Sermons

Receiving the Baton

Jan Remi Særsland · 13. april 2026

Summary

The sermon focuses on the importance of generational transitions in the church, inspired by the succession between Moses and Joshua. It emphasizes that God calls and equips people to receive the "baton" and lead forward. The speaker identifies three main obstacles to taking on this responsibility: self-disqualification based on lack of talent, disqualification of the church due to its imperfections, and the comfort zone that prevents us from stepping out and serving. The message challenges today's Christians to actively receive God's call, trust His power within us, and view the church as an instrument for God's work, not as a place of comfort.

Listen to the sermon

Key verses

Moses said to the LORD, “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint over the assembly a man who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the assembly of the LORD may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” And the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”

Num 27:15-19

“Assemble for me all the elders of your tribes and your officials, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, for you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”

Deut 31:28

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jer 29:11

“I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Rev 3:15-16

Scripture quotations translated from Bibel 2011 © Bibelselskapet.

Discussion questions

  1. 1.What "batons" has God placed before you, and what is hindering you from receiving them?
  2. 2.How can we avoid disqualifying ourselves or the church, even when we see imperfections?
  3. 3.In what ways can you actively step out of your comfort zone to serve God and your congregation more wholeheartedly?
  4. 4.As a community, how can we better invest in the next generation, just as Moses invested in Joshua?

← All sermons