I have shared with you before how my grandmother was the one who brought me to church and made sure I learned the teachings of Jesus. She wasn’t just a presence in my life; she was the pioneer of faith in our family. Without her, I wouldn’t be standing here today, and I can’t even begin to imagine how different my life might have been. Her commitment to my faith development shaped the very course of my life. Of course, she also spoiled us with sweet treats and delicious meals—little acts of love that we cherished. But her greatest gift to me wasn’t something she could bake or buy; it was the gift of faith, a legacy that has carried me through life.

It is often said that children are the future, which is true, but that statement can sometimes carry an unintended implication—that older people, grandparents, are the past. This kind of thinking suggests that once someone has lived most of their life, they are no longer needed, and their relevance fades with time. But I want to challenge that assumption today. Not only is it a wrong assumption, but it is also a dangerous one. It is a thought that robs us of understanding the true value of our elders and the essential role they play in shaping the future.

How could children be the future if they didn’t have grandparents to nurture them, care for them, and pass on their wisdom? Grandparents play a crucial role in preserving traditions and values, ensuring that their grandchildren have a future. Grandparents are not relics of the past; they are legacy builders, architects of a future filled with faith, love, and hope. To me, that sounds very much like a futuristic role.

I recently read a sermon that cited a British historian, Professor Gordon Rupp, who was asked how the church could survive the decades of persecution and communist propaganda in Russia. Mr. Rupp answered, “It is largely due to grandparents.” The resilience of grandparents, their ability to withstand adversity and continue to pass on their faith, is truly inspiring. The communists mistakenly assumed that the church was doomed, with no future, because it was mainly made up of old people. But they failed to realize that grandparents often are the ones who pass the faith to their grandchildren and have the most significant impact on their lives. Eventually, the church overcame the communists’ persecution because of how grandparents passed their faith and values to younger generations.

So, when I think about grandparents and their grandchildren, an image that comes to mind is that of a bridge. A bridge is a structure that connects two separate places, allowing safe passage from one side to the other. Without a bridge, the gap would be too wide, too dangerous to cross. The bridge provides stability, security, and a way forward.

In this analogy, grandparents are the bridge between generations. They connect the past with the future, offering the wisdom, guidance, and love needed to navigate life’s challenges. Just as a bridge bears the weight of those who cross it, grandparents carry the responsibility of passing down their faith and values to their grandchildren. They ensure that the next generation can move forward, grounded in the lessons and experiences of those who came before them.

Just as in communist Russia, where the faith of grandparents provided a bridge for the church to survive and thrive despite persecution, in our families, grandparents are the ones who give us a future and guide us across the challenges of life.

But this reality is not always recognized. Sometimes grandparents feel unwanted, unappreciated, and like a burden. I see this when I visit people and hear their stories. They express that they feel they have no value or purpose anymore because of their age. They believe they are done and that there is little left for them to do. But I want to make something clear today: Our divine purpose is not tied to a specific age. It stays with us all the days of our lives. And grandparents, you are the ultimate bridge builders. You are the structure that connects the past to the future, offering the wisdom, encouragement, and confidence to move forward with faith.

Such is the case with Timothy, a gifted preacher and teacher in the early church. Timothy was the apostle Paul’s disciple and quickly emerged as a leader. Though Paul was instructing and guiding him in his calling, Timothy wasn’t exclusively a product of Paul’s mentoring. He was the legacy of his grandmother Lois. Grandma Lois was the one who passed the faith to Timothy’s mom, Eunice, and then to him. As a result, Timothy followed in their footsteps as a faithful disciple of Jesus, with Paul guiding him to be a leader in the church.

Listen to what Paul says about Timothy and Grandma Lois in 2 Timothy 1:1-7:

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.”

And in 2 Timothy 3:14-15:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul gives us a glimpse into Timothy’s life, reminding him—and us—that Timothy is the legacy of a godly heritage through his grandmother Lois. Timothy was the future of the church because he had a family that was actively building that future by nurturing and instructing him in the faith.

This Scripture highlights the importance of faith, legacy, and the vital role grandparents play in shaping future generations.

First, consider Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 1:1-7. He highlights Timothy’s faith, which “lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.” This emphasizes the generational transmission of faith. Timothy’s faith didn’t emerge in isolation; it was nurtured by the sincere and lived-out faith of his grandmother and mother. This teaches us that faith is most effectively passed down through personal, authentic relationships.

Paul also describes this faith as “sincere,” meaning it was genuine and deeply rooted. This reminds us that the faith we pass on must be real and visible in our everyday lives. Our children and grandchildren can discern when our faith is authentic, and it’s this authenticity that has the power to influence them deeply.

Then, in 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul urges Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.” Here, Paul underscores the credibility of those who taught Timothy his faith—his grandmother and mother. This tells us that the influence of grandparents isn’t just in the content of what they teach but in the integrity of their lives as they live out that faith.

Moreover, Paul’s exhortation to “rekindle the gift of God” in Timothy speaks to the ongoing nature of faith. Faith must be nurtured and stirred up continually. This is especially relevant for grandparents who may feel their role has diminished with age. Paul’s words remind us that grandparents play a crucial role in encouraging and nurturing the faith of the younger generation, helping them stay strong in the face of life’s challenges.

In summary, these passages teach us about the blessings of generational transmission of faith, sincere faith, and credibility or authenticity.

I can relate to this story because it somewhat mirrors my own. When I was a child, most of my family were not Christians. However, my grandmother’s faith touched my life, and through me, it touched the lives of my family and friends. My grandmother, like Lois, was a legacy builder. And her legacy lives on, not just in me, but in everyone I’ve had the privilege to minister to.

Friends, none of us are self-made. We are all the product of love, sacrifice, and commitment from those who came before us, those who held us as babies, who spoiled us as we grew up, whose joy was our happiness. This is how we knew—and still know—that we were and are loved.

So, on this Grandparents Sunday, let us honor the “bridge builders” among us. Let us remember people like Grandma Lois, who remind us of our immense impact on our grandchildren and the value and influence grandparents hold in their families. Let us also remember that their work is never done, that their purpose in God’s plan continues through every season of life. They are the ones who help build the future, who push us forward with wisdom, love, and faith.

And to the grandparents here today, thank you. Thank you for your enduring love, unyielding faith, and unwavering commitment to the generations that follow. You are not the past; you are the bridge to the future, and we are eternally grateful for that.