Faith reaches the next generation when we tell what God has done, live His Word, and help others learn to serve Him. God works in us so that His work can continue through us.
Pastor Dale Callen reminded us that the next generation includes our children and grandchildren, but it also includes people of any age who are new to faith. They need to hear our testimony and see what faithfulness looks like in daily life.
A Church Gathered to Praise
The church is more than a building. We are the church, and we gather to worship the Lord, receive His Word, and encourage one another.
We opened the service with praise, clapping our hands and rejoicing in what God has done. We also prayed for Sister Vicki and her family, asking God to give them guidance and rest.
As we sang about the blood of Jesus, we gave thanks for salvation, healing, and freedom from sin. Psalm 22:16-18 points to His suffering and the dividing of His garments, while Isaiah 53:5 speaks of Him being wounded for our transgressions. The Old Testament points us to Jesus and the price He paid for us.
Testimonies Shared in Faith
Before the message, members of our church family shared what God had placed on their hearts. Emily thanked God that her son, who serves in the Navy, reminded her that her body is a temple of the Lord.
Another testimony described a meeting with the judge who had helped when a child was missing. That meeting gave our sisters an opportunity to pray with the judge as she faced grief. Sister Tammy also told us about praying with a grieving caller through her work.
One sister shared how her mother anointed her face in obedience to God when she was a child and had a tumor. She carries the scar as a reminder of the healing God gave her. These testimonies of faith remind us that we don't have to stand behind a pulpit to minister to someone.
A New Life in Christ
Pastor Dale spoke about growing up with abuse, addiction, and turmoil in his family. He explained that he wasn't homegrown in the church from his physical birth, but from his new birth in Christ.
The Lord made him a new creation and began breaking the cycles that had marked his childhood. His testimony reminds us that what happened in our past doesn't have to define who we become in Christ.
Dale's earlier message centered on Philippians 1:6, which tells us that God will continue the good work He began. This time, he challenged us to consider what we are building for those who come after us.
Psalm 145:4 says, "One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts." That is a responsibility we must take seriously.
Tell the Next Generation What God Has Done
Our children, friends, coworkers, and new believers need to hear how the Lord has saved us, kept us through hardship, healed our hearts, and answered prayer. When we share our testimony, we give others a witness of God's faithfulness in the struggles they may also face.
We don't need to hide what Christ delivered us from out of fear that mentioning it gives Satan power over us. Jesus is our Deliverer, and our testimony should point others to Him.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us to keep God's words in our hearts and teach them diligently to our children. That teaching continues at home, at work, and in difficult moments.
Dale remembered an atheist coworker who noticed the difference between how two Christians responded to a hard night at work. The conversation opened a door to speak about spiritual maturity. People are watching how we live, even when we don't realize it.
Give New Believers an Example
2 Timothy 2:2 describes truth being entrusted to faithful people who can teach others. Paul taught Timothy, Timothy could teach faithful people, and those people could teach others. This is how teaching continues through generations.
Younger believers need more than someone to point out what they're doing wrong. They need people who will pray with them, serve beside them, show them how to study Scripture, and share what God has taught them through their own mistakes.
A new Christian may not know every verse, but that person can tell someone what Jesus has done. We should encourage the gifts God is developing and help new believers grow in truth and obedience.
Make Room to Serve
If we say we want young people and new believers in the church, we must also help prepare them to serve. Training and character matter, and so does giving people an opportunity to use what God has given them.
David wasn't a seasoned soldier when he faced Goliath. He trusted the God who had already helped him face a lion and a bear. We should help younger believers learn to trust God and prepare for the work before them.
Dale urged us to build a prayer life before a crisis comes and to teach others to do the same. We also need to show them that service doesn't depend on a title. The Kingdom of God matters more than being noticed, and our lives can witness for Jesus even when we aren't standing at a pulpit.
Teach Faith Beyond Church Routines
Judges 2:10 describes a generation that didn't know the Lord or what He had done for Israel. Dale used this passage to warn us that faith cannot be assumed. It must be taught.
Our children can know the songs and the church schedule without knowing the Savior. They need a personal relationship with Jesus, and they need to understand why His Word matters in their lives.
We must give young believers room to ask honest questions, receive Godly correction, and encounter the Holy Spirit. When we hear a message, we should also consider how God is speaking to us through it, whether He is teaching us, warning us, or reminding us of His faithfulness.
Leave a Legacy of Faithfulness
A legacy includes what we leave in people. We may never leave great wealth or have a public platform, but we can pass on faith, courage, wisdom, and a love for God's Word.
Proverbs 22:6 calls us to train a child in the way he should go. Training takes intention. We lead by example, explain why our choices matter, and guide younger believers toward Godly decisions.
Dale reminded us that holiness is protection, not punishment, and that God's purpose for a life matters more than popularity. The world offers plenty to distract and isolate people, so we must stay connected to the body of Christ and help one another remain faithful.
Build a Foundation for Those Who Follow
The next generation will be influenced by something. We have a responsibility to speak God's truth and show others what it means to follow Him.
Dale invited anyone who needed to know Christ or return to Him to come for prayer. We joined hands in unity and prayed that God would remind us of our testimonies, so we could use them to encourage others.
Our faithfulness can become part of the foundation that helps the next generation know Jesus and carry His Word forward.
