Disciple Making Grandparents
The Sacred Legacy: Passing Faith Across Generations
There's something profound that happens when you hold your grandchild for the first time. In that moment, everything shifts. The unconditional love you felt for your own children deepens into something even more sacrificial. You look at that tiny face and realize you would give anything—everything—for this little person who shares your legacy.
But what legacy are we truly leaving?
When Faith Skips a Generation
The Bible contains what might be one of its saddest verses, tucked away in the book of Judges. After Joshua's generation passed away—the generation that had witnessed God's miraculous provision and power—we read these devastating words: "Another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).
One generation. That's all it took.
These weren't people who actively rejected God. They didn't gather together and decide to abandon their faith. They simply got busy. There was land to clear, houses to build, lives to live. In the rush of daily existence, they forgot to pass on the most important thing they possessed.
Sound familiar?]
The Power of Remembered Faith
Contrast that tragedy with the beautiful legacy described in 2 Timothy. The apostle Paul writes to his spiritual son Timothy: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded now lives in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5).
Grandmother Lois. We don't know much about her. She didn't write any books of the Bible. She didn't lead armies or perform miracles. But her name is forever recorded in Scripture because of one simple, profound act: she passed on her faith.
That faith flowed from Lois to her daughter Eunice, and then to her grandson Timothy—a young man who would become instrumental in the early church and whose name graces two books of the New Testament. All because a grandmother lived out her faith authentically and intentionally shared it with the next generation.
The Gift of a Good Example
We live in an age where it's easier than ever to give our grandchildren things. Special treats, toys, experiences, money. And there's nothing wrong with blessing them materially. But the greatest gift we can give is something far more valuable: the example of a life fully devoted to Jesus.
Our grandchildren need to see what it looks like to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. They need to witness faith that isn't just talked about on Sundays but lived out every single day.
Too often, we reach a certain age and decide we've "done our time" in service to God and others. We've taught Sunday school, served on committees, volunteered in children's ministry. Now it's time to focus on our hobbies, our comfort, our retirement plans.
But what message does that send to the watching eyes of the next generation?
Our grandchildren need to see that following Jesus isn't a prison sentence we eventually get paroled from. It's a joyful, lifelong adventure of loving God and serving others. They need to see their grandparents still engaged, still serving, still making a difference for the kingdom of God.
Four Practical Ways to Pass On Faith
1. Pray FOR Your Grandchildren
Set a specific time each day to pray for your grandchildren by name. Put it in your calendar. Make it as regular as your morning coffee. Pray for their faith, their character, their future, their protection. Pray that they would grow to love Jesus with their whole hearts.
2. Pray WITH Your Grandchildren
When they share something they're worried about or excited about, stop right then and pray with them. Whether it's in person, over the phone, or on a video call, let them hear you talking to God about their lives. Show them that prayer is a natural, powerful part of everyday life.
3. Share God's Word With Them
When they're young, read them Bible stories. As they grow, share devotions together. Find creative ways to connect Scripture to their interests and experiences. Give them a devotional book and get one for yourself, then discuss what you're learning together.
4. Live It Out Before Them
Let them see you serving others. Let them witness your kindness, your generosity, your patience, your love for God and people. When they see how you treat your spouse, how you respond to difficulty, how you prioritize worship and service, they're learning what authentic faith looks like in real life.
The Race Against Time
Here's a sobering reality: we have a limited window to impact our grandchildren's lives. The years fly by faster than we ever imagined. That kindergartener will graduate high school before we know it. That toddler will soon be a teenager making their own choices about faith and life.
We can spend our remaining years focused on golf, travel, hobbies, and comfort. There's nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But if we're honest, will any of them matter a hundred years from now? Will they matter ten years from now?
The time we invest in passing on our faith—that will echo into eternity.
No Greater Joy
The apostle John wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).
No greater joy. Not academic achievements, athletic success, career advancement, or financial prosperity. The greatest joy is knowing that our children—and our children's children—are walking in the truth of God's love.
That's the legacy that matters. That's the inheritance that will never fade or lose value.
So the question before us is simple but profound: What will our grandchildren remember about us? Will they remember someone who loved Jesus with their whole heart and showed them how to do the same? Or will they be part of another generation that "knew neither the Lord nor what he had done"?
The choice is ours. The time is now. The legacy we leave begins today.
There's something profound that happens when you hold your grandchild for the first time. In that moment, everything shifts. The unconditional love you felt for your own children deepens into something even more sacrificial. You look at that tiny face and realize you would give anything—everything—for this little person who shares your legacy.
But what legacy are we truly leaving?
When Faith Skips a Generation
The Bible contains what might be one of its saddest verses, tucked away in the book of Judges. After Joshua's generation passed away—the generation that had witnessed God's miraculous provision and power—we read these devastating words: "Another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).
One generation. That's all it took.
These weren't people who actively rejected God. They didn't gather together and decide to abandon their faith. They simply got busy. There was land to clear, houses to build, lives to live. In the rush of daily existence, they forgot to pass on the most important thing they possessed.
Sound familiar?]
The Power of Remembered Faith
Contrast that tragedy with the beautiful legacy described in 2 Timothy. The apostle Paul writes to his spiritual son Timothy: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded now lives in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5).
Grandmother Lois. We don't know much about her. She didn't write any books of the Bible. She didn't lead armies or perform miracles. But her name is forever recorded in Scripture because of one simple, profound act: she passed on her faith.
That faith flowed from Lois to her daughter Eunice, and then to her grandson Timothy—a young man who would become instrumental in the early church and whose name graces two books of the New Testament. All because a grandmother lived out her faith authentically and intentionally shared it with the next generation.
The Gift of a Good Example
We live in an age where it's easier than ever to give our grandchildren things. Special treats, toys, experiences, money. And there's nothing wrong with blessing them materially. But the greatest gift we can give is something far more valuable: the example of a life fully devoted to Jesus.
Our grandchildren need to see what it looks like to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. They need to witness faith that isn't just talked about on Sundays but lived out every single day.
Too often, we reach a certain age and decide we've "done our time" in service to God and others. We've taught Sunday school, served on committees, volunteered in children's ministry. Now it's time to focus on our hobbies, our comfort, our retirement plans.
But what message does that send to the watching eyes of the next generation?
Our grandchildren need to see that following Jesus isn't a prison sentence we eventually get paroled from. It's a joyful, lifelong adventure of loving God and serving others. They need to see their grandparents still engaged, still serving, still making a difference for the kingdom of God.
Four Practical Ways to Pass On Faith
1. Pray FOR Your Grandchildren
Set a specific time each day to pray for your grandchildren by name. Put it in your calendar. Make it as regular as your morning coffee. Pray for their faith, their character, their future, their protection. Pray that they would grow to love Jesus with their whole hearts.
2. Pray WITH Your Grandchildren
When they share something they're worried about or excited about, stop right then and pray with them. Whether it's in person, over the phone, or on a video call, let them hear you talking to God about their lives. Show them that prayer is a natural, powerful part of everyday life.
3. Share God's Word With Them
When they're young, read them Bible stories. As they grow, share devotions together. Find creative ways to connect Scripture to their interests and experiences. Give them a devotional book and get one for yourself, then discuss what you're learning together.
4. Live It Out Before Them
Let them see you serving others. Let them witness your kindness, your generosity, your patience, your love for God and people. When they see how you treat your spouse, how you respond to difficulty, how you prioritize worship and service, they're learning what authentic faith looks like in real life.
The Race Against Time
Here's a sobering reality: we have a limited window to impact our grandchildren's lives. The years fly by faster than we ever imagined. That kindergartener will graduate high school before we know it. That toddler will soon be a teenager making their own choices about faith and life.
We can spend our remaining years focused on golf, travel, hobbies, and comfort. There's nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But if we're honest, will any of them matter a hundred years from now? Will they matter ten years from now?
The time we invest in passing on our faith—that will echo into eternity.
No Greater Joy
The apostle John wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).
No greater joy. Not academic achievements, athletic success, career advancement, or financial prosperity. The greatest joy is knowing that our children—and our children's children—are walking in the truth of God's love.
That's the legacy that matters. That's the inheritance that will never fade or lose value.
So the question before us is simple but profound: What will our grandchildren remember about us? Will they remember someone who loved Jesus with their whole heart and showed them how to do the same? Or will they be part of another generation that "knew neither the Lord nor what he had done"?
The choice is ours. The time is now. The legacy we leave begins today.
Posted in Family
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
No Comments