This message confronts us with a sobering reality: between 50 to 70 percent of children raised in church leave the faith in their twenties, and many never return. Rather than accepting this statistic as inevitable, we're challenged to pray boldly that the next generation would know and love Jesus even more than we do. Drawing from Jesus's Great Commission, we're reminded that our primary mission field isn't across the ocean—it's right here in our own community, in our children and youth. The sermon explores three powerful words from Jesus that frame our responsibility: the call to make disciples of all nations, the promise that believers will do greater works than He did, and the terrifying warning about causing little ones to stumble. Through the story of Hannah, Eli, and young Samuel in 1 Samuel, we see a beautiful model of what discipleship looks like—bringing young people into God's presence, into community, and into mission. Hannah's prayer-drunk desperation for her child and her willingness to dedicate him fully to God's purposes challenges us to pray with that same intensity while surrendering our own plans for God's will. This isn't just about programs or curriculum; it's about being disciples ourselves who can genuinely pour into the next generation, helping them discern God's voice and releasing them to outshine us in their love for Christ.

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Crisis and the Call

0:00 - 5:00

We confront the sobering reality that 50-70% of children raised in church leave the faith in their twenties, and commit to praying that the next generation would know and love Jesus more than we do.

Chapter 2: The Biblical Foundation for Investing in Children

5:00 - 12:00

We explore three key teachings from Jesus that reveal why discipling the next generation is central to our mission, including the Great Commission, Jesus' promise of greater works, and His warning about causing children to stumble.

Chapter 3: The Hannah and Eli Model of Discipleship

12:00 - 17:00

We learn from the story of Hannah, Eli, and Samuel how to pray desperately for our children, dedicate them to God's purposes, and disciple them by bringing them into God's presence, community, and mission.

Chapter 4: Practical Steps Forward

17:00 - 23:00

We outline specific initiatives our church is implementing to invest in the next generation, including internships, technology improvements, teaching sprints, and monthly parent prayer gatherings.

What if the secret to a joy-filled life isn't found in accumulating more possessions, achievements, or even moral superiority, but in something radically counter-cultural? This message confronts us with a powerful visual metaphor: we are like cups full of holes, constantly trying to fill ourselves with things that promise happiness—technology, success, recognition, comfort—only to watch it all leak out. Jesus offers a different path in John 13-17, where He gives what might be called the 'internal Great Commission.' Right after washing His disciples' feet and sharing the Last Supper, Jesus commands them five times to love one another as He has loved them. This isn't merely a nice suggestion; it's the pathway to complete joy. The Greek word used suggests being filled to the brim, overflowing. Jesus Himself demonstrates this principle—Hebrews tells us that 'for the joy set before Him,' He endured the cross. His 'why'—His love for others—sustained Him through unimaginable suffering. When we make loving one another our central mission rather than self-focused pursuits, we tap into a sustaining joy that doesn't leak away. This doesn't mean life becomes easy or conflict-free, but it means we find fullness even amid difficulty. The challenge before us is clear: will we continue chasing the 'iPhone life' of convenience and self-centeredness, or will we embrace the cross-shaped life of sacrificial love that actually plugs the holes and fills us with lasting joy?

What does it truly mean to be successful? Through a compelling conversation between a pastor and a puppet named Harry, this message challenges everything we've been taught about achievement and accomplishment. Harry returns from visiting his wealthy uncle in Miami Beach, dazzled by mansions, yachts, Ferraris, and the trappings of worldly success. But as the dialogue unfolds, we're confronted with a radical alternative: success defined not by what we accumulate, but by how faithfully we glorify God. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10:31—'whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God'—we discover a comprehensive framework that contrasts worldly metrics with Kingdom values. Where the world measures success by outcomes, visibility, and control, God measures it by faithfulness, obedience, and Christ-likeness. This isn't just theoretical theology; it's a daily choice that affects how we spend our money, invest our time, and define our legacy. The message honestly acknowledges the struggle we all face—the 'what ifs' that haunt us when we choose generosity over accumulation, service over advancement. Yet through Psalm 73, we find comfort in knowing even biblical writers wrestled with envy toward those living lives of ease. Ultimately, we're reminded that our value isn't proven by our net worth but demonstrated by the cross, and our true success is measured by the eternal 'well done, good and faithful servant' rather than temporary applause.