Passing the Baton: Discipling the Next Generation to Stand Firm

September 7, 2025

Brothers,


As we approach the end of our “Stand Firm” series and look ahead to our upcoming men’s retreat, it’s time to reflect on one of our highest callings: passing the baton of faith to the next generation. Standing firm is not just about our own perseverance in spiritual warfare - it’s also about equipping those who come after us to do the same.


Perseverance: More Than Endurance


Scripture teaches that perseverance in spiritual warfare is not simply about holding out until the storm passes. True perseverance is an active, ongoing defiance against the schemes of the enemy - a refusal to give up, no matter how hard things get. This is the legacy we are called to leave: men who do not retreat or grow weary, but who continue to trust God, even when the battle is fierce.


“The best way to combat spiritual warfare is to refuse to give up, no matter how hard things get. This act of defiance against the enemy’s schemes is crucial in maintaining our spiritual ground.”


The Next Generation Needs Our Example


The young men and boys watching us are learning how to fight their own battles by observing how we handle ours. If we model bitterness, disappointment, or spiritual apathy, those “weeds” can quickly take root in their lives as well. But if we model confession, repentance, forgiveness, and resilient hope, we plant seeds that will bear fruit for years to come.


Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:13 ring out for every generation:


“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”


How Do We Disciple Others to Stand Firm?


  • Model Perseverance: Let your children, younger men, and peers see you persist in faith, especially in hardship. Share your struggles and victories honestly.
  • Teach Spiritual Readiness: Equip others with the “armor of God”-truth, righteousness, faith, the gospel, salvation, the Word, and prayer.
  • Pray Together: Continuous and vigilant prayer is the key to spiritual vitality and victory. Pray with and for the next generation, teaching them to rely on God’s strength.
  • Encourage Confession and Grace: Show how to deal with sin-not by hiding or excusing it, but by confessing, repenting, and receiving God’s forgiveness.
  • Release Expectations to God: Teach that God’s plans are often different from ours, and that real faith means trusting Him even when things don’t go as we hoped.


A Call to Action


Brothers, as we prepare for our next retreat and the challenges ahead, let’s not keep our faith to ourselves. Let’s intentionally invest in the men and boys around us-at home, in church, and in our community. The enemy will not stop attacking, but together, we can raise up a generation that knows how to stand firm, resist the devil, and walk in victory.


Reflection Questions:


  • Who is watching your example of perseverance and faith?
  • What practical steps can you take this week to disciple or encourage a younger man in the faith?
  • How can you model honest confession, resilient hope, and steadfast prayer in your daily life?


Let’s pass the baton well, so that long after we’re gone, the men who follow us will still be standing firm in Christ.


"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." – 1 Corinthians 16:13