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.