Reflect

How moving is it to know that Jesus, in the hours before his death, prayed for the disciples he loved. He asked God to protect them and keep them in the way of truth. As John 17:20-24 makes clear, though, Jesus prayed not only for the disciples he knew on earth, but for all of those who would respond to their teaching. He prayed for those succeeding generations who would have the privilege and responsibility of carrying the faith. In other words, Jesus prayed for us!

Jesus knew that he was part of something that would transform lives for generations to come. In a sense he could envision our coming and knew that our challenges would require God’s protection and guidance. Christian stewardship requires that we also take this “broad view” of our faith. We are not to be narrowly focused on our personal experiences, but are to live with an awareness that we are sowing seeds for the future of the faith. The responses we make today to the Spirit which is active among us carry implications not only for our children and grandchildren, but for generations beyond.

—Mark Brown

Question

1. How does it feel to know that Christ prayed for you?
2. Is it easy or difficult to envision that our day-to-day lives are part of a much grander picture which only God can see? Why?
3. Thinking about the children of your church, what might your prayers be for their faith journeys?
4. In addition to our prayers, are there other ways we can help future generations know what it means to live as followers of Christ?

Act

1. If your congregation has been in existence for many years, borrow a copy of the membership roll dated as far back as possible. Read aloud the names of some of the earliest members. As a group, discuss what times might have been like in the community for those persons. Might they have prayed for future generations who would worship and minister through your church? If the membership roll is not available, old session minutes sometimes include names along with notes about interesting issues the church dealt with in the past.
2. Pray for the children of your church by name. Then, pray for their children, who are yet to be born.
3. Ask two or three long-time members of your congregation to share some of the prayers and dreams they had many years ago for the generations who would serve in your church.

Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash