The Legacy We Leave

Reference

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Sermon Notes

Bulletin 2025-06-22 l 2nd after Pentecost.pdf

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

Elijah said to Elisha,
‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’
But Elisha said,
‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’
So they went down to Bethel.

Then Elijah said to him,
‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’
But he said,
‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’
So the two of them went on.

Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.

Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha,
‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’
Elisha said,
‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’

He responded,
‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’

As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.

Elisha kept watching and crying out,
‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’
But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying,
‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’
When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

Watch the service | Watch the reflection

Text: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Key Verse: When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’

Questions

Legacy leavers: what does that mean for us?

Elijah asked Elisha: “What can I do for you before I go?”

Who has asked you this question? How did that impact you?
What does it look like for us (as individuals and as a church) to be intentional legacy leavers today?

The baton handoff: what could it look like for our church?

The sermon compared this moment in history to a relay race exchange zone.

What specific “baton” (values, resources, experiences, etc.) do you think our generation needs to pass on to the next generation of the United Church?
What could make our handoff strong … or cause us to “drop the baton”?

100 quarters: how do you measure your impact?

Greg is tracking his next 25 years by quarters to be intentional with his legacy.

If you divided your next years into quarters, what would you hope to focus on?
What small step could you take this next “quarter” to leave a meaningful legacy?

Listening across generations: are we asking the right questions?

The sermon invites us to ask: “What can I do for you before I’m gone?”

Who in the next generation could you ask this question to (whether inside or outside the church)?
How do you think asking this question would change the relationship between generations?

God’s work through generations: where do you see hope?

“The Good News is that God will continue the good work God began in us through the generations that follow.”

Where do you see signs that God is already at work in the next generation?
How can that give us hope for the future of the United Church and our role in it?

Prayer prompts

Gratitude for those who came before us

"God, thank you for the legacy of faith and service handed down through the generations …"

Reflect on people in your life and church who have faithfully passed on wisdom, love, and example.
Give thanks for specific names and stories that come to mind.