The Art of the Handoff

What is a handoff?

How many of us have watched the football? I love football, I played a little in HS. Most of my life I have loved football. Or as my latino friends call it, futbol americano. When I played in high school we were mostly a “running offense”, which means we didn’t pass the ball a lot. We did handoffs. So what is a hand off? A handoff is an exchange made by handing the ball to a teammate. This is usually low risk if done properly. You are literally, as a quarterback, getting the ball handed to you and you hand it to someone else to run with it. The responsibility to score points or win the game is being transferred from one player, to the next, to the next. Now while the last player to get the ball, the running back, is trying to score there are various obstacles in his way. Some are designed to help him, but are not as fast as he is. Others have the intent of taking the dude out. And I don’t mean for coffee.

As I thought about the importance of ministry to and with the family, this image came to mind. We are not just kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers, friends. We are players and coaches who are giving the opportunity to run this race of faith to each other. Let me show you.

A family comes in with 5 kids. (That seems the standard for this area.) Let’s say, for arguments sake, they have a 5 month old, a 3 yr old, a 7 and a 10 year old, a 16 yr old, then both parents. Is any one member of that family less important than the others? No, of course not. Each member of that family is important to Jesus, so they should be important to us. You cannot be a Christian if you don’t genuinely love God and people. We are called to make disciples. Jesus in Matthew 28 is not making this call and promise to only pastors and people in volunteer ministry. This call is going out to all of us as sons and daughters of God!

Let’s talk about some guys that did this very well. Now, I want you to try and think about this from more than just a church perspective. Try to look at it from the perspective of a mother, father, grandparent, even a fellow believer in Jesus. If you have your Bible, we are going to be pulling from the stories of Elijah and Elisha from 1 and 2 Kings.

1 Kings 19:19–21 NLT

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

Elijah is super interesting. Yes, he called down fire from heaven and out ran a chariot. Yes he stopped the rain and released it. But did you know that he also had a bunch of disciples? They are called “the sons of the prophets” and they show up a few times in 1 and 2 Kings. Elijah was intentional about training and discipling young people to become prophets. Basically to hear the voice of God for themselves and others. This sounds like someone who loves and believes in the next generation. Maybe even a father to the fatherless.

When Elijah is ready to hand off his mantel to Elisha, he doesn’t just throw it on him and say “good luck with that.” I think sometimes, without realizing it, this is the message we send our kids when they shift from being a child to an adult. We either communicate “you are a problem and annoyance until you are older”, or “now that you are an adult I’m completely taking my hands off your life.” We would never say it. That might not even be the way we feel, but that is the message we send.

Let’s fast-forward to the actual handoff.

2 Kings 2:8–14 NLT

Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground! When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

We should all have someone we are intentionally pouring our life into. Not just knowledge or wisdom, our life. These are the most fertile soil you have ever known. No matter what Elijah did, Elisha was going with him. Like Sam and Frodo. “I’m going on alone Sam!” “Of course you are. And I’m coming with you!” These are the people that we should be pouring into, discipling, reproducing our selves. Elijah couldn’t shake Elisha. Elisha knew he was leaving, but refused to let him go alone. Then, as Elijah is taken up to heaven, his cloak falls to Elisha. Just like so many years ago when Elisha was plowing the field. Once again the mantle has fallen to him.

There is something very significant here. Elisha asks Elijah for a “double portion.” When you look through Scripture, this is the blessing saved for the first-born. This carries not just blessing, but also the authority and right to lead the family. To do business for the family. To, effectively, carry on the work and legacy of the father. Interesting.

Elisha went on to do twice the miracles that Elijah did. In fact, he did something Elijah could never do. Elisha raised a dead man to life, with his own bones! He wasn’t even alive and he gave life! That is amazing!

“How does this connect with the family you mentioned at the beginning?” You guys always ask the right questions. 1 Cor 4:15

1 Corinthians 4:15 ESV

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We need spiritual fathers and mothers, now more than ever. Anyone can get up here and preach a sermon. Can you help spiritually parent a generation? I have learned that even the best mom and dad struggle. What if we could surround them, resource them, support them, empower them? How would the church look different? More importantly, how would the community look?

I don’t have biological children. That stings sometimes when I think of the fact that I am an only child and the last male of the Masters family. This usually hits hardest on Father’s Day. A few years ago I was praying and, to be honest, hiding. I didn’t want to deal with the sad looks from well meaning people. I felt like God dropped something in my spirit that I have never really shared publically. He said, “I have not give you biological children because that would have a limited reach. I have given you the nations as an inheritance. Spiritual children that will reach much further than you can imagine now.” At first, I thought this was possibly me trying to make myself feel better. Then my pastor, Pastor Jeremy, came up to be. I remember exactly where we were and what he said. “I know today is hard for you. I can’t imagine what or how you are feeling. But look around our church. How many of these young people are here because of you and Dest? (He started listing names) God may never have given you kids, but you have more spiritual children than most people I know.” Are we not called to be fathers (and mothers) to those without?

“That takes care of the parents. What about the kids?” See? You guys are way ahead of me. Mk 9:36-37 Mk 10:13-16

Mark 9:36–37 NLT

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Mark 10:13–16 NLT

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Jesus spoke a lot about child-like faith. He used children as the model for the type of person who the Kingdom belongs to.

Jesus reaction when the disciples “scolded” the parents is telling. He had already said earlier that when we welcome children in His name, we are welcoming Him. Hospitality was and still is a huge part of the culture in this community. Welcoming was not simply tolerating. Welcoming, hospitality was putting aside your preferences and creating a space for the person you are hosting.

Jesus says “let the children come to Me.” Not “once they get older let the come”, or “teach them when they are older. Until then, just make sure they don’t hurt themselves too bad.” NO! He even goes so far as to say the Kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child. We have a lot to teach children and young people. We also have a lot to learn from them as well.

Jesus actually talks a lot about children. And always in favorable terms. He holds them up as examples of how we should engage with our Father in Heaven. He healed many children both poor and wealthy, Jew and Gentile, boy and girl. Jesus is placing such a high importance of having children close and learning from them, we should do the same. Assigning value, worth and honor to the youngest of us.

Last, but certainly not least, the teenager. A category not in existence at the time of Jesus. You were either a child or a young man/woman. But we do have this category and Jesus has not left us without examples. Matt 17:24

Matthew 17:24 NLT

On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

What does this have to do with teenagers? Well, you have to understand the world this is taking place. Only those 20 and older paid the temple tax. This tax was approximately 2 days wages.

Peter is often viewed as the “leader”, even though John is quick to point out who is faster. Peter, therefore, is most likely the oldest and functioning as a first born among the disciples. This means that the next oldest could be no older than 19 years old.

Speaking of John, history tells us that he was the youngest of the disciples at about 14 years old. Effectively making Jesus the greatest youth pastor ever. (Moses was also involved in kids and youth ministry)

Jesus is placing a lot of trust in a bunch of knuckle headed teenagers. This group would go on to “turn the world upside down.” That 16 year old that walked in with his family is about the same age John when Jesus told him to take care of Mary while Jesus hung on the cross.

Time fails me to tell about the authority Jesus placed in these young people. They raised the dead, cast out demons, healed the sick, confronted governments and rulers. They had the childlike faith to believe God at His Word coupled with passion that would burn the world.

Jesus handed them the keys to the church. The same church that Jesus said the Gates of Hell would not prevail against.

This is why I believe that ministering to the entire family is so vital to the church. Kids and youth are not the church of tomorrow. They are not just the future. They are the church of today.

Let’s go back to football for a minute. When the center hikes the ball to the quarterback, the safety and security of the ball is still his responsibility. It’s different, but his job goes from protecting the ball in his hand to keeping obstacles out of the way. The quarterback doesn’t throw his hands up and say “It’s your problem now” when he hands the ball to the running back. And when the running back scores, the whole team wins. Elisha did double the signs and wonders of Elijah, but neither is less important to the story . There would be no Elisha without Elijah. John the baptizer was born before Jesus, but Jesus made it clear that John had to baptize Him. Without Peter, James, and John where would the church be? Would it exist? Saul become Paul and finds Timothy. Timothy was a young man who was half jew and half gentile. No one wanted to train him. That’s why we have this encouragement from Paul. 1 Tim 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12 NLT

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

When we hand off to the coming generations, they are going to start where we end and go further than we were able to. The key to remember is when they win, we win.

What does it look like to hand off?

Watch me, with me 1 Cor 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Invite someone to come along with you as you follow Jesus.

Allow them to see you, all of you. The worse thing you can do here is have them do the “easy part” while you do the complicated or difficult part.

With me means just that. WITH. Even if its just holding the flashlight, grabbing tools, or being with you as you have difficult conversation. Even when you have to repent. Invite them to go with you.

Watch you, with you

This is the first part of releasing. You have to allow those coming to make mistakes. Watch them do what they have been watching you do. Wait until they are done to bring any correction or encouragement. The worst thing you can do is take over in the middle or start making them do it the “right” way, which could just be your way.

Release you 1 Tim 1:3-4

1 Timothy 1:3–4 NLT

When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

Paul had worked with Timothy. He considered Timothy his true son in the faith.

Ephesus was a very special church to Paul. For him to leave it in the hands of Timothy showed a great amount of trust. It also meant Paul didn’t expect the church to look the same as when he was there. Timothy had a different upbringing, different heritage, and grew up in a different world. Like the ruler who left the talents with the 3 servants, Paul was expecting growth when he returned. And from church history we know that is exactly what happened.

This is not optional. We have to hand off what it means to follow Jesus. We also have to hand off the church. Especially if we want it to out last us.