Malachi 4:5–6 (NLT) — 5 "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse."

Four things about this passage that are abundantly clear:

1. God cares about GENERATIONS.

1. Jesus cared for children.
   1. "Who is the greatest."
   2. "Children getting blessed" - The disciples were like many churches.
2. Generations are God's GIFT to humanity - We will all die, but he's given us the chance of passing down the truth and growing as we are faithful to generations. 
3. In Scripture, you see that God is a generational God.
   1. Psalm 22:30–31 (NLT) — 30 Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.
   2. Psalm 102:18 (NLT) — 18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.
   3. Psalm 48:13–14 (NLT) — 13 Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. 14 For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.
4. Biblical models
   1. The model of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
      1. He was faithful to visit each generation to secure the promise. 
   2. The model of Aaronic priesthood
   3. The model of Davidic king line

2. A turn must happen in the HEART - "The hearts of fathers."

1. Your heart is the center of your affection, your priority, your focus.
2. One of the great tragedies of a nation is when their hearts are not turned. 
3. One of the great tragedies of a church is when their hearts are not turned. 

3. It starts with the PARENTS.

1. We must take the initiative: If we hope something will happen, it won't. 
2. It starts with EVANGELISM towards young people.
3. It continues with SACRIFICE of time.
4. It continues with JOURNEY.
5. "83% of all Christians make their first commitment to Jesus between the ages of 4 and 14." - International Bible Society
6. "American children ages 5 to 13 have a 32% probability of accepting Christ, but youth or teens aged 14 to 18 have only a 14% probability of doing so. Unbelieving adults age 19 and over have just a 6% probability of becoming Christians." - Barna Research Group
7. It starts with us! 

4. It saves us from the CURSE.

1. One of the HUGE tragedies of the Church is our inability to continue passing down movements generationally.
   1. America has had several great awakenings. 
   2. Many revivals die in a generation.
2. If you have a Moses with no Joshua, you don't even enter the land.
3. If you have an Eli with no Samuel, there is no word from the Lord.
4. If you have a Samuel with no David, there is no one to slay Goliath.
5. If you have an Elijah with no Elisha, there is no one to fight the spirit of Jezebel.