TABLE DISCUSSION GUIDE ABOUT LEGACY
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGACY
Deut 6:5-7 (teach to children) And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. 7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Questions: What are the “words that God is commanding” today? What does it mean to have these words “upon our hearts?
Deut 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
What had their eyes seen? What have your eyes seen?
Have you been thinking about leaving a spiritual legacy, your life’s lesson that God would want you to pass on to the next generation?
II. THE LEGACY YOU HAVE RECEIVED
1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birthinto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
2 Timothy 1:5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
Did any of your grandparents (or other forebears or influential persons) make an effort to pass along their life lessons to you? What traits did you see that you admired in your grandparents? In what way do you see your parents and grandparents (or other influential persons) in yourself?
III. THE LEGACY YOU ARE BUILDING
Live a life worthy of your calling. Eph 4:1
I have learned to be content Philippians 4:11-13
What lessons have you learned from struggles? (or mistakes, or successes?)
What principles have guided your life? As your descendants look at how you live your life, what are they seeing?
IV. HOW TO PASS ALONG YOUR LEGACY
Philippians 4:9 Paul writes: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
Be imitators of me as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Stir up the gift of God that is within you. 2 Tim1:6
Who will you pass your legacy along to?
What aspects of your life would you like to pass on to future generations? Are there things you hope will not be passed along? Are there broken relationships or other barriers, such as distance, standing in the way of passing your life lessons along?
Are any of these ways to pass things along suitable for you:
verbal conversations, letters, digitally, photo books of family history, writing a biography, sharing meaningful scripture verses,
ACTIONS FOR TODAY
Pray regularly for your heirs, let them know you are praying for them, and ask them for prayer requests. You can use Paul’s prayers as patterns for your prayers: Ephesians 1:15-20, Ephesians 3:14-19, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Thess 3:12-13, 2 Thess 1:11-12.
Pronounce a blessing on them in Jesus’ name. An example of a blessing is Hebrews 13:20-21. Passages about “heart” are Ps 19:14, Heb 4:12, Eph 3:17.
MORE BLESSINGS FROM THE BIBLE:
Blessings
Numbers 6:24-26. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’ So they shall put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
1 Thess 5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 13:11 and 14. Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.… The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Heb 13:20-1. Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 121:5-8. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand.
The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.
The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
2 Thess 2:16-17. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
2 Thess 3:5. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
2 Thess 3:16. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Romans 15:13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:33. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
1 Kings 8:57-61. 57May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us. 58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.
59And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!
61So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”
Jude 24-5. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
A blessing for weddings and anniversaries
Romans 15:5-6. to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.