Leaving a Legacy
Ben Johnson - May 31, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:10–12 (NLT) – For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.”
The greatest legacy is not what people REMEMBER about us, but what God was able to do THROUGH us.
1. Missions is built through SACRIFICE.
John 12:24 (ESV) – “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
2. Legacy is built through SURRENDER.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) – “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
3. Legacy lives on through PEOPLE.
Psalm 145:4 (NLT) – Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.
CHOOSE a legacy of SIGNIFICANCE.
Life Group Discussion & Questions
BREAKING THE ICE: What’s something someone did for you that impacted your life in a lasting way? Why do you think that moment or person stayed with you?
DIGGING IN: Read 2 Corinthians 9:10-12 together. What stands out to you about the way God views generosity and impact? Why do you think generosity produces “thanksgiving to God” in others?
1. In the message Ben said, “Missions is built through sacrifice.” What are some sacrifices people make so others can encounter Jesus? What makes sacrifice so difficult sometimes?
2. What do you think it means to surrender your life to God? Examples might be control, security, resources, dreams or comfort. Have you ever seen God use something you surrendered for a greater purpose?
3. The message emphasized that legacy lives on through people, not possessions. Why do you think people are tempted to build significance around success, status, or accumulation? At the end of your life, what kind of impact do you hope remains because of how you lived?
4. What would it look like for you to “choose a legacy of significance” right now? Is there a step of generosity? A person to invest in? A place God may be asking you to surrender more deeply? A way to serve community?
BRINGING IT HOME: As you wrap up, take a few moments to pray for one another. I want to encourage you to lift up the needs of your group, your families, and the legacy God is calling each of you to. Ask God to guide you as you live out His purpose and leave an eternal impact.