Legacy Lifestyle

1. Internship Lessons

1. Ministry is so much more than Sunday morning. Week long ministry is all preparation to have a powerful Sunday service.

This is an honest thought that came with interning this summer

Setting up computers for you all to understand our sermons.. like if i had the example of a purple banana I can put that on screen for you!

(Slide of Banana)

Cleaning to make the the space we come to worship better, and distraction free

2. Learning to be a leader is learning to lead from Christ’s Strength 2 Cor. 12:9-10

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It also means that we as a learning people are also a failing people. Which something that has begun to take place in churches is making an environment where young people are allowed to fail with loving correction following it. There have been many cases of me leading worship, and I have said something that may not have fully made sense, but I have pastors who understand what I am trying to say and will elaborate for me and explain in different words.

3. Learning to be a leader means that you need to adjust, and grow in different seasons.

As of last Summer I thought I was going to work as a Camp Hickory staff member, but with some complications in that process I felt the Lord calling me to learn what it is like to work in the church. Going through this process I have learned to adjust the expectations I had for myself, to shift it to “Have your way Lord”

2. Living A Legacy Lifestyle

(The word Legacy means “To pass down, from person to person, or Generation to generation.)

1. What Is Worldly Legacy?

Worldly legacy is about building you up to be seen by all, and remembered by everyone. (Money, Power, Businesses, Helping others for personal benefit)

Main Point: “Worldly Legacy Is Simply Making Our Name, And Fame Known to anyone and everyone who will hear.”

2. What Is Christ-Centered Legacy?

We are created for one purpose, and one purpose only; To glorify God with the many blessings He has given us. Gen 2, Psalms 8

Parents are commanded to instill a longing for God and His word in their children, and environments, and that we would live it out and continue it for generations to come. Deut 6:4-9

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 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.

Which is why programs like kids ministry, youth group, camp, and conferences are so vital. Parents help steward their students by sending them to someone else who has been assigned by the Lord to teach, and guide them. But, it is the parents job to guide in their comfort, in their everyday.

Paul latched onto Timothy because he was told of the potential that Timothy had, and began to teach him. He knew that Timothy was raised well by His parents, and tought in the ways of the Lord. Acts 16:1-3, 5, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, 1 Timothy 1:2 “My son”

For Paul to be able to grow enough to pour into any of his multiple disciples. We all have things that God puts us through to build us up just like Jude says.

Ask for 5 Next-Gen Volunteers to come up along with my stage help to get the Illustration setup

Ask the Next-Gen Volunteers to line up in a straight line holding an empty cup. Pitchers of water will be ready on the side with labels on it saying “Prayer” “Worship” “Accountability” where I will begin filling up the first in line with individual pitchers. The water go from my pitcher to the first disciple, but when the disciples cup begins to fill, they will have to empty it out into another, but it won’t be enough to pour into another, and keep enough of their own water, so they must come back to their leader to be filled up again, and sent back to their disciple, where a chain will begin to form between all of the disciples. Eventually, the each of these disciples will learn to follow their spiritual disciplines by themselves. They still need council to help them here and there, but we need to begin to build a legacy and impart what God has done in us into our disciples.

Main Point: “Christ calls us to grow in Him, and both parents and mentors are to grow disciples who make disciples through prayer, worship, and accountability.”

3. Our Church Holds A Legacy

1. Our Pastoral Team Holds Legacy

Our church which started in 1980 holds a legacy that is WAY beyond me. Our Church began with Pastor Brent who didn’t just have a known name in our local church, but across our region as he served faithfully in Foursquare throughout many roles. Which was then passed down to our now wonderful Pastor; Pastor Caleb, who has a very similar story. Pastor Caleb serves not only as a local church pastor, but as the regional pastor for the central district.

Main Point: Our Pastors aren’t known because of who they are. They are known because of their willingness to serve the Lord.

2. Our Camp Holds Legacy

Camp Hickory holds so much love that we have poured into it for decades. The prayers answered, the lives saved, the wounds healed, all were caused because of the many people who gave love to the camp, not for their own sake, but to see others experience the Love of God.

Camp Hickory is so special to many local Foursquare Churches because we poured not only physically, but also gave financially by paying a small chunk of money to buy that camp. There are many names on a board in the chapel, that board holds so much more than names- it holds the lives that those people sent to camp. As I was worshipping at youth camp by the board, I was approached by a pastor who I know very well. He tells me with tears in His eyes- “Your name will be on a board like this. It will be cool for sure! It will be something for you to remember for a long time, and for others to look at. The special thing is that when you look at your name on a board, you won’t just see your name. You will see all the lives who were saved because they knew you.” Following that I began to breakdown in awe, and in willingness to step into whatever legacy the Lord wants to build through me.

5. Legacy exists to point you to Jesus, not your leader, or pastor

We as disciple-makers aren’t meant to make ourselves the standard, but to make Christ the goal. Matthew 23:1-9

In this passage we see Jesus calling out the pharisees to be hypocrites who say things, and are clearly seen doing the opposite. Jesus calls them out saying “They do their deeds to be seen by others

Legacy Lifestyle means we follow Jesus in the quiet place.

Jesus Prayed before many of His pivotal points in His ministry.

-When He was choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12-13)

-Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)

We see very clearly in this that we are also to be praying, and spending time with the Father on our own time. It is a form of worship.

We need to have nutrients to be able to function correctly… (Philippians 4:6)

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

-Someone who hasn’t eaten in 3 days, will not be able to be as strong as someone who just ate every day, multiple times of day. So, are we living on the Bread Of Life? Let’s grow ourselves so that those who we are discipling, don’t just learn to be like us… but also begin to live on the nutrients God gives us.

IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING COOL!!

Side point- Something so funny about my generation is that many of us aim to have fancy decorated bibles, Bible verses in their bios, and to make instagram stories about God.. but yet, they don’t even read their bibles.. WHY DO I KNOW THIS?? Because I’ve been there.

Summary

Living a legacy lifestyle means we are spending time growing ourselves.

Legacy is so much more than leaving something, it is about leaving a someone equipped and prepared

4. Reflection Questions

What kind of legacy are you to build? (Parental, or a Mentorship)

What tools/gifts have you been given to build up your disciple to build a legacy not built on fame, but to honor God?

Do you spend time in the quiet place developing yourself, so that you can pour into others?