Holding the Ladder: Investing in the Next Generation

This powerful message centers on our calling to invest in the next generation, using the vivid imagery of holding a ladder to help children and students climb higher in their faith journey. Drawing from 1 Timothy 4:12, we're reminded not to look down on young people because of their age, but instead to look up—supporting them as they reach toward Jesus. The ladder illustration beautifully demonstrates that kids and students need us to hold steady while they climb, creating a safe space for them to grow closer to God. We're challenged to keep our eyes the same size when young people share their struggles with us, listening without judgment so they continue to trust us with their hearts. The message then shifts to Mark 9, where we encounter a father bringing his demon-possessed, mute son to Jesus. This story reveals a profound truth: proximity to Jesus changes everything. The father's desperate 'if you can do anything' is met with Jesus's powerful response that all things are possible to those who believe. The demon could only be cast out through prayer—through closeness to God. We're called to get our kids and students into the presence of Jesus, because that's where transformation happens. The backpack illustration powerfully reveals the hidden weights our young people carry—rejection, comparison, depression, fear, confusion, abuse, and shame—reminding us that we don't raise strong kids by pretending the weight isn't heavy, but by helping them carry it.