Wisdom That Echoes: Parents and Grandparents Honoring Legacy

Introduction

We’re wrapping up our Family series called Generational Grace: Roles, Honor, and God’s Design.

Week one, we talked to the husbands—and the call was this: when husbands lead like Christ, families flourish and God gets the glory. But when husbands fail to lead, the enemy will.

Week two, we talked to the wives—and we said: when wives live out God’s design, they don’t just bless their husbands, they bless their children, their grandchildren, and generations to come.

Last week the kids were on deck—and the bottom line was: when children obey and honor their parents, faith doesn’t stop with one generation—it flows into the next.

And today, as we wrap up, we’re talking to parents and grandparents. But really, this is for all of us. Because all through this series we’ve been circling around one big theme: honor.

Let’s be honest—we live in a world that doesn’t do honor very well. We do sarcasm. We do criticism. We do “me first.” But we don’t do honor. And if we’re not careful, we’ll let that culture seep into our homes.

Every family has stories. Some funny, some painful, some powerful. But the stories that matter most—the ones that echo into the next generation—are the stories of God’s faithfulness. And those stories only get told when we learn how to honor the voices that came before us.

Point 1: The Challenge – Closing the Generational Gap

Psalm 78:1–4 (ESV):

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Exegesis:

- The psalmist begins with a command: “Give ear… incline your ears.” This is serious listening.

- He speaks of parables and “sayings of old”—wisdom that’s not new but has been passed down.

- Verse 3: “things we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.” Faith is generational—it’s meant to be told and retold.

- Verse 4: the responsibility is clear—“We will not hide them from their children.” God’s works must be made known to the next generation.

Illustration: When we ignore older voices, it’s like shutting down the library. All the wisdom and stories remain locked away, and the next generation grows up without access to what could anchor them.

Honor landing: When we dismiss older voices, we dishonor the gift God gave us in them.

Jerry’s Note: “Don’t miss this—the Bible says we’ve got a job: tell the next generation what God has done. If we don’t talk about it, they won’t know about it.”

Point 2: The Vision – Older Generations as Torchbearers of Faith

Titus 2:2–5 (ESV):

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…

Exegesis:

- Paul tells older men: be steady, grounded, dependable in faith. Be the anchor, not the loose cannon.

- He tells older women: be reverent and self-controlled. Don’t tear down with gossip or excess, but build up with teaching.

- Notice the “so”—their example has a purpose: to train younger women to love well, live well, and keep the gospel attractive.

- This is God’s discipleship plan: older generations show and tell, younger generations learn and grow.

Illustration: In a relay race, running strong isn’t enough—you have to pass the baton. Drop it, and the race is lost. Grandparents, you’re not just here to supply sugar and send ‘em home (though you’re world-class at that). God’s handed you the baton of faith.

Honor landing: When older generations live faithfully, they model what it looks like to honor God.

Jerry’s Note: “Faith doesn’t just pop out of nowhere—it usually shows up because somebody before you lit the fire.”

Point 3: The Practice – Building Legacy Together

Psalm 78:6–7 (ESV):

That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

Exegesis:

- Verse 6: God’s vision is big—He’s thinking about kids who aren’t even born yet. Your faith today is meant to bless tomorrow’s family tree.

- Verse 7: the purpose is threefold—

   1. That they set their hope in God (not in success, not in money, not in culture).

   2. That they remember God’s works (don’t let His miracles fade from memory).

   3. That they keep His commands (obedience is the natural fruit of remembrance).

- The psalmist says faith doesn’t trickle down by accident—it has to be told, retold, and lived out if it’s going to stick.

- Legacy isn’t automatic; it’s intentional.

Illustration: A quilt isn’t beautiful because of one piece, but because many pieces are stitched together. Family legacy works the same way—each generation adds its piece, and together they tell the story of God.

Honor That Heals Families

Romans 12:10 (ESV): Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Exegesis: 

Romans 12 describes Spirit-shaped family life in the church. “Brotherly affection” (philadelphia) is family love among believers, and “outdo” (proēgeomai) means take the lead in showing honor. Paul is calling us not to wait our turn but to set the pace in honoring others.

Application: What would our families look like if we actually lived this way?

- A culture of celebration, not comparison. Instead of competing for attention, we’d compete in encouragement.

- Healing instead of hurting. Conflicts would end with quicker apologies and freer forgiveness.

- A home of mutual service. The competition wouldn’t be “who gets their way,” but “who can give up their way” for the sake of love.

Safety note: Honor doesn’t mean ignoring sin or enabling harm; honor speaks truth in love and seeks what is right.

Jerry’s Note: “Don’t wait your turn—lead the way in honor.”

Gospel Connection

Generations fail. Parents mess up. Children wander. Grandparents sometimes stay silent. But where we fail, Jesus fulfills.

He perfectly honored His Father. He carried the baton of faith without dropping it. Through His death and resurrection, He redeems our failures and restores our legacies.

If your family story is complicated or fractured, you’re not disqualified. In Christ, the church becomes family, and honor can begin here.

The cross covers dishonored voices, forgotten stories, parenting regrets, and generational wounds. Grace rewrites the story.

Conclusion

Can you see it? Grandparents praying over their grandkids. Parents telling stories of God’s faithfulness at the table. Kids growing up in a culture of honor—not rivalry.

Generations yet unborn rising up and setting their hope in God because we chose honor today.

Roles lived God’s way. Honor given freely. God’s design on display. That’s Generational Grace.

Can you see it? Grandparents praying over their grandkids. Parents telling stories of God’s faithfulness at the table. Kids growing up in a culture of honor—not rivalry.

Generations yet unborn rising up and setting their hope in God because we chose honor today.

Roles lived God’s way. Honor given freely. God’s design on display. That’s Generational Grace.