DIG THE WELL

INTRO

You ever try to dig something up using the wrong tool?

A little while back, I decided I was going to dig up this tree in my yard. I didn’t have the right shovel handy, so I just grabbed the one I had close by—it was a flat-edged shovel. Looked strong enough. I thought, “This’ll do.”

But let me tell you—it did not do.

I was down there hacking at the dirt, sweating like crazy, getting nowhere. That flat blade kept hitting roots and rocks. It wasn’t cutting through anything—it just bounced off or got stuck. I must’ve looked ridiculous—like I was picking a fight with the ground and losing.

After a while, I finally gave in, went to Home Depot, and got the right tool—a sharp-edged shovel designed for digging. And just like that, things changed. I was able to break through, get deep into the soil, cut through those stubborn roots, and actually start making progress.

Here’s the lesson: You can’t dig deep with the wrong tools.

And the same is true in our spiritual lives.

Some of us are trying to build families and shape legacies—with tools that were never meant for the job.

We use quick fixes instead of time.

We use silence instead of presence.

We stay shallow when God’s calling us to go deep.

And that’s where this moment in Genesis 26 hits home.

Isaac—son of Abraham—is facing a land of conflict, scarcity, and opposition. But instead of panicking or running, here’s what he does:

Genesis 26:18 NLT

He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

Isaac made the decision to dig again.

To reclaim the legacy.

To break ground—even when it was hard.

And today, that’s the call God is putting on the hearts of fathers, grandfathers, and spiritual leaders in this room.

Let’s talk about what it looks like to Dig the Well.

MAIN POINT

Fathers are called to dig spiritual wells that provide life, faith, and legacy for generations to come.

1. REMEMBER WHAT WAS DUG BEFORE YOU.

Genesis 26:18 NLT

He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

A. Isaac honors what Abraham built.

Support: Isaac's actions show respect for his father's legacy and the spiritual foundations laid before him.

B. Many of us are here today because someone dug a well for us—prayers, sacrifice, example.

Support: Reflect on the spiritual heritage passed down through generations.

C. Are you honoring the legacy, or abandoning it?

Support: Consider whether you are maintaining or neglecting the spiritual foundations laid by those before you.

D. Honor the faith of those before you, even if it wasn’t perfect.

Support: Recognize that no legacy is flawless, but it is still valuable.

2. RE-DIG WHAT THE ENEMY HAS BURIED.

Genesis 26:18 NLT

He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

A. The enemy always tries to block legacy—bitterness, addiction, passivity, brokenness.

Support: Identify the obstacles that hinder spiritual growth and legacy.

B. Some of us are called to dig again what was once flowing—faith, worship, family unity.

Support: Revive the spiritual practices and values that have been lost or neglected.

C. Maybe you didn’t have a godly father. Then you’re the one God’s calling to dig the first well.

Support: Embrace the opportunity to start a new spiritual legacy.

D. Break the cycle of spiritual drought by initiating new wells of faith.

Support: Take proactive steps to establish a strong spiritual foundation.

3. NAME WHAT MATTERS

Genesis 26:18 NLT

He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

A. Naming was a sign of ownership and identity.

Support: Understand the power of naming in establishing identity and purpose.

B. What are you naming in your home? Fear or faith? Distraction or devotion?

The enemy will create death by distraction if we allow it.

Support: Be intentional about the values and atmosphere you cultivate.

C. Call your house a place of peace, joy, worship.

Support: Speak life and blessings over your household.

D. Don’t let culture name your kids—you name them with God’s Word.

Support: Ground your family’s identity in biblical truth.

E. Reinforce the identity God has given you and your family.

Support: Regularly affirm and remind your family of their God-given identity.

4. WELLS DON’T FILL OVERNIGHT, DIG ANYWAY.

A. Digging takes work. It’s underground and often uncelebrated.

Support: Acknowledge the effort and perseverance required in spiritual growth.

B. But once that well flows, it changes everything.

Support: Highlight the transformative power of a well-established spiritual life.

C. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Support: Encourage persistence and long-term vision in spiritual endeavors.

D. True legacy requires digging deep, not just shallow consumption.

Support: Contrast the depth of spiritual legacy with the superficiality of cultural norms.

E. Trust in God’s timing and faithfulness as you dig.

Support: Rely on God’s promises and faithfulness as you work towards spiritual goals.

RESULT: RESULT OF INFO

Isaac dug physical wells—he was reclaiming a legacy, reviving what had been buried, and making a way for his family to live. But generations later, in John 4, Jesus meets a broken woman at another well—not just to give her water, but to offer her something far greater:

Living water.

One man dug a well to survive. The other sat by a well to save.

The wells we dig today—by faith, with perseverance, in obedience—are setting up the moment where Jesus can meet someone tomorrow.

INLOOK

CHALLENGE: PERSONAL CHALLENGE

What well are you digging right now? Will your children have something to drink from when they’re thirsty in the future?

APPLICATION 1

APPLICATION 2

APPLICATION 3

APPLICATION 4

CONCLUSION/CLOSE