Greater Legacy; A Mission for Generations

Good morning, church family! Today is kind of a bittersweet and special day.

Depending on when we close on our new church facility, This is our last or second to last service in this building, and while it’s hard to say goodbye to these walls, today is all about celebrating what God has done here in this church and looking forward to what He has in store.

Think of all the people who have walked through these doors and met Jesus for the very first time.

So many salvations, so many baptisms—each one a testimony of a life transformed by God’s grace.

This place has been a sanctuary where people have found hope, healing, and a new purpose.

It’s here that we’ve seen young people grow in their faith and take bold steps to serve the Lord, some going out to share the gospel in missions, others serving right here in local ministries, and all of them carrying the message of Jesus.

Every baptism we’ve celebrated here has been a visible reminder of God’s power to take a broken life, renew it, and send it out with purpose.

And how fitting it is that on this final Sunday, we get to celebrate baptisms again—a reminder that God’s work isn’t bound by a building but is accomplished through Us as His church.

Changed lives, a mission to make and equip more disciples—that’s who we are, and that mission goes with us wherever we go.

So, as we get ready to move into a new building, we’re not leaving behind a legacy—we’re carrying it forward.

This is the beginning of a new chapter, A chapter that continues to build on everything God has already done here in this facility.

Today we celebrate not just the past but the incredible future He has for us.

Introduction to the Text: A Legacy of Discipleship

As we look to that future, I want us to dive into a passage that speaks directly to the kind of legacy we want to leave.

In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul gives Timothy a challenge, a mission to pass on the gospel faithfully to those who will teach others.

And that’s exactly what we’re stepping into. This move, this mission—it’s all about investing in something that will outlast us, something that will impact many more generations for Christ.

Look with at our text this morning!

2 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Paul is speaking about Disciples Makers Who Make disciple Makers,

Point 1: Powered by Grace

Paul begins this passage in 2 Timothy 2:1 by urging Timothy:

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that Paul doesn’t tell Timothy to dig deeper or try harder. He doesn't say “Come on Timothy, I taught you what to do now do it!!!

Instead, he directs him to the grace of Jesus—He’s reminding Timothy about the never-ending, all-sufficient source of strength for the mission. GRACE!!!

Grace is not just a one-time gift; it’s a continual flow from God’s fullness.

As John 1:16 reminds us, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

This verse paints the picture of God’s grace as wave after wave, flowing endlessly from His abundance.

Jesus doesn't just give us enough grace to get by—it’s overflowing grace that empowers us for every step of the mission.

He gives us grace upon grace upon Grace!!!!

True Disciple-makers understand this truth : that they are Powered by Grace. and without it pouring in and through and out of their life- They could never stay on mission..

Grace doesn’t just save us; it sustains us and it is what sends us out to live the mission of making and equipping more disciples.

Church, do you understand what grace is?

Grace is God’s unearned, undeserved favor poured out on us through Jesus Christ.

It’s the free gift of His love and power that we could never earn and will never repay.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) Describes this saving Grace

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Grace is what lifts the burden of sin from our account and sets us free in Christ, but it does not stop at our salvation,

God continues to pour out Grace upon Grace into Our lives

Grace is what strengthens us in our weakness,

and grace is what calls us into a mission far bigger than ourselves.

i think too often Christians have a too limited view of Grace .

We see it as only the safety net for when we fail—We see at as a blessing for when we screw up knowing that its through Grace God forgives us every time and restores us back to himself,

Grace is so much more - it’s the fuel that drives everything we do for God’s glory. Without it we would be left on our own to please God, But with it we are empowered by God to do what God desires from our lives.

Paul is reminding Timothy that the source of our power in making disciples is not in our strength but in God’s grace at work in us.

Friends, discipleship is not about what we can do—it’s about what God is doing through us.

The legacy of this church cannot be built on what We have done- But on what God is doing through Us!

Grace is God allowing us to be part of his plan to make more disciples in Clear lake Iowa,

As we move into our new building we need to be reminded like timothy, that we don’t accomplish God’s mission on our own. We need to be strengthened.

We need God’s grace because it is the fuel thaT propels us into our mission of Making and Equipping More Disciples

Illustration: Running on Empty Just about a month ago, Aaron Harms and I went on a road trip to Wyoming. On the way back, it was late, and we were both tired, but we decided to push through and get as far as we could before stopping for the night.

Somewhere in the middle of South Dakota, during one of our deep conversations, I glanced down and saw the gas light on my truck. The display said we had 45 miles until empty.

No big deal, right? The GPS said the next town was 25 miles away. We figured we were fine.

But then things got weird. The wind started blowing a little harder against us, and for every mile we drove, the range on the display dropped two miles. All of a sudden, that comfortable 20-mile cushion disappeared. I’m not sure if we were more worried or just laughing at the absurdity of running out of gas in the middle of nowhere.

Finally, we saw the sign: “Next Town, 8 Miles.” Relief, right? Not so fast. The truck now said we had 10 miles until empty. And if the gauge continued its pattern, we would run out of fuel with another mile still to go.

I think we prayed more fervently in that moment than at any other time on the trip.

We coasted into the exit. But to our dismay, there were no gas stations. It was still another mile into town!

By this point, we were practically whispering encouragement to the truck, begging it to keep going.

And by God’s grace—literally by grace—we rolled into the gas station with absolutely nothing left in the tank.

The Necessity of Grace in the Mission

Friends, just like my truck couldn’t keep going without fuel, we cannot keep going in our mission without grace.

IF WE TRY TO make and equip more disciples without God working in and through us— Then we would be a foolish as a man pushing his car down the interest when he has a gas can full of fuel in His trunk.

Discipleship isn't about gritting our teeth or trying harder; it’s about leaning into the gospel.

The same God who saves us is the God who sustains us.

Never forget that Grace is the daily power that fuels our lives as believers.

When the mission is hard, grace sustains us.

When we feel weak, grace gives us strength.

When we teach others, grace provides the wisdom we need.

When we serve, even when it’s inconvenient, grace gives us the heart of Christ to persevere.

Grace is the power that moves us forward, the strength that keeps us going, and the fuel that will carry us into this next season as a church with a greater mission. A mission to make and equip MORE disciples.

So as we step into this mission, let’s remember that we’re not called to rely on our own strength.

We’re called to rely on God’s grace—the grace that saves, sustains, and strengthens us for His glory.

Transition to Point 2

But here’s the thing about grace: it’s not just for us. Grace isn’t something we keep to ourselves—it’s meant to be passed on.

This brings us to our 2nd point: Disciple Makers who Make disciples -seek to Multiply the Mission -

2. Multiplying the Mission

Let’s look at verse 2 with me.

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Paul’s words to Timothy in this verse capture the heart of the commission God gave His Church…

Mark 16:15 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

friends the gospel is meant to be shared, Its meant to be the Legacy of the church.

Look at the method of true gospel discipleship we se in this text.

The Method: Entrusting the Message

Pauls says What You have learned from Me Entrust to faithful men.,

The word entrust here is powerful. It’s not just about sharing the gospel once and moving on—it’s about intentionally investing in others with the goal of creating a legacy that lasts far beyond us.

Church please Hear me clearly: Making disciples isn’t a one-time event or a box we check off. Its a lifestyle that should define every moment of your life as a follower of Jesus!

It’s not just about introducing someone to Jesus and hoping they figure it out.

It’s about rolling up our sleeves and doing the hard, often messy work of teaching, equipping, and walking alongside someone with all of their baggage and all of their annoyances and all of their pain for the sake of the gospel!

. It’s about pouring into others so deeply and intentionally that they are not only growing in their own faith but are equipped and inspired to go and make more disciples themselves.

Paul’s use of the word entrust paints a picture of a valuable deposit. He’s calling Timothy—and us—to carefully and intentionally invest the gospel into faithful people who will guard it, grow in it, and pass it on.

Discipleship is about building a greater legacy—one that multiplies across generations.

It’s about taking the time to equip others so well that the gospel doesn’t stop with them but continues through them.

And friends - This isn’t a quick process. It requires patience, love, and a willingness to sacrifice our time and energy for the sake of someone else’s spiritual growth.

And brothers and sisters- this is why we need Grace- because on our own we would burn out so quickly!

Church, think about the power of true discipleship.

When we invest in others, we’re not just impacting their lives; we’re shaping the lives of the people they will disciple and the people those disciples will reach in the next generations to come.

. It’s a ripple effect, a legacy that grows far beyond what we can see.

If we want to leave a greater legacy for Christ in clear lake Iowa, , we must be willing to invest in others, to pass on the message with intentionality, and to equip them to go and do the same.

This is how the mission grows. This is how the church becomes a multiplying force for the kingdom.

It’s not just about filling seats or increasing numbers; it’s about creating a movement of disciple-makers who carry the gospel forward into the future.

Friends, That’s the legacy we want to build in Clear Lake Baptist Church.

The Mission: Multiplying Disciples

Do you see the multiplying effect of genuine Gospel Discipleship.

2 Tim 2:2 others. He says

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Paul invests in the life of Timothy teaching Him the truths of the gospel.

Timothy then is to do the same - and entrusts the message to faithful men

Who will then be equipped to teach others.

And the chain continues.

This is how discipleship works—it’s not about one person doing all the teaching;

it’s about everyone passing the message forward.

This is how God intended for His gospel to spread.

This is how the mission grows.

Reality Chech Church: It’s not just the pastors or leaders doing all the work.

Every one of us has a part to play in passing on the message.

If you’ve received the gospel, you’re called to share it.

If you have accepted Jesus as your savior - Its your mission!

It doesn’t matter if you’re new in your faith or have been following Christ for decades.

You’ve been entrusted with something valuable, and it’s your responsibility to pass it on.

Illustration: The Baton of Discipleship

Think of it like a relay race. In a relay, the goal isn’t just for one runner to finish—it’s for the baton to be passed from one person to the next until the race is complete.

The focus isn’t just on the runner; it’s on the baton. If the baton doesn’t make it to the finish line, the race isn’t won.

Friends, The gospel is our baton. It’s what we carry, and our mission is to pass it to the next runner.

And just like in a relay race, the handoff is so critical.

It requires intentionality and focus. We can’t just hope the next person will figure it out.

We have to teach, encourage, and equip them to carry the message forward.

Application: Entrusting the Gospel to Others

So how do we pass the message on?

It starts by being intentional.

Look around at the people God has placed in your life.

Who can you disciple?

Who can you teach?

Parents It could be your kids, it could be a coworker, a neighbor, or someone in this church.

Young people it might be your school mate or your next door neighbor, or even your sibling

Discipleship doesn’t have to be complicated.

It’s simply walking alongside someone, teaching them what you’ve learned, and helping them grow in their faith.

This is why our move to a larger building is so important. It’s not just about having more space; it’s about creating more opportunities to pass the gospel message on.

The message that

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Our newer building will help our church leave a greater legacy for Christ for generations to come.

Bring It Home: Building the Legacy

As we are coming closer to the end of our time in this building, it’s important to pause and recognize the legacy that God has already been building through this church.

Over the years, we’ve seen countless lives changed—people saved, baptized, discipled, and sent out to serve the Lord in missions, in local ministry, and in their everyday lives.

Today’s baptisms are another chapter in that story, a visible reminder of why we’re here: to make and equip more disciples of Jesus Christ.

Baptism is a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ.

But even more than that It’s a step of obedience where a believer proclaims, “I belong to Jesus, and I’m committed to following Him.”

Really Baptism Is a beautiful picture of Gods Grace- Its a picture of the gospel: Of a sinner being buried with Christ in His death and raised to walk in newness of life.

Baptism matters because it’s a powerful testimony to the church and the world of a life transformed by grace and a commitment to live on mission for Him.

These baptisms represent new beginnings, not just for the individuals stepping into the water, but for all of us.

Every person being baptized today is part of the greater legacy we’re building together.

They’ve been impacted by someone—a parent, a friend, a Sunday school teacher, or a mentor—who invested in their spiritual growth. Who entrusted with them the message of the gospel- A message that they have been commissioned to share. A message that is meant to be the legacy of a church.

Church as we look forward Imagine what God could do if each of us committed to being a disciple-maker who invests in others, teaching them to follow Jesus, and equipping them to make disciples themselves.

The Big Idea of this entire sermon is this…..

Disciple-makers make disciple-makers.

That’s the heart of a legacy.

It’s not about how many people we reach; it’s about how deeply we invest in their lives so they care equipped to carry the mission forward.

A true legacy isn’t measured by what we accomplish but by the lives we impact—lives that go on to impact others.

So here’s the challenge:

Who are you investing in? Who are you discipling?

Who are you equipping to grow in their faith and pass it on?

As we move into this new building, let’s not just attend—let’s actively invest in making and equipping More disciples.

Together, we can build a greater legacy that lasts for generations, one marked by faithful disciple-makers who make disciple-makers.

Church, this is our calling. This is our mission.

Let’s step forward, empowered by God’s grace, and build a greater legacy for His glory.

Pray