Hosts
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more icebreaker questions to open up with.
- What is the best gift you ever received when you were a child?
- If you could spend a day with any person that is alive today, who would it be, and why?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
Great Families and Great Nations see their children as their most valuable resource, and their greatest hope for the future.
This principle is true for a family, for a nation, but it is also true for a church.
God's plan for the church is that it would get stronger in every generation. If every generation the church had to start over, it would never gain any traction. We must think generationally.
A few months back I was thinking how thankful I am for the generation before me. They made it possible for me to have Sunday school class, provided youth camps, took me under their wing, validated me, and helped me to grow into a man of God. Then I think how thankful I am for my generation and how we hae moved church forward. Then I think about the next generation and how the church is in a better and stronger position now compared to when I was their age. I thought about all the incredible 20 and 30 year old preachers, pastors, songwriters, business leaders, authors, moms and dads, all planted in the church, making a difference in their generation for Christ. And I felt like God saying to me, "THINK THREE."
When you think legacy you don't just think about your age group, you don't just think about your children, you also think about your children's children.
The Lord, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
Acts 2:17
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers....I am writing to you young men....I am writing to you children...
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his Children's Children.
The tendency of most people in society is to think, "my generation is the greates, and after that it is going to hell in a hand basket."
Point 2: To think three is to serve down.
Our natural tendency might be to always be around people our own age. But when you have a generational mindset you think of helping and investing in those younger than you. I want to challenge you to look for opportunities to invest into someone younger than you.
We all know that aging happens BUT oldness doesn't have to happen! Young is not an age, its an attitude.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my sould, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Message Discussion Questions
Read the following guidelines before starting your group discussion.
- Answer the question specifically. Avoid tangents and try to stay on target.
- Limit your responses to 1–2 minutes per question.
- Use I, me, or we statements. This is designed to be for personal reflection, not a time to fix others with your opinion.
- Each person is free to share without interruptions when sharing within the suggested guidelines.
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- Do you think that God thinks "generationally"? Why or why not?
- How has your family thrived due to generational thinking, or how has it been deprived due to a lack of generational thinking?
- Have you ever had someone from the generation before you make an intentional effort to invest into your life? What would you say to that person if they were in front of you right now?
- What are three specific ways that you can impact the generation after you as it relates to the church?
- Do you prefer being around people your own age? Why or why not?
- What are some things that you never want to stop doing no matter how old you get?
- Read Psalm 103:1-5. Then answer this question: We all want to be young at heart. In order to do that there are things we have to do, and things we must rely on God to do. Name some of the things you will do to stay young at heart. Name some things God will do to help your youth be "renewed like the eagle's"
Live It Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.
- Participate in Legacy Offering this year. This is our one-time best offering we give each year which has done things like built our youth auditorium, new play areas for children, and other projects that invested into the next generation. We even have a way that you can give 5 dollars per day in a 30-day challenge. To find out more go to cc.church/legacy.
- Take an opportunity to invest your time into the next generation. It could be volunteering in student ministries, it could be taking someone under your wing, or even being more intentional with time you spend with your children.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Small Group Resources