PS: CRAIG LOTZE | OCTOBER 18, 2026
Legacy is something passed down from one generation to the next. It is what we leave behind and what continues to speak long after we are gone. When we look at Jesus, we see the greatest legacy builder of all time. Everything Jesus did was for those who would come after Him. He gave His life so that we could experience salvation, know the love of the Father, and walk in His promises.
Jesus lived for us, died for us, and left a legacy that continues to transform generations. The question is, how do we build a legacy that will continue to speak long after we are gone?
We Pass on a Legacy Through What We Say
Our words have the power to outlive us. What we speak today can become an encouragement, a lesson, or a foundation for someone else's tomorrow.
Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Abel still speaks to us today, even though he lived thousands of years ago. Both Abel and Cain brought offerings to God, but Abel's offering was accepted while Cain's was not. Abel offered his gift by faith, and his offering became a testimony that continues to teach us about worship and obedience.
We must be careful with our words because what we say to our children, families, and those around us can shape their faith and future. Will our words build people up, encourage them to trust God, and remind them of who they are in Him?
In Matthew 26:6–13, a woman came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and poured it over His head. Some criticized her, believing the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended her, declaring that she had done a beautiful thing for Him. He also said that wherever the Gospel was preached throughout the world, what she had done would be told in memory of her.
Others saw waste, but Jesus saw worship. She was willing to give extravagantly because she believed Jesus was worthy. Her act of devotion became a story that would be remembered for generations.
What is Memorial?
The word memorial carries the idea of remembrance, of calling something to mind and keeping its significance alive. As we get older, we write things down, take pictures, and record stories because we understand how easily memories can fade. God also wants us to remember what He has done and share those testimonies with future generations.
Acts 10:1–4 tells us about Cornelius, a devout man whose prayers and gifts to the poor came up as a memorial before God. His generosity and devotion were not forgotten. God saw his faithfulness and used it as part of a greater story that would bring the Gospel to his household.
Your testimony matters. Your lessons matter. The things God has brought you through may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Legacy says, “I am here now, and I am going to make things better for those who come after me.”
We Pass on a Legacy Through What We Value
Every generation has a responsibility to make things better for the next. We receive wisdom, opportunities, and blessings from those who came before us, and we have the privilege of passing something meaningful to those who follow.
Sometimes people do not share their stories because they believe their experiences are not valuable enough. They compare their lives with others and assume they have nothing worth passing on.
But your story is a million-dollar story.
Think about a work of art. Its value is often reflected in what someone is willing to pay for it. God has already demonstrated your value through the price He paid for you.
John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God did not demonstrate His love through words alone. He gave His Son so that we could have eternal life. Your value is not determined by your accomplishments, your income, or your mistakes. God loved you enough to pay the ultimate price for your redemption.
You have more to pass on than you realize. The wisdom you gained through a difficult season may help someone else. Your testimony of God's faithfulness may strengthen another person's faith. Your experiences, lessons, and stories are valuable because God can use them to impact others.
The Power of Multiplying Seeds
Legacy is also connected to the principle of sowing and reaping. When God provides for us, some of what He gives is meant to meet our needs, such as bread for food and clothes to wear. But He also provides seed for sowing.
2nd Corinthians 9:6–7 teaches us:
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
God calls us to give with willing hearts, not reluctantly or under pressure. When we bring our offerings, we can give with faith, trusting that our loving Father cares for us and can use our generosity to bless others.
Jesus taught in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye meet with it shall be measured to you again.”
We can trust God for provision and breakthrough in our finances while remaining faithful and wise stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Giving is not simply a transaction to guarantee a particular return. It is an expression of our faith, love, and willingness to participate in God's work.
God's desire is not simply to bless us so that we can accumulate more for ourselves. He wants to make us a blessing to others. As He promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”
2nd Corinthians 9:10 reminds us, “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
God provides bread for our needs and seed for sowing. That seed may be a financial offering, but it can also be our time, encouragement, wisdom, prayer, or service to others. When we invest in people and give faithfully, we plant seeds that can produce fruit beyond our immediate circumstances.
We may not see the full harvest in our lifetime, but that does not mean our seeds are wasted. Just as the woman's extravagant offering became a testimony remembered throughout the world, our faithful actions can continue to impact generations.
Expect the enemy to try to distract you through fear, discouragement, comparison, and criticism. Do not allow these things to convince you that your contribution is too small. There is joy in giving, serving, teaching, and watching others grow because you chose to invest in them.
We cannot control every circumstance or determine exactly how every seed will grow, but we can choose to sow faithfully and trust God with the harvest.
Build Something That Outlives You
Jesus is the ultimate example of a Legacy Builder. He did not live for His own comfort or recognition. He came to fulfill the Father's purpose and make a way for us to have eternal life. His words continue to teach us, His sacrifice continues to save, and His love continues to transform lives.
So, what are you building today? Are you speaking words that strengthen the next generation? Are you sharing the lessons God has taught you? Are you investing in others and using what God has placed in your hands to bless them?
Do not underestimate your story or the seed you carry. Your words can become someone's encouragement. Your generosity can create opportunities for someone else. Your faith can become the foundation upon which another generation builds.
Legacy is not about making sure everyone remembers your name. It is about making sure that what God has done through your life continues to bear fruit.
You are here today, but your impact does not have to end with you.
Build a legacy through your words, your faith, your generosity, and your willingness to invest in others. The seeds you sow today may become the harvest that future generations live in tomorrow.
Jesus built a legacy that changed the world. Through Him, we have the privilege of building lives that will continue to make a difference for generations to come.
Watch service here
