Family Matters Week 3: A Faith Inheritance
Family Matters Week 3: A FAITH INHERITANCE
February 16, 2025
Introduction Pastor Torry Sheppard delivers a sermon at Gateway Church as part of the "Family Matters" series, emphasizing the importance of legacy in family life. He begins by encouraging families not just to be informed but to be inspired by God’s vision for the family. The ultimate goal is to build a Christ-centered family characterized by unity, grace, and purpose. He shares wisdom from his grandmother, who advised parenting with the end in mind—considering the values, beliefs, and qualities to instill in children for a purposeful legacy.
What Are You Leaving Your Kids? Pastor Torry shares a personal anecdote about his father’s love for baseball and his intention to pass down a baseball legacy through a valuable card collection. However, he humorously notes that he himself did not develop a passion for baseball but rather for golf. This story illustrates how parents may intend to leave behind a particular inheritance, but their children’s interests and experiences shape what is truly received.
The first key point is that every person leaves an inheritance, whether material, spiritual, or relational. The Bible extensively discusses inheritance, emphasizing that life impacts others beyond oneself. Paul’s words in Romans 14:7 highlight that no one lives or dies for themselves alone, countering today’s culture of hyper-individualism. True family life demands selflessness, a characteristic that aligns with Christ’s nature.
Blessings and Curses: Understanding Faith Inheritance While the Bible acknowledges the importance of physical inheritance, its primary focus is on spiritual inheritance—what Pastor Torry calls "faith inheritance." The difference between a physical and faith inheritance is measurement: physical inheritance is measured in quantity, while faith inheritance is measured in quality. This faith inheritance can manifest as a generational blessing or curse.
Deuteronomy 5:9 warns of generational consequences, where the iniquities of parents affect children to the third and fourth generations. However, it also promises mercy to thousands who love God and obey His commandments. This does not mean that God punishes children for their parents' sins, as Ezekiel 18:20 clarifies that each individual is responsible for their own actions. Instead, it highlights the generational impact of behaviors, choices, and faithfulness.
The Reality of Generational Influence The concept of generational curses does not imply divine punishment but acknowledges the transmission of patterns, behaviors, and spiritual conditions across generations. Using the Hebrew word "Avon," meaning "bend" or "twist," Pastor Torry explains that growing up in sin can create spiritual and emotional distortions that shape a person’s future. Examples include substance abuse, domestic violence, and broken marriages—patterns often perpetuated unconsciously.
Conversely, a generational blessing is not consequence driven. Instead it is the active work of God’s favor, mercy, and grace extended down a family line. This includes favor and prosperity, divine protection and correction, and the passing down of faith. Psalm 103:17 emphasizes God’s righteousness extending to children’s children, demonstrating the enduring impact of faithfulness.
Three Manifestations of Generational Blessings
1. Favor and Prosperity:
a. Biblical prosperity means going as far as one can on their own, then God taking them further. Isaac’s prosperity in Genesis 26 illustrates this principle, where God’s blessings multiplied his efforts beyond natural capability.
2. Protection and Correction:
a. God actively watches over the children of the faithful, as seen in His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:14-15). Though David’s descendants made mistakes, God’s mercy remained with them for David’s sake, exemplifying divine correction and grace.
3. Faith:
a. The highest form of inheritance is faith. Paul acknowledges Timothy’s faith as a legacy from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). A strong family faith foundation shapes future generations for God’s kingdom.
How to Leave a Faith Inheritance Leaving a faith inheritance is a lifelong process, much like farming or building a house. It involves three essential steps:
1. Clear the Ground:
a. Before planting seeds of faith, individuals must address their own spiritual baggage. This includes breaking negative cycles, confessing sins, forgiving others, and submitting fully to Christ. In Christ, the old passes away, and a new creation arrives (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. Deposit the Faith:
a. Faith is passed down through consistent, intentional actions—teaching God’s Word, prioritizing church, involving children in service, and modeling Christ-like behavior. Simple acts, such as praying over children and speaking life into them, create deep spiritual deposits.
3. Nurture the Faith:
a. Just as plants require watering and pruning, children need ongoing spiritual investment. Three ways to nurture faith include:
i. Be Consistent: Daily life should reflect faith values, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, where parents are instructed to teach children continuously.
ii. Cultivate a Christ-Centered Community: Raising children within a supportive faith community strengthens their spiritual journey. Proverbs 27:17 underscores the importance of iron sharpening iron and the role community plays in discipleship.
iii. Pray for Your Children: Prayer is a powerful tool in shaping a child's faith and future, covering them in prayer for God's protection, wisdom, and purpose.
A Personal Testimony: Pastor Torry shares the story of his grandfather, Robert, who faced a challenging upbringing but encountered God at 15. Despite hardships, his unwavering faith transformed his life and impacted future generations. Today, all of his descendants actively follow Christ, showcasing the profound, generational impact of a faith inheritance.