
INTRODUCTION
Legacy- what a tricky word to consider for ourselves and for those affected by our lives. We often hear political or famous people talk about their legacies, but what about the legacy being lived by regular people like us? Yesterday’s choices plus the modifications we choose to make today will create our legacy. Failures or regrets only have as much power as we give them. Today is a great day to start writing the legacy God has for you and for those affected by you. It takes intentionality and courage to engage, consider, and choose your own legacy from this moment forward. You will not regret it!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Name a person (either famous or personally known) who has a legacy that you respect and/or admire. Why did you choose that person? What do you think that legacy cost that person?
- As we continue to Ask the tough questions, Answer those questions honestly, and then Act based on those honest questions we have an opportunity to change our lives and to also change those affected by our lives. Amazing potential, but its merely just squandered potential if we do not Ask, Answer, and Act. Take a moment to focus on yourself and name a part of the legacy you are leaving that you are not ok with. Perhaps you are like many of us and hope that your positives affect others and your negatives somehow are overlooked. If, when you stopped to consider your legacy, your attention went to a negative attribute then you can be reasonably confident that it is the work of the Holy Spirit inviting you to Act based on His invitation to change that area in your life.
- George Washington, MLK, Mother Theresa, and Abraham Lincoln all dealt with WAY more challenges than most of us knew about until Pastor Joseph taught us. What words have you heard about yourself externally that threaten to convince you and keep you from the truth Jesus wants to tell you about yourself. Specifically name the lies spoken about you externally. Then take a moment to mentally push that thought aside and invite Jesus to tell you the truth about yourself. He wants to align you with Truth. It will set you free!
- This process is not easy. Perhaps you need some motivation to faithfully do this process. This might help motivate you. Name the people that are affected by your legacy? What do you want your legacy to be in their lives?
- John Maxwell said, “As we become mature adults we make very few decisions. We just continue to manage the decisions we have already made.” How can you better manage the decisions you have made previously? What new decision to you need to intentionally make to modify a pattern you want to change so that you do not have regrets about how it is affecting your legacy?
- Sharing your legacy can be terrifying because it can add a layer of expectation thus also creating the opportunity to fail or disappoint those we care about most. Who needs that kind of pressure?! As you contemplate those affected by your legacy who is someone you need to invite into your life to support you and help you determine your goals and to support you to go past hoping to improve your legacy to actually making tangible changes that lead to better decisions and fewer regrets?
- Perfection is a ridiculous thing to require of yourself. Honestly and progress is what Jesus is inviting you to pursue. Name some ways you can honestly make progress and not talk yourself out of what the Lord is inviting you to modify in your life? Is there a person or a new habit you need to add to you life to improve your legacy?
- Name a specific commitment you are going to make doing this next week (specific amount of time and specific results) to take active steps towards this goal. This message this week requires some intense and intentional homework in order to see the long term results. You do not have to do this. If you do not make a strong commitment you probably won’t. The urgent will always squeeze out the important.
- When we actually make a strong, courageous, and uncomfortable commitment we are often horrible at celebrating our victories. Who is someone you will contact when you take those steps this week so they can affirm you and celebrate this with you? No, this is not silly. That accountability and that encouragement can literally be the difference between considering this and actually doing it!
MOVING FORWARD
This topic of legacy is not an easy one. It is not something we can check a box and move on. Small and sustained changes can have a massive effect either positively or negatively. Do not accept the burden of this being impossible or too much. It is absolutely too much for you to do on your own efforts or striving. That would crush you. It would crush anyone. It is, however, not too much for you plus Jesus. When we accept His invitation to go beyond what we can do towards what we can only do WITH Him we are in a sweet place of dependance upon Him. It is like any new thing in that it gets less uncomfortable the more we do it. Listen to Him and follow His lead. You deserve what He has for you and those affected by your life do too. Better decisions and fewer regrets for ourselves and also for those we love!