Wake Up and Tell The Next Generation Pastor Edrin Williams Sanctuary Covenant Church

We gather under Psalm 78 and face a clear summons to wake up and tell the next generation about God. We hear the psalm insist that we make plain the praiseworthy deeds, the power, and the wonders of God so that children yet unborn will know and trust him. We admit that we have drifted, that figurative sleep at the wheel has allowed faithful practices to erode and has let many young people graduate out of the faith. We confront the hard fact that more than a million young people walk away from faith each year and that too many follow the pattern of forgetfulness and rebellion recorded in Israel’s history.

We resolve that faithful discipleship starts in the home. We recognize that parents, grandparents, and close family shape belief far more than weekly programs, and we accept the responsibility to live out the faith before our children. We commit to a robust partnership between family and church, aligning priorities, sharing responsibilities, and refusing to let calendars and activities crowd out spiritual formation. We insist on telling the stories of God’s deeds with clarity and regularity so that young people learn to trust God rather than the shifting promises of the world.

We imagine a different future where home and church work as one to form disciples who carry Christ into classrooms, locker rooms, and online spaces. We picture children who know Scripture well enough to withstand shame and confusion, and who act for justice because they know Jesus has the last word over violence, poverty, and despair. We pledge to wake up, to reengage with the calling to pass on faith, and to pursue practical steps that mobilize families and the church together. We pray for renewal, offer grace where we have fallen short, and expect God to bless a renewed commitment to discipleship across generations.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Wake up and tell the next generation We must treat passing on the faith as urgent work, not optional programming. When we intentionally tell the stories of God’s power and mercy, we counter the cultural amnesia that breeds rebellion. Urgency reshapes priorities and motivates sustained, relational investment in youth. [03:33]
• 2. Faith formation starts in the home Parents and close family carry primary influence in shaping belief and practice. When we model prayer, Scripture, and love at home, we give children a lived grammar of faith that no program can fully replicate. This reality calls us to own daily discipleship rather than outsource it. [19:06]
• 3. Church and family must partner Neither the church nor the family can shoulder discipleship alone; we must coordinate teaching, rhythms, and encouragement. When we align on purpose and practice, ministry times amplify what happens at home and families receive practical support. Partnership multiplies reach and sustains faith through social pressures. [21:46]
• 4. Tell stories of God’s deeds regularly We cultivate trust in God by narrating his past interventions and present faithfulness with clarity and frequency. When we name specific wonders and statutes, children gain a framework to interpret suffering and triumph through God’s sovereignty. Storytelling forms conviction and resilience more than abstract doctrine alone. [02:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:38] - Series: One Generation to the Next
• [01:39] - Reading Psalm 78
• [03:33] - Wake Up and Tell the Next Generation
• [06:06] - Personal Testimony: Fallen Asleep at the Wheel
• [10:41] - Alarming Statistics about Youth Faith
• [11:40] - Scripture Offers Hope and Direction
• [19:06] - Faith Formation Begins at Home
• [21:46] - Family and Church Partnership
• [27:16] - Imagination: A Different Future
• [34:20] - Recommitment and Prayer

1. According to Psalm 78:4-6, what specific things are we commanded to tell the next generation, and why?
2. The sermon emphasizes that "faith formation starts in the home" ([19:06]). What examples or reasons were given to support this claim?
3. In the sermon, the phrase "falling asleep at the wheel" is used metaphorically ([07:42]). What real-life examples of this spiritual "sleep" were shared?
4. Psalm 78:8 warns against becoming like a "stubborn and rebellious generation." What behaviors or attitudes does this verse contrast with a faithful life?

1. Why might the psalmist connect telling stories of God’s deeds (v. 4) to future generations setting their hope in God (v. 7)? How does storytelling shape trust?
2. The sermon argues that parents’ influence outweighs church programs ([19:25]). Why might daily, lived faith at home have a deeper impact than structured ministry?
3. How does the partnership between families and the church (as described in [21:46]) address the challenges of cultural pressures on young people?
4. Psalm 78:8 warns against repeating the failures of past generations. What might "forgetting God’s deeds" look like in today’s context, and how does this lead to rebellion?

1. What is one specific "praiseworthy deed" or act of God’s faithfulness in your life that you could share with a young person this week? How would you explain its significance?
2. The sermon urges families to prioritize faith over achievements like scholarships or sports ([18:12]). What practical step could you take to ensure spiritual growth is not crowded out by busyness in your home?
3. If "church and family must partner" ([21:46]), what is one way you could support a parent or child in your community this month (e.g., mentoring, praying, volunteering)?
4. Reflect on your daily routines: where might you be unintentionally "asleep at the wheel" ([07:42]) in modeling faith? What small change could you make to live more intentionally?
5. The psalm calls us to tell God’s stories "with clarity and regularity" ([02:21]). How could you incorporate Scripture or testimonies into mealtimes, car rides, or bedtime with children/youth in your life?
6. The sermon imagines a future where young people act justly because "Jesus has the last word" ([30:18]). How can you help a child or teen connect their faith to real-world issues like poverty or injustice?