, you will live. The rest is just talk." [00:35:32] (35 seconds)


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Transcript
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