KEY PASSAGE
13 People were bringing children to Him so that He would touch and bless them, but the disciples reprimanded them and discouraged them [from coming]. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and He said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took the children [one by one] in His arms and blessed them [with kind, encouraging words], placing His hands on them.
– MARK 10:13
POWER OF LEGACY IS BUILT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF GENERATIONS
13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I am who i am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.
This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.– EXODUS 3:13-15
18 Let this be recorded for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created will praise the Lord. 19 For He looked down from His holy height [of His sanctuary], From heaven the Lord gazed on the earth, 20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
– PSALM 102:18-20
NEXT GENERATION WANTS JESUS BUT NEEDS OUR HEARTS AND HANDS
3 I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well. 6 That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].
– 2 TIMOTHY 1:3-6
LAYING ON OF HANDS = IMPART, SET APART, COMMISSION, ENCOURAGE
16 And He took the children [one by one] in His arms and blessed them [with kind, encouraging words], placing His hands on them.
– MARK 10:16
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.– EPHESIANS 3:14-21
GROUP ACTIVATION:
THE POWER & ETERNAL HOPE OF GENERATIONAL LEGACY
READ: MARK 10:13-16
- POWER OF LEGACY IS BUILT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF GENERATIONS
READ: EXODUS 3:13-15; PSALM 102:18-20
ASK: What is some of the stories of God’s faithfulness He has recorded on your heart?
- NEXT GENERATION WANTS JESUS BUT NEEDS OUR HEARTS AND HANDS
READ: 2 TIMOTHY 1:3-6; EPHESIANS 3:14-21
ASK: How am I personally showing up with a heart in and hands on approach to investing in the next generations?
PRAY:
God, thank you for showing up for me with your son Jesus. Forgive me for missing your power and eternal hope you have recorded on my heart for the purpose of passing on to the next generation. Today, I commit to go all in with my hearts and hands to bring the hope and freedom of Jesus to the next generations. Amen!