Living The Sacrifice
Vision Sunday
The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob
Genesis 12:1- (NLT)
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
John 14:12 (NLT)
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father.
A Generation Left Untrained
After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 (NLT)
The “Next Generations” Temptations
Tempted to be entitled
Tempted to define their own truths
Tempted to only learn from those who agree with them
The “Next Generation’s” Greatest Strength:
They are the most cause-driven, mission-minded generation in modern history.
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalms 71:18 (NLT)
We can not begin to impact generations or be a generation of impact if we:
Play it safe
Become Spiritual Consumers
Are trapped by selfishness
Refuse to teach or be teachable
PLAYING IT UNSAFE
You cannot play it safe and please God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God… Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
Faith is to be demonstrated unhypocritically and authentically.
Religion and narrow-mindedness is the enemy of authentic faith.
Never let the fear of failure talk you out of an act of faith!
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A GUARANTEE—YOU DON’T HAVE FAITH.
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT
You can have faith—or you can have control—you can’t have both.
TO STEP TOWARD YOUR DESTINY, YOU HAVE TO STEP AWAY FROM YOUR SECURITY.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
2. SPIRITUAL CONTRIBUTORS
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:31-34 (NLT)
Our consumer approach to the sacrifice of Christ will never deepen the hearts of the next generation towards Jesus.
Finishing the work does not mean dropping our kids off at school or kids’ church and hoping for the best.
3. SELFLESS
Avoid selfishness by becoming irrationally generous.
But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:8 (NLT)
It takes effort to be selfish but sacrifice to be irrationally generous.
Giving is not something we do, generous is who we are!
Our sacrifice needs to reflect the blessing.
There is a huge difference between leaving a legacy and providing an inheritance.
4. TEACH AND LEARN
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:6 (ESV)
To be teachable is to be humble
VISION ELEMENTS
Commit to:
Discipleship
Leadership Development
Coaching and Mentorship
Generational resource planning
Be willing to teach and be taught
