Churches throughout the southeastern US are attended mostly by generational believers. Many of the believers attend the church their parents, grandparents and other family members attended. Generational faith is mentioned in scripture and is critical for passing the message of the Gospel and discipleship to the next generation. Timothy was a product of generational faith. In II Timothy 1:4-5 Paul writes about Timothy’s sincere faith which first lived in his grandmother then in his mother and now lives in him. Many children take on the faith of their mothers, grandmothers and influential women in their lives.
Timothy is first mentioned in Acts 16. He was the son of a mixed marriage between a faithful Jewish woman and a Greek father. Consider the challenges of a young man called to teach and preach the Gospel to Greeks and Jews who is from a mixed heritage, a mixed marriage. He could have trouble being accepted by either culture. Yet, he was faithful to follow his call. Paul told him to “fan into flame” the gift which had been given to him.
Generational faith has limitations, if believers only reach the next generation of their family the Gospel will not penetrate further than the family lines within the existing churches. Many churches are not even reaching the children and grandchildren of the current membership. Paul and Timothy were committed to build on their generational faith, reach across family and cultural lines to share the Gospel and make disciples of Gentiles and Jews. Believers must begin to fan into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit placed in them and reach across generational, family and cultural lines to reach communities for the Gospel. Continuing generational faith for the families and beginning a tradition of generational faith for families outside of the Gospel and church.