August 11th, 2026
by Micah Bosworth
by Micah Bosworth
Every believer is the beneficiary of someone else's faithfulness.
Whether it was a parent, grandparent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, mentor, or faithful friend, someone took the time to share God's Word, model the Christian life, and point us toward Jesus. Throughout history, God has advanced His kingdom through ordinary people who intentionally invested in the next generation.
Our seventh core value is this: We Invest In The Next Generation.
Deuteronomy 6:4–9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Psalm 78:1–8
“Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
Many people think of the next generation as the future of the church. They certainly are the future! But more than that, they are a vital part of the church today.
Our desire isn't simply to entertain children, occupy teenagers, or keep young families engaged (though if those things happen, we're not angry about it!). But our deeper desire is to see boys and girls, students, and young adults come to know Jesus personally, grow in His Word, and become faithful disciples who will one day help lead others to Christ.
But that kind of investment doesn't happen accidentally. It happens intentionally.
Whether it was a parent, grandparent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, mentor, or faithful friend, someone took the time to share God's Word, model the Christian life, and point us toward Jesus. Throughout history, God has advanced His kingdom through ordinary people who intentionally invested in the next generation.
Our seventh core value is this: We Invest In The Next Generation.
Deuteronomy 6:4–9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Psalm 78:1–8
“Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
Many people think of the next generation as the future of the church. They certainly are the future! But more than that, they are a vital part of the church today.
Our desire isn't simply to entertain children, occupy teenagers, or keep young families engaged (though if those things happen, we're not angry about it!). But our deeper desire is to see boys and girls, students, and young adults come to know Jesus personally, grow in His Word, and become faithful disciples who will one day help lead others to Christ.
But that kind of investment doesn't happen accidentally. It happens intentionally.
Faith Is Meant To Be Passed On
One of the clearest themes throughout Scripture is the call to pass God's truth from one generation to the next. Parents are commanded to diligently teach God's Word to their children. Older believers are called to invest in younger believers. And just as God's people were instructed to pass on His teachings to their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), the church is instructed to make disciples who will, in turn, make disciples.
2 Timothy 2:2
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Titus 2:1–8
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
The Christian faith has always advanced through faithful people intentionally investing in others. Every generation stands on the shoulders of those who faithfully passed the truth to them. And now? It is our turn!
2 Timothy 2:2
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Titus 2:1–8
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
The Christian faith has always advanced through faithful people intentionally investing in others. Every generation stands on the shoulders of those who faithfully passed the truth to them. And now? It is our turn!
We Value the Mission Over Methods
Every generation looks different. Technology changes. Music changes. Communication styles change. Ministry methods change. But the mission? It never changes!
Jesus has called His church to make disciples, and that calling remains the same in EVERY generation.
Matthew 28:18–20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Because of that, we hold tightly to the message of the gospel while holding our methods with open hands. We are willing to adapt how we minister if it helps us faithfully reach and disciple the next generation, but we never compromise the truth of God's Word in the process. Methods are tools. The mission is eternal.
Jesus has called His church to make disciples, and that calling remains the same in EVERY generation.
Matthew 28:18–20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Because of that, we hold tightly to the message of the gospel while holding our methods with open hands. We are willing to adapt how we minister if it helps us faithfully reach and disciple the next generation, but we never compromise the truth of God's Word in the process. Methods are tools. The mission is eternal.
We Equip the Next Generation to Carry the Mission Forward
Our goal goes deeper than just trying to gather young people. Our goal is to equip them. We want children to grow into students who love Jesus. We want students to become adults whose lives are firmly rooted in God's Word. We want young believers to discover their spiritual gifts, serve faithfully in the local church, share the gospel boldly, and become disciple-makers themselves.
Ephesians 4:11–16
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
The measure of success is not attendance. It is transformed lives. Healthy churches don't only add people. They raise up people who are prepared to carry the gospel into the next generation.
Ephesians 4:11–16
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
The measure of success is not attendance. It is transformed lives. Healthy churches don't only add people. They raise up people who are prepared to carry the gospel into the next generation.
Every Person Has a Role to Play
Investing in the next generation isn't just the responsibility of parents or children's ministry volunteers. It belongs to the entire church!
Children need faithful parents who model Christ at home. Students need godly adults who know their names, encourage their faith, and walk alongside them. Young adults need mentors who can help them navigate life with biblical wisdom.
Older believers have a lifetime of faithfulness to pass on. Younger believers bring energy, gifts, and fresh opportunities to serve Christ.
When every generation invests in the others, the church reflects God's beautiful design. The Christian life has never been meant to be lived in age-separated silos. It has always been lived as a family. (see 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Titus2:1-8; Ephesians 2:19-22)
Psalm 145:4
“One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
Children need faithful parents who model Christ at home. Students need godly adults who know their names, encourage their faith, and walk alongside them. Young adults need mentors who can help them navigate life with biblical wisdom.
Older believers have a lifetime of faithfulness to pass on. Younger believers bring energy, gifts, and fresh opportunities to serve Christ.
When every generation invests in the others, the church reflects God's beautiful design. The Christian life has never been meant to be lived in age-separated silos. It has always been lived as a family. (see 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Titus2:1-8; Ephesians 2:19-22)
Psalm 145:4
“One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
We Invest In The Next Generation
Every generation has received the gospel because someone faithfully passed it on. Now we have the privilege and responsibility of doing the same.
We want to be a church that faithfully invests in children, students, and young adults. And not just for the sake of growing a ministry, but for the glory of God and the advance of the gospel.
Whether that happens in our homes, in our church, around a dinner table, in a classroom, at a youth activity, or through a simple conversation after a service, EVERY investment matters. God delights to use ordinary, faithful people to shape the lives of those who come behind them.
This is why we say, "We Invest In The Next Generation."
We are committed to raising up the next generation to know and follow Jesus. We prioritize passing on the faith, valuing the mission over methods, and equipping young people to carry it forward.
We want to be a church that faithfully invests in children, students, and young adults. And not just for the sake of growing a ministry, but for the glory of God and the advance of the gospel.
Whether that happens in our homes, in our church, around a dinner table, in a classroom, at a youth activity, or through a simple conversation after a service, EVERY investment matters. God delights to use ordinary, faithful people to shape the lives of those who come behind them.
This is why we say, "We Invest In The Next Generation."
We are committed to raising up the next generation to know and follow Jesus. We prioritize passing on the faith, valuing the mission over methods, and equipping young people to carry it forward.
Posted in Mission and Vision
Posted in Core Values, Next Generation, Discipleship, Mentoring, Church, Christian Living
Posted in Core Values, Next Generation, Discipleship, Mentoring, Church, Christian Living
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