page 9 4 your legacy

your legacy:loving god and others

Communicate the hope of leaving a godly legacy to our children and future

generations.

God gives us the ability to influence a future generation for good, for God’s

glory and their benefit.

Help all believers consider how they can leave a godly legacy that will

impact future generations.

Background

Passage:

2 T I M O T H Y 1

focal

Passage:

2 T I M O T H Y 1 : 3 - 7

• Reading Your Own Obituary

• Making Much of Heaven

• I Thank God for . . . (v. 1b)

• . . . Spiritual Heritage (vv. 3-5)

• . . . Spiritual Mentors and Friends

in the Gospel (v. 2)

•. . . Spiritual Gifts and Calling (v. 6)

•. . . Spiritual Discipline (v. 7)

• Telling the Coming Generation

Memory

Verses:

P S A L M S 7 8 : 6 b - 7

They were to rise and

tell their children so that

they might put their

confidence in God and

not forget God’s works, but

keep His commands.

LLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNN 111111333333

page 9 5 your legacy

PREPARING TO TEACH

Early in the second term of U.S. Presidents, the conversations begin.

What will his legacy be? How will he be remembered? Some express

concern that the President is more concerned about legacy than

serving the American people. Others try to make instant assess-

ments despite the fact that historians claim it takes several decades

for a President’s true legacy to be clear.

For a Christian, a legacy can and should be a life well-lived for

Christ and a positive, eternal influence on a future generation for

good, for God’s glory and their benefit. After twelve sessions of

Bible study about healthy relationships, this final lesson provides

an opportunity for reflection. How are you doing at loving God

and loving others? What mark will you leave on future genera-

tions?

After you have read the Background and Focal Passages, studied

the Venture In Travelogue (pp. 129-138) and responded to the ques-

tions, focus especially on the first two Travelogue questions (p. 130):

If you wrote your own obituary, what would it say? How would

you be remembered?

You may want to begin this session with a brief review of the

lesson topics of this entire series. Also you could offer an oppor-

tunity for adults to identify the most meaningful lesson they have

learned about godly relationships.

Keep in the forefront of your mind as you plan that this lesson

should lead adults to praise God for His love and faithfulness, evalu-

ate their life in light of the legacy they are creating, determine what

they need to change, and identify mentors they need to thank for

investing in them.

TEACHING SUGGESTIONS

READING YOUR OWN OBITUARY

Call on adults to identify things at earlier points in their lives that

they focused on in the hope these would constitute their legacy.

(Obviously responses will vary depending on the age of your group.)

Record responses on the marker board or a tear sheet. Call on

page 9 6 your legacy

volunteers to identify what has changed through the years about

what their legacy should be. Point out that many younger people are

more concerned about success in the workplace and other endeav-

ors. While these may continue to be important, as people grow

older, the focus sometimes shifts more toward relationships with

God and others.

Ask for responses to the lesson introduction about Alfred Nobel

(Travelogue, pp. 129-130). Ask: Did this topic make you uncom-

fortable? Reflective? Regretful? Something else?

Emphasize the desired outcome of this lesson is to help all

believers consider how they can leave a godly legacy that will

impact future generations (see p. 94).

Point out the final question of this section (Travelogue, p. 130):

If you had the chance to reflect on the legacy you would leave

behind, what would change in your life right now? Urge adults

to consider this question throughout the session. Point out the value

of this type of periodic reflection as adults consider what God wants

our legacy to be.

MAKING MUCH OF HEAVEN

Call for comments to this observation: Young adults as a whole

tend to have less interest in thinking or talking about heaven

because, even as Christians, they view death and heaven as

something in the distant future. However, as they grow older

heaven often becomes a greater subject of interest. Some

explain the change by saying something like, “I now know

more people in heaven than on earth!”

Call attention to the saying mentioned in the Travelogue (p.

130): He’s so heavenly minded that he’s no earthly good. Ask

volunteers to describe what the saying means to them.

Enlist a volunteer to read aloud the quote by C.S Lewis (p.

130). Direct adults to read the final sentence of the quote silently.

Ask: What’s your reaction to that statement? What words and

actions by brothers and sisters in Christ illustrate living in

light of eternity? Discuss.

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I THANK GOD FOR . . .

Lecture briefly on Paul’s purpose in writing 2 Timothy and the ad-

vice he gave his beloved son in the ministry. In addition to insights

from the Travelogue (pp. 131-132), draw from an online or hard copy

study Bible, commentary, or Bible handbook. Comment that Paul

also thanked God for the spiritual influences evident in Timothy’s

life that illustrated Timothy’s focus on the eternal.

Enlist a volunteer to read aloud the Focal Passage, 2 Timothy

1:3-7. Point out that the rest of the lesson explores four qualities

Paul saw in Timothy: 1) spiritual heritage, 2) spiritual mentors and

friends in the gospel, 3) spiritual gifts and calling, and 4) spiritual

discipline.

. . . SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

Ask adults to read silently 2 Timothy 1:3-5 and underline words and

phrases where Paul described his own spiritual heritage and that of

Timothy. Note that Paul used the word sincere to describe both his

and Timothy’s faith. Ask adults to underline “unhypocritical” in the

Travelogue (p. 132) to describe sincere faith. Discuss the importance

of faith that is sincere.

Ask: What was the origin of Paul’s spiritual heritage and

how did it enable him to serve God? Call for responses. If not

mentioned, point out that even though Paul had opposed Jesus prior

to his conversion, he also recognized that he had fulfilled his Jewish

heritage by becoming a follower and apostle of Jesus.

Ask: What was the origin of Timothy’s spiritual heritage

and how did it enable him to serve God? Discuss. Ask: How was

Paul influencing Timothy to contribute to the spiritual heri-

tage of those with whom he ministered?

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. . . SPIRITUAL MENTORS AND FRIENDS IN THE GOSPEL

Enlist a volunteer to read aloud 2 Timothy 1:2, Paul’s description

of Timothy. Ask: How did Paul’s investment in Timothy as his

spiritual son benefit Timothy and his ministry?

Emphasize that most believers can point to spiritual mentors

who have guided them in spiritual growth. These may be parents,

teachers, friends and others. Call on volunteers to identify some-

one who has mentored them spiritually and the specific ways they

have benefitted. After several have responded, challenge adults to

thank God for these mentors and friends and to tangibly express

their gratitude to these mentors this week. For those mentors who

are alive, urge adults to write or call them to express gratitude for

their investment. For mentors who are deceased, suggest expressing

appreciation to one of their family members.

Ask group members to write in the Travelogue (p. 134) the

name of someone they have mentored or could mentor spiritually.

Urge them to consider building or strengthening their relationship

with this person.

. . . SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND CALLING

Call on a volunteer to read 2 Timothy 1:6. Ask: What did Paul

mean by urging Timothy to keep ablaze the gift of God that

is in you? Point out that the laying on of my hands likely

referred to Timothy’s ordination, an important event in his spiritual

journey. Call attention to the suggestion in Travelogue (p. 135) to

write down some of the milestone moments on your faith

journey. Call on volunteers to describe a milestone moment and

how it is an important part of their spiritual legacy.

Lead the class to brainstorm actions believers can take to help

someone keep ablaze the gift of God. Record on the marker board

or a tear sheet. If not mentioned, include that small things such as

affirming someone for using a God-given gift can be a great source

of encouragement.

page 9 9 your legacy

Challenge adults to put themselves in Timothy’s skin. Ask: How

might Paul’s letter and overall mentorship of Timothy have

impacted his ministry?

. . . SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

Ask adults to read 2 Timothy 1:7 from the Travelogue (p. 135)

and underline the qualities Paul listed as important for Timothy’s

continuing spiritual growth. Point out that the word fearfulness

as Paul used it here was sometimes used to describe a soldier who,

rather than going boldly into battle, ran away as a coward. Ask:

How do believers lay aside fear that is not from God to choose

power, love, and sound judgment that is readily available from

God? How did Paul display these God-given traits in his life

and ministry?

Display the following statement from the Travelogue (p. 136):

God’s grace is always at work in our lives, but we’re called to

respond with the grit of faithfulness and obedience. Ask: How

does responding to God with faith and obedience enable a

believer to gain power, love, and sound judgment?

TELL THE COMING GENERATION

Lecture briefly on the imperative of telling the next generation

about Jesus. Call on volunteers to read aloud Psalm 78:4 and the

Memory Verses for this session, Psalm 78:6b-7. Pose these questions

for individual reflection.

• How much do your children and grandchildren know about

the story of how you became a Christian?

• What do you know about the faith of earlier generations of

your family?

• Do you know about the lives of those in your own family who

have been on mission trips, led someone to Christ, ministered

in the name of Jesus in your community, or served on a church

staff?

Refer to the quote from George Santayana in the Travelogue

page 1 0 0 your legacy

(p. 136): Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to

repeat it. Ask: What does this statement tell us about our role

in telling the next generation about Jesus?

Point out that everyone must be a steward of their experiences,

including spiritual milestones. Ask: Why is it easier for some

people to give their Christian testimony to someone they

barely know than to tell family members and friends?

Briefly review the bulleted suggestions of actions adults could

take to share their legacy of faith with family and friends. Challenge

them to tell their story through writing, photos, audio or video

recording, art, or other means and keep alive their legacy in future

generations.

Read aloud Isaiah 61:3c: And they will be called righ-

teous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him.

Comment that the writer used the word picture of a strong tree to

describe spiritual maturity (Travelogue, p. 137). Lead them to iden-

tify characteristics of a strong tree that could be applied to spiritual

maturity. Record on the marker board or a tear sheet.

Point out from the Travelogue the writer’s comment that, when

he is asked to preach a funeral, the family wants those who attend

to know most of all the person’s spiritual journey, the love shown to

others, and the legacy left to a future generation (p. 138).

CONCLUSION

Ask adults to write the name of someone they know who needs

to hear God’s story at the end of this Travelogue lesson (p. 138).

Ask adults to go to the marker board or a tear sheet and write the

first name of the person they identified. Then direct adults to pray

silently for the person whose name they placed in front of the

group.

Ask: What legacy will you leave for future generations?

Allow time for personal reflection. Challenge adults to daily practice

the truth that they were made for relationships—with God and with

others. Urge them to choose daily to love God and others intention-

ally through their words and actions.

Close with a time of prayer, praising God for loving and saving

them and asking for power, love, and sound judgment to live in

relationship and leave a legacy for the next generation.

page 1 0 1 your legacy

FOLLOW THROUGH

• Send group members the list of first names identified during

the session. Urge them to pray daily for these people who need

to hear God’s story.

• Also thank each person for sharing in the group. Challenge

them to follow through with telling their own story in a way

that could be available now and for a future generation.

• Thank God for the privilege of leading this group.