At Calvary Baptist Church we seek to minister to people of all ages and stages of life, and I believe I can truly say that there is something for everyone here at CBC.

However, a careful reading of Scripture reveals that God wants us to be especially mindful of our responsibility to pass the baton of truth to the next generation. Listen to these verses from the book of Judges....“So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua” (Judges 2:7)…”When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord, not the work for which He had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10). That's a tragic description of a generation that did not successfully pass the truth of God on to their children, and the devastating results are recorded as the Israelites slid into idolatry and immorality, and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”, (Jud. 21:25). Perhaps the Psalmist had this in mind when he wrote Psalm 78, and said, “And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation”...(v.8).

As well as being a pastor, I am also a father and grandfather, and I am very concerned that we, as parents and local churches, do all we can to educate and equip our children to know, love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Please note with me 5 realities about the generation to come.

• They need to be TOLD of the Lord. Verse 4 says, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. This is exactly what the generation after Joshua did not do, and they quickly departed from worshiping and serving God, resulting in sin, sorrow and slavery.


• They need to be TAUGHT about the Lord. In verse 5 we find, “For He established a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children”. Our sons and daughters need to know more than secular science, math, history and economics. They need to know about God, creation, sin, redemption, the way of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.


• They need to be TRUSTING in the Lord. Verses 6 and 7 exhort, “That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope (trust) in God...” Of course it is not enough to just know about God, but each child must learn to personally trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior.


• They need to be TRAINED in the Lord. Verse 7 goes on to say, “...And not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. Children need to be trained to memorize and obey the Ten Commandments, as well as other divine directives. This is not just a nice thing to do, but is essential to their earthly and eternal well-being.


• They need to be TENACIOUS for the Lord. Verse 8 tells us, “And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God”. An old chorus says, “I have decided to follow Jesus...no turning back, no turning back”. What God desires, deserves and demands is faithfulness from His children. “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful”, (I Cor. 4:2).

Ladies and gentlemen, let us take to heart the Lord's directive to pass the baton of faith and truth to the generation to come, so that if Jesus tarries, there will be strong, godly families and churches for years to come

At CBC, we strive to help in this endeavor by having solid Sunday School classes for our children, teens and adults. In addition, we have the AWANA ministry which features Scripture memory and Bible training for children up through the 8th grade. Do you know where your children and grandchildren are on Sundays and Wednesday nights? I hope you have them enrolled and participating in Sunday school and AWANA. We would love to have them here at CBC, and we have a place for you too! Lets do all we can so that the generation to come might have faith in God, and always be faithful to God.