2 Timothy 1:5
(NLT) – "I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you."
The Legacy Question
What will people remember about you when you're gone? Will they remember your laugh? Your habits? Your cooking? Your mistakes?
We all leave something behind—whether we mean to or not. But today, I want to talk about a legacy that outlives possessions… A legacy of faith.
Because the most important thing you can leave behind isn’t money, land, or things—it’s a sincere faith that will keep living long after you’re gone.
1. Legacy Isn’t What You Leave To People—It’s What You Leave In People
Paul doesn’t mention Timothy’s bank account. He doesn’t praise his résumé. He highlights the faith that was passed down from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.
These women didn’t leave Timothy riches—they left him roots.
Let me make it personal for a moment. I remember a time in my early teen years when life got hard—really hard. My dad had broken both feet in a work accident and was out of work for over a year. We didn’t have much to begin with and now there were days that we didn’t know where our next meal would come from.
My mom? She prayed. She didn’t complain. She didn’t panic. She just kept believing God would make a way.
She went without so we could eat. Everything extra I earned went into the household. But listen… Let me tell you the good part—every single time we thought we were about to run out… God came through.
Sometimes it was a family member showing up with groceries. Sometimes it was a church stepping in with support. Sometimes it was just someone coming by to talk and lift our spirits.
And my mom—she never saw herself as a hero. She was just trying to survive and raise a family. But let me tell you, she planted something in me during those years. A faith that says, “Even when things look impossible, my God is still faithful.”
That’s legacy.
That’s a deposit of faith that outlives the trial.
Your kids may not remember every lesson you teach, but they will never forget the way you trusted God when things got hard.
You don’t need a platform to pass on faith. You just need consistency, conviction, and Christ.
2. Sincere Faith Leaves a Mark That Doesn’t Fade
Paul said, “I remember your genuine faith.”
What kind of faith gets remembered? Not perfect faith. Not loud faith. Not Instagram faith. Genuine faith.
The kind that prays when no one’s looking.
The kind that forgives when it’s hard.
The kind that keeps showing up even when life is a mess.
That kind of faith leaves a mark.
I think of a lady from our church. She didn’t hold a title. She wasn’t flashy. But her life left a mark on just about everyone around her.
She was always on the phone—calling to check in on folks almost daily. Sometimes she’d cook and take a meal to a shut-in. Other times, she’d give financially without making a big deal of it. And even though she had a bit of a bossy streak—I'll be honest—she was a great encourager and helper to me.
She was a stable rock in our church and community. Her quiet faithfulness, her generosity, her willingness to show up again and again—it was the kind of faith that you don’t forget.
If your faith feels unseen—take heart. Your prayers are planting seeds. Your service is leaving tracks. You may not see it now, but God is using it.
3. God Uses Quiet Faithfulness to Change Generations
Behind every Timothy is often a Lois and a Eunice.
You may feel like your faith is small or your influence is limited—but don’t you dare underestimate what God can do through a praying woman or a faithful mom.
Faith isn’t just taught—it’s caught.
Kids don’t always follow advice, but they do follow examples. What they see in you—your faith, your struggles, your devotion—will echo in their lives.
You may not have had a Lois or a Eunice in your life… but you can be one. You can be the first link in a chain of faith that lasts for generations.
Conclusion: Make the Decision Today
You don’t have to be perfect to leave a legacy. You just have to be real.
You don’t have to have it all together. You just have to be anchored in Jesus.
Let your life speak... Let your example preach... Let your prayers pave a path for those coming after you.
Because long after you’re gone… the faith you live today can still be bringing someone else to Jesus.
Let’s pray that we’d be people who don’t just live well—but leave well. That we’d leave behind more than stuff—we’d leave behind a trail of faith.
Let’s leave a legacy.
Closing Illustration & Call to Action: The Empty Chair
There was a pastor who told the story of a woman in his church who was a quiet servant. She didn’t make much noise. She didn’t demand attention. But every Sunday, without fail, she’d sit in the same pew, lift her hands in worship, and pray for her family by name. Her Bible was worn from use, and her life was full of simple acts of obedience.
After she passed, her seat sat empty for the first time in years. And wouldn’t you know it—the very next Sunday, her granddaughter, who hadn’t been to church in years, walked in, sat in that very spot, and gave her life to Jesus.
Why?
Because legacy doesn’t die when the person does.
Legacy lives on. Faith has a ripple effect.
Let me ask you something—if your seat was empty next week, what would your legacy say to the person who sat in it?
Would it speak of love, of Jesus, of prayer, of perseverance? Would it pull someone closer to Christ?
Today, let’s decide:
Not just to believe in Jesus for ourselves…
But to live in such a way that our faith keeps speaking—even after we’re gone.
Let’s be the ones who leave a legacy that leads others home.
