[PDF]Developing A Godly Legacy Legacy: something that is...
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Developing A Godly Legacy Legacy: something that is passed down through family, including reputation, traditions, talents or problems that exist as a result of one’s actions. 1. We will all leave a legacy. a.
Some Godly.
“...O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob….” (1 Kings 18:36) b. Some worldly. “Ahab‟s son Joram... did what was evil in the Lord‟s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother. He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had set up. Nevertheless, he continued to sin....” (2 Kings 3:1-3) 2. Our actions affect us and our children. “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” (Exodus 20:4-6) Note: Each of us is responsible for our own actions. “The child will not be punished for the parent‟s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child‟s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.” (Ezekiel 18:20) “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn‟t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their (own) righteousness.” (Ezekiel 14:20) 3. We will either begin, continue, or end a Godly legacy. a. Abraham began a Godly legacy. “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.” (Hebrews 11:8-9) b. Timothy continued a Godly legacy. “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (2 Timothy 1:5) c. Esau ended a Godly legacy. “One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, „I‟m starved! Give me some of that red stew!‟ „All right,‟ Jacob replied, „but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.‟ ‟Look, I‟m dying of starvation!‟ said Esau. „What good is my birthright to me now?‟ But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.‟ So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.” (Gen. 25:29-34) "….I am allowed to do all things," but I will not let anything make me its slave. (1 Cor. 6:12 NCV)
Four steps to developing a Godly legacy in your family! 1. We must choose to follow God! “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NIV) 2. We must teach our children God's word. “... And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) 3. We must pass on our experiences with God to our children. “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, „Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also‟.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-12) 4. We must help our kids honor us as parents. “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4) “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37 NIV)
Connect Group Discussion Questions:
1. Read 2 Timothy 1:5. What legacy did your parents leave you? What about your grandparents? 2. Are you proud of your heritage? Why or why not? 3. Are you starting a Godly legacy or continuing one? 4. Is there a pattern of behavior that was passed down to you from your parents? Ex: anger, losing your keys, fear of what people think of you, etc. If you are a parent, have you seen that pattern of behavior in your kids? 5. Read Exodus 20:4-6. Compare this to Ezekiel 18:20. 6. What is our responsibility in dealing with generational sins that seem to persist in our family tree? (anger, alcoholism, divorce, etc.) 7. Read Isaiah 41:8 and Hebrews 11:8-9. Do you know a family where the effects of someone‟s relationship with God were passed down from generation to generation? Describe what their family dynamic looks like. 8. How would others describe your family? 9. Your neighbor loves to work on cars, but every time he does he loses his temper, sometimes violently and with lots of profanity. His 4 year-old son looks up to him and is usually close by. How do you think the father‟s actions will affect his son? Do you say anything to him? If so, what would you say? 10. Tommy, in his message gave 4 steps to developing a Godly legacy in your family. Discuss these steps.
