Passing the Baton: A Legacy of Faith

Today’s gathering centers on the profound responsibility and privilege of passing on faith from one generation to the next. Drawing from Psalm 78 and 2 Timothy 2:2, the call is clear: we are not only to remember and celebrate God’s mighty deeds, but to actively declare them to those who come after us. The Christian life is not a solo race, but a relay—each of us entrusted with the baton of faith, called to run our part well and ensure it is handed off to others. This is not just about personal spiritual growth, but about legacy—leaving behind not merely possessions or achievements, but a living, reproducing faith.

The story of Israel in the Old Testament serves as a sobering warning. Despite witnessing God’s miracles, a single generation’s failure to retell and embody the faith led to spiritual amnesia and decline. The same danger exists today if we allow the urgent and tangible—grades, sports, careers—to eclipse the eternal. Spiritual formation is less visible, less measurable, but infinitely more significant. Our legacy is not what we accumulate, but who we invest in for Christ.

Discipleship is not complete until it reproduces. Jesus’ command was not simply to believe, but to make disciples who make disciples. This requires intentionality in our homes, our church, and our relationships. It means prioritizing spiritual conversations, modeling faith, and creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of those around us. Even if we feel inadequate or unqualified, faithfulness in what God has entrusted to us is what matters. The finish line is not just personal faithfulness, but the successful passing of the baton.

Communion today is both a remembrance and a participation in God’s ongoing grace—a tangible reminder that we are cleansed, empowered, and called to live out and pass on the faith. As we leave, the challenge is to identify those in our lives—children, friends, colleagues—who need us to invest in them spiritually. The true measure of our lives will be found not in what we build, but in who we build up in Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is a Generational Relay, Not a Solo Race The Christian journey is best pictured as a relay race, where the baton of faith must be intentionally passed to the next runner. If we focus only on running our own leg well but neglect to hand off the baton, the race is lost for the team. Our responsibility is not just personal faithfulness, but ensuring the next generation knows and trusts the Lord. [29:34]
• 2. Spiritual Amnesia Follows Neglected Testimony The story of Israel shows that when God’s people stop retelling and embodying His works, the next generation quickly forgets. Blessings are often explained away as luck or coincidence, and faith becomes a distant memory. We must be vigilant in recognizing, celebrating, and sharing God’s activity in our lives, lest spiritual amnesia take root. [31:19]
• 3. Legacy is Measured by People, Not Possessions While it is natural to want to provide materially for our children, Scripture teaches that our true legacy is the faith and character we instill in others. Discipleship is not just about learning, but about reproducing—making disciples who make disciples. The eternal always outweighs the temporary, and our greatest inheritance is a living faith passed on. [40:18]
• 4. Spiritual Formation Requires Intentionality Amidst the Immediate The urgent demands of life—grades, sports, careers—are tangible and often take precedence, but spiritual formation is less visible and easily neglected. Prioritizing spiritual growth in our homes and relationships requires deliberate effort: family devotions, spiritual conversations, and involvement in church community. What we prioritize, we make time for, and the eternal fruit of these investments far surpasses worldly achievements. [47:59]
• 5. Faithfulness, Not Perfection, is the Requirement for Passing the Baton God does not require us to be the most knowledgeable or gifted, but to be faithful with what we have received. Even the apostle Paul, though uniquely gifted, emphasized the importance of simply entrusting the faith to others who will do the same. Each of us is called to identify someone to invest in, trusting that God will multiply our efforts for His kingdom. [57:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:47] - Gathering in Jesus’ Name & Communion Introduction
• [02:15] - World Communion Sunday & Opening Prayer
• [04:34] - Greeting and Worship Songs
• [09:55] - The Holiness of God
• [15:31] - Our Need for Grace
• [16:40] - Announcements & Community Life
• [19:19] - Grief Share and Holiday Support
• [21:15] - Praise Reports and Prayer
• [25:08] - Singing “Holy, Holy, Holy”
• [29:06] - The Relay Race of Faith
• [31:19] - Lessons from Israel’s Spiritual Amnesia
• [35:44] - Psalm 78 & 2 Timothy 2:2: Passing the Baton
• [40:18] - Legacy: People Over Possessions
• [47:59] - The Challenge of Spiritual Formation
• [53:47] - Setting the Sail: Preparing for the Spirit
• [56:42] - The Real Finish Line: Passing the Baton
• [59:49] - Practical Discipleship in Everyday Life
• [62:43] - Communion: Remembering and Receiving Grace
• [76:44] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
• [80:23] - Final Song and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

Psalm 78:1-8 (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.
> He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel,
> which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
> that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn,
> and arise and tell them to their children,
> so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God,
> but 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.

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.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (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.

Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 78, what specific actions are God’s people commanded to take regarding the next generation?
2. In 2 Timothy 2:2, how many generations of faith transmission does Paul mention, and what is the process he describes?
3. What warning does Psalm 78 give about what happens when God’s works are not retold to the next generation?
4. In the sermon, what metaphor is used to describe the Christian life, and what is the main point of that metaphor? [[29:34]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the psalmist in Psalm 78 emphasize not hiding God’s works from children? What might be the consequences if this is neglected?
2. The sermon describes the Christian life as a relay race, not a solo run. What does this suggest about the importance of community and generational faith? [[29:34]]
3. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul instructs Timothy to entrust the faith to “reliable people who will be qualified to teach others.” What qualities might make someone “reliable” in this context?
4. The sermon warns about “spiritual amnesia” when testimony is neglected. How does this idea connect to the cycle seen in Israel’s history? [[31:19]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to see faith as a baton to be passed, not just a personal journey. Who in your life right now could you intentionally invest in spiritually? What is one step you could take this week to begin that process? [[58:47]]
2. Think about your daily or weekly routines. Are there ways you prioritize urgent, visible things (like work, school, or sports) over spiritual formation? What is one practical change you could make to give spiritual growth a higher priority in your home or relationships? [[47:59]]
3. The sermon mentions that spiritual formation is less visible and doesn’t come with trophies or grades. How can you celebrate or recognize spiritual growth in yourself or others, even when it’s not obvious? [[48:29]]
4. If you feel inadequate or unqualified to disciple others, what encouragement does the sermon give? How can you trust God to use your faithfulness, even if you don’t feel like an expert? [[57:30]]
5. The story of Israel shows that a single generation’s failure to retell and embody faith led to spiritual decline. What are some specific stories or experiences of God’s faithfulness in your life that you could share with someone younger or newer in faith? [[31:19]]
6. Communion was described as both a remembrance and a participation in God’s ongoing grace. How does regularly remembering Christ’s work help you stay focused on passing on the faith? [[01:02:43]]
7. The sermon says, “Our legacy will not be measured in what we build, but in who we build up in Christ.” What is one way you want to shift your focus from possessions or achievements to investing in people for Christ? [[40:18]]