DO NOT BE ASHAMED!

But Sully stayed calm. He couldn’t make it back to the airport, so he made a decision most pilots wouldn’t dare—he landed that plane in the Hudson River.

And everyone survived. All 155 people on board walked away alive. The world called it “The Miracle on the Hudson.” And Sully was praised as a hero.

But here’s what’s important:

“That emergency didn’t create Sully’s character—it revealed it.”

He had spent over 40 years flying, training, studying, and preparing for emergencies.

His calm response in crisis came from a life of character, discipline, and purpose.

He was ready—not because he guessed right—but because he had lived right.

The world remembers the miracle landing - 2009, but the passengers on board remember the man—how he led with composure, spoke with calm, and made sure everyone was safe.

His actions didn’t just save lives—they left a legacy.

Introductory Bridge:

That story reminds me of something we often forget:

Legacy isn’t built in a moment. Legacy is revealed in a moment.

Each of us will face a defining moment—whether it’s a crisis, a test, a challenge or an opportunity. And in that moment, we won’t suddenly become someone new—we’ll show who we’ve been becoming all along.

That moment won’t shape us on the spot, it will expose the foundation we have already laid.

And the enemy knows that. “That is exactly how the enemy approaches every believer…” He won’t always tempt you with something obviously evil. He’ll just distract you with success, busyness, money, image—so you spend your life building things that don’t last.

But the Bible teaches us something better: Legacy isn’t about building something for ourselves—it’s about living faithfully, day by day, with God at the centre of it all”

Only One Life – Will Your Legacy Last?

Joshua 4:1–7 NIV

1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:20–24 NIV

20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Only One Life – Will Your Legacy Last?

I. Legacy Begins with Remembering What God Has Done.

A) Explanation of the Principle:

At this point in the story, the people of Israel had spent 40 long years wandering in the wilderness. They had left Egypt, where they had been slaves for generations, and they were finally standing on the edge of the Promised Land—the land that God had said would be theirs.

But there was a problem.

Between them and the land was a river—the Jordan River—and it was at flood stage. The waters were high and powerful. It looked impossible to cross.

But God did something amazing.

He told the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant—a special wooden chest containing the 10 commandments that God gave to Moses, that represented God’s presence—and step into the river. And as soon as their feet touched the water, the river stopped flowing.

The waters stopped flowing and piled up in a heap like a wall, and the ground beneath became completely dry. And the people walked across safely—on dry/solid ground.

So the people of Israel crossed over, not in mud or fear, but on dry ground, just as God had promised

It was a miracle.

Let’s be real—if we were there, we probably would’ve quickly crossed the river, celebrated big, high-fived each other and kept moving on without thinking twice. Maybe even taken a few selfies and posted, “‘Jordan crossed ✔️.’”

Completely forgetting to stop and remember the miracle.

But Joshua didn’t do that. He didn’t make the moment about himself.

He didn’t say, “Let’s build something in my honour.”

He didn’t say, “Let’s remember the day I led you into the Promised Land.”

No. He turned the focus to God.

He told one man from each of the twelve tribes to go back into the middle of the dry riverbed and grab a stone—one large stone per tribe. And they stacked them together as a monument—not to a man, but to a miracle.

B. Let’s look at what Scripture says:

Joshua 4:6–7 NIV

6 .....In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord......... These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

These stones were a symbol. A reminder of what God had done.

Not just for the people crossing that day—but for their children… and their children’s children.

God’s people forget. That’s why we need reminders.

Have you ever had a moment where God came through for you?

Maybe He answered a prayer.

Maybe He provided in a way you didn’t expect.

Maybe He gave you peace during a time when life was falling apart.

But over time, you forget.

The Israelites were the same way.

Over and over, God would rescue them, and a few months later they’d be complaining again—"Where is God? Why is this happening?"

So Joshua says: “We’re not going to forget this moment.” “We’re going to make sure future generations know the God we serve.”

That’s what legacy is: It’s remembering what God has done—and helping others remember, too.

Joshua 4:24 says:

Joshua 4:24 NIV

24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

That verse is powerful.

It means these stones weren’t just for Israel. They were a witness to the world.

When people from other nations walked by and saw that pile of stones, they would ask, “What’s that about?” And the answer would be: “Let me tell you what our God did for us here.”

Illustration:

Think about national monuments.

If you’ve ever been to Washington, D.C., you’ve seen the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, or the World War II Memorial. They’re not just structures/they aren’t just about individuals—they tell a story.

They remind us of where the nation has come from and what they have been through.

In the same way, Joshua’s twelve stones were like a spiritual monument. Not just a structure, but a story.

And the story wasn’t: “We were strong.” “We figured it out.” “We got through it.” No—the story was: “God made a way when there was no way.”

C. Application:

Let me ask you: What are the stones in your life? What are the moments where God came through—where He made a way, opened a door, changed a heart, carried you through pain, or saved you from sin?

And here’s the bigger question: Do the people around you know those stories?

Do your children know? Do your friends/family know? Have you shared your testimony?

Because here’s the truth: If we don’t tell them what God has done, they might grow up not knowing what He can do.

Legacy starts when we take the time to say:

“Let me tell you how God got me through that season.”

“Let me tell you about the time we didn’t know how we were going to pay the bills—but God provided.”

“Let me tell you how Jesus saved me when I was completely lost.”

That’s legacy.

It’s not just passing down possessions—it’s passing down faith stories.

Key Truth:

Your legacy starts by pointing people back to what God has done in your life. It starts by remembering what God has done—and helping others remember.

II. Spiritual Legacy Is Greater Than Physical Inheritance.

A. Now don’t get me wrong—leaving an inheritance for your family is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with leaving behind money, property, or possessions for your children or grandchildren.

Proverbs 13:22 says,

Proverbs 13:22 NIV

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children......

That means it’s wise and biblical to prepare and provide financially for your family—even to think beyond your own children and into the next generation.

But here’s the deeper truth I want you to see today: Money fades. Faith lasts.

You can leave your kids a house, but one day it’ll need repairs—or it may be sold. You can leave them a bank account, but it can run out. You can leave them a business, but they might not even want to run it.

But if you leave them a deep love for Jesus, a heart that trusts God, a hunger for His Word—that’s something they can carry with them for life… and pass on to their children.

B. A Family of Faith (From Scripture):

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul writes:

2 Timothy 1:5 NIV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

That’s what a spiritual legacy looks like.

It started with Grandma Lois. Then it lived in her daughter Eunice. And then it showed up in her grandson Timothy.

Three generations. One shared faith.

Paul doesn’t mention money. He doesn’t say, “Timothy, you come from a wealthy family.” He says, “You come from a faithful one.”

We don’t know what Lois and Eunice left behind financially. But we know what they passed down spiritually—and it shaped one of the greatest young leaders in the early church.

A Real-Life Example: The Billy Graham Legacy

One of the clearest modern-day examples of this kind of spiritual inheritance is found in the life of Billy Graham.

Billy Graham wasn’t born into wealth. He grew up on a dairy farm in North Carolina. His parents weren’t rich or famous. But they were faithful.

They made sure Billy and his siblings were in church. They prayed. They read Scripture together.

They didn’t hand him a fortune—but they handed him a foundation.

That foundation grew into a world-changing ministry.

Billy Graham went on to preach the gospel to over 215 million people in over 185 countries. He met with presidents, kings, and world leaders—not to impress them, but to tell them about Jesus.

But when asked about his life, Billy often said the most important thing wasn’t the stadiums or crowds. It was the relationship with Jesus he had developed as a child—rooted in the faith of his parents.

And here’s what’s even more powerful: His legacy didn’t stop with him.

His children—Franklin Graham -June 21, 2025, at ExCeL London during the “God Loves You Tour.”

Anne Graham Lotz, and others—are still sharing the gospel today.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren are growing up in that same stream of faith.

They may not all be preachers, but they are continuing the legacy of walking with Jesus.

Billy Graham didn’t just leave sermons, books, or buildings. He left behind a spiritual inheritance that’s still growing today.

Maybe You Can’t Leave Riches—But You Can Leave a Rich Faith

Some of you might be thinking, “I don’t have much to leave behind.”

You may not have savings. You may not own property. You may not be able to fund a trust fund or hand down an estate.

But hear me clearly: You can still leave something more powerful.

You can show your children and grandchildren what it looks like to:

Pray when life gets hard

Trust God when money is tight

Say “I’m sorry” and ask for forgiveness

Worship when you’re hurting

Be faithful when the world walks away from God

That kind of example doesn’t cost anything—but it’s worth everything.

That’s what they’ll remember. That’s what will mark their lives.

Legacy Isn’t Just About Blood—It’s About Discipleship

Now, let’s go even deeper:

You might not have kids or grandkids.

Maybe you’re single, maybe your children are grown, or maybe life just looks different than you expected.

But don’t miss this—legacy isn’t limited to family ties. It’s something every believer is called to build.

But let me encourage you:

You can still leave a spiritual legacy—because legacy isn’t limited to family by blood. It’s about the lives you help shape through faith. It’s about discipleship.

3 John 4 NIV

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John wasn’t talking about his physical children. He was talking about his spiritual children—people he helped lead to Jesus and helped grow in the faith.

And John says, “That’s my greatest joy—knowing they’re still walking with Jesus.”

Let me ask you: Who are your spiritual children? Who are you pouring into? Who are you helping grow in their faith?

Maybe it’s a neighbour, a co-worker, a student in your group, someone you’re mentoring at church. Maybe it’s the kids you teach in Sunday school. Maybe it’s the young couple in your small group that’s just trying to figure things out.

You don’t have to be their parent to make an impact. If you help someone grow in Christ—you are part of their spiritual family tree.

Key Truth:

Don’t just raise kids. Make disciples. Don’t just pass down stuff. Pass down faith.

Challenge to the Church:

Let’s be honest—one day, someone will go through your stuff.

They’ll clean out your closet. They’ll go through your photos. They’ll look at what you left behind.

But what will they remember most?

Will they remember your faith? Will they remember your prayers? Will they say, “My grandma always read her Bible…” Or, “My dad always pointed me to God…” Or, “That man at church taught me what it means to follow Jesus”?

That’s what lasts.

That’s what matters.

That’s what legacy looks like.

So let me ask you:

What will your legacy be?

Because at the end of the day, you may not be able to leave millions… But you can leave something eternal—faith in Christ.

III. Only What’s Done for Christ Will Last

Let’s be honest for a minute. Most of the things we spend our time, energy, and money building in this life… won’t last.

The house you work so hard to keep up? One day, it’ll need repairs—or someone else will live in it.

The car you drive? Eventually it’ll break down, rust out, or be traded in.

Your savings account? It can disappear with a market shift - Credit Crunch 2008, a medical emergency, or when you’re no longer here to spend it.

Even your name—no matter how respected or recognised—will one day fade from memory.

That’s just the reality of life on earth.

But Jesus points us to something better. Something eternal.

Matthew 6:19–20 NKJV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

In other words: Don’t waste your life chasing things that won’t matter 100 years from now. Spend your life investing in what will still matter a thousand years from now—and forever.

Illustration: Building Something That Will Outlast Us

Right now, why are we here at our church, we’re building —a worship space, gathering areas, and places where people can come together to grow in faith and connect in community.

But I want to make something really clear: This isn’t just about bricks, steel, and drywall. This is about what happens inside those walls.

It’s about creating a space where:

People will meet Jesus for the first time

Marriages will be restored

Children will hear the gospel

Teenagers will learn to walk with God

Addictions will be broken

Missionaries will be called

Families will be equipped

The lonely will find family

And disciples will be made

That’s legacy. That’s an eternal investment.

You see, we’re not just meeting up in a building—we’re laying a foundation for the next generation to know Christ.

And long after we’re gone, that space can still be used to teach the Word of God, to spread the gospel, and to build God’s Kingdom.

You Are a Living Stone in God’s Eternal House

1 Peter 2:5 (NIV) says:

1 Peter 2:5 NIV

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.....

That means you and I aren’t just observers in what God is doing—we are part of it. We are the living stones God is using to build something that will never collapse, never rot, and never fade.

God is not calling us to build monuments to ourselves. He’s not impressed by our CVs or titles or social media followers.

He is building His Church—and He invites us to be a part of it.

What Kind of Kingdom Are You Building?

Every day, with every choice, we are building something.

Some are building careers

Some are building comfort

Some are building popularity

Some are building a name for themselves

But only one Kingdom lasts—and it’s not yours or mine.

Psalm 145:13 says,

Psalm 145:13 NIV

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.....

So let me ask you a simple but important question:

Are you building your kingdom—or God’s?

Because if we spend our whole life building things for ourselves, we may succeed in the short term, but it won’t last.

But when we spend our life investing in the Kingdom of God—by loving others, making disciples, serving the church, giving generously, and pointing people to Jesus—we are building something that will still matter forever.

Key Truth (Repeat for Emphasis):

The greatest legacy you can leave is to help build God’s Kingdom. Not your kingdom. Not your comfort. His Kingdom.

Closing Challenge:

There’s a quote from missionary C.T. Studd. It says:

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

C.T. Studd

And he’s right. One day, our lives here will end. And all that will really matter is what we did for Jesus.

So let’s live today with eternity in mind. Let’s stop building monuments to ourselves and start building into people. Let’s give our best to what lasts forever—Jesus and His Kingdom.

Because that, church… That is a legacy worth leaving.

Let’s live for what lasts.

Amen.

Only One Life – Will Your Legacy Last?

🔔 Altar Call Wording

(Can be spoken slowly, clearly, and with warmth.)

Church, today we’ve talked about legacy—not just what we leave behind, but how we live right now.

We’ve looked at how Joshua remembered what God had done… We’ve seen the importance of passing down a spiritual inheritance, not just a financial one… And we’ve been reminded that only what’s done for Christ will truly last.

So let me ask you one more time—what will your legacy be?

Maybe you’re here today and you’ve been chasing the wrong things. You’ve been busy building your own kingdom—career, comfort, security—but it’s left you feeling empty. Today is the day to surrender that and say, “Jesus, I want to live for what lasts.”

Or maybe you’ve never truly trusted Jesus as your Savior. You’ve heard about Him, maybe even gone to church—but you’ve never said, “I give you my heart. I want to follow you. I want my life to count for something eternal.”

If that’s you, the good news is: It’s not too late. Today can be the day your legacy begins—not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus has already done on the cross for you.

So whether you’re saying yes to Jesus for the first time… Or recommitting your life to live with purpose and focus on what matters most… Now is the time.

If that’s you, I want to invite you to respond. You can come forward as we pray… Or just lift your hand right where you are. God sees your heart—and He can start something new in you today.

The big idea:

Your life is short, but your legacy can last forever—when you build it on faith in Jesus and invest in what matters most: God's Kingdom, not your own.

🙏 Closing Prayer

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding us today that our lives are short, and only what we do for You will last.

Forgive us for chasing things that don’t matter. Help us to live with eternity in mind. Give us courage to pass on our faith, to love others well, and to invest in Your Kingdom.

For anyone saying yes to Jesus today—meet them with grace. Forgive, restore, and lead them forward with purpose.

We want our lives to bring You glory. Help us leave a legacy that points to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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