Living in the Light with Anne Graham Lotz

Episode: Living In The Light - 2/15/2026
Date: February 15, 2026
Main Theme: Passing the Baton of the Gospel – Lessons from Genesis 5

Overview

In this episode, Anne Graham Lotz draws inspiration from Genesis chapter 5, using the metaphor of a track and field relay race to illustrate the vital importance of passing along the "baton" of the gospel. Through exploring the early chapters of Genesis and the spiritual legacies of Adam, Eve, Abel, Seth, and Enosh, Anne emphasizes the foundational truths of the gospel message, the necessity of personal conviction, and the courage required to stand for faith even in hostile times. Her teaching challenges listeners to remember who introduced them to Christ and inspires them to “run their segment” by actively passing faith to the next generation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Relay Race as a Gospel Metaphor

(01:00 – 06:00)

• Anne compares the sharing of the gospel to a 4x100 relay race:
  • “The team that wins the race is not only the team that runs the swiftest, but the team that passes the baton the smoothest.” (04:20)
  • Dropping or mishandling the baton leads to disqualification—similar to failing to faithfully pass the gospel.
• She illustrates with a story of the 1936 Berlin Olympics and Jesse Owens, drawing a parallel between courage under persecution and living out one’s faith.

Returning to the “Starting Blocks”: Genesis 1–3

(06:00 – 14:00)

• Anne recaps creation and humanity’s fall:
  • God created humans in His image, “with the capacity to know him in a personal relationship.” (09:20)
  • The fall introduced sin, shame, and separation—requiring a blood sacrifice for restoration.
• God’s solution:
  • After Adam and Eve sinned, He clothed them in animal skins—“teaching them…that in order to cover themselves before God, blood had to be shed.” (12:10)
  • God gives the first prophecy of the Messiah: “there would come a seed of a woman who would crush the serpent’s head… [and] in the process, his heel would be bruised, he would be wounded.” (13:00)

The Baton Gripped by Adam, Relayed to His Sons

(14:00 – 19:30)

• Faith transition moves from direct (face-to-face) to generational (faith to faith):
  • Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel, respond differently:
    • Cain rejects God’s method, choosing his own.
    • Abel receives the gospel as taught by his parents, offering a blood sacrifice in faith.

Personal Conviction: Abel Receives the Gospel

(19:30 – 22:45)

• Anne asks listeners to reflect on their own spiritual lineage:
  • “Who first told you about the cross?... Can you remember who passed the baton of the gospel to you?” (20:30)
• Anne’s testimony:
  • She received Christ after watching a film about Jesus as a child: “I knew that Jesus had died for me. I knew I was a sinner… I asked Jesus to be my Savior and I put my faith in him.” (21:20)
  • She stresses that coming to God must be on His terms—through Jesus: “You know you cannot come to God on your own terms, right? You come to God the way he says or you don’t come.” (22:05; also repeated in the opening)

Courage of Conviction: Abel as the First Martyr

(22:45 – 28:30)

• Abel not only believed but stood by his faith even when falsely judged and persecuted by Cain:
  • “You have to have courage to stand by your convictions. You have to have the courage to speak out about what you believe, even if you’re rejected by those within your own family… even if it requires the ultimate price of your life, Abel still speaks even though he’s dead.” (25:14)
  • Hebrews 11:4: “By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice… and by faith, he still speaks, even though he is dead.” (25:25)
• Anne notes Abel’s singleness, and that faith is “passed to the next generation,” whether to relatives or others God places in our path.

The Spiritual Remnant: Seth, Enosh, and the Generations of Faith

(28:30 – 39:10)

• Genesis 5 records the genealogy of the faithful—distinguished from the line of Cain (Genesis 4) by God’s recording of their years, signifying meaning and spiritual heritage.
• “These are the men of faith from generation to generation… the years of their lives are carefully recorded because they mean something.” (30:20)
• Enosh (“strange names,” Anne jokes) is highlighted:
  • At his birth, “men began to call on the name of the Lord”—meaning true worship began to take root again.
  • The faith passed “from Seth, from Abel, from Adam and Eve” set this pattern of worship.

Living out Faith in a Wicked World

(39:10 – 44:00)

• Anne draws a parallel between the days before the flood and today’s world:
  • “The civilization these men are living in was one that was absolutely hostile to the gospel. Godless, wicked, evil—like our day.” (40:40)
  • “It can’t be any harder today than it was for them in that Cain civilization. The thing that makes it so hard today is the social media… But God is still God, and the gospel still has power to change lives.” (42:00)
• The importance: Each generation must “be convinced of the truth… have the courage to stand up for it… live out their commitment in a wicked world.” (43:00)

Choosing to Worship for Yourself

(44:00 – 46:15)

• Worship and faith must be personally embraced:
  • “When did you step out from behind your parents’ shadow and make their faith your own?” (45:35)
• The example of faithful ancestors and the contrast with the godless line of Cain are presented as lessons for today’s listeners.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the necessity of blood for forgiveness:

  • “In order to cover themselves before God, blood had to be shed.” (12:10)

• On gospel conviction:

  • “You know you cannot come to God on your own terms, right? You come to God the way he says or you don’t come.” (22:05, repeated opening and midpoint)

• On courage in faith:

  • “You have to have courage to stand by your convictions… even if you’re rejected by those within your own family… even if it requires the ultimate price of your life.” (25:14)

• On passing the baton:

  • “We have received the gospel from whoever went before us… then we’re responsible for passing the baton of the gospel to somebody else—specifically to someone in the next generation.” (08:10)

• On spiritual heritage:

  • “These are the men of faith from generation to generation… the years of their lives are carefully recorded because they mean something.” (30:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Track & Field Metaphor Introduction: 01:00 – 06:00
• Genesis 1–3 Creation & Fall: 06:00 – 14:00
• Adam, Eve, Cain & Abel: 14:00 – 22:45
• Anne’s Personal Testimony: 20:30 – 21:20
• Abel’s Martyrdom & Conviction: 22:45 – 28:30
• The Spiritual Remnant & Genealogies: 28:30 – 39:10
• Living in a Wicked World: 39:10 – 44:00
• Choosing Personal Faith: 44:00 – 46:15

Conclusion

Anne Graham Lotz’s message is a passionate challenge for listeners to be deeply convinced of the gospel’s truth, have the courage to stand up for their faith—even under pressure or persecution—and be intentional in passing the gospel on to others. The faithful examples from Genesis endure “even though they are dead,” and, as Anne emphasizes, the call for each believer is to receive, hold, and pass the gospel baton until we, too, have finished our race.

For more resources or to share your story, visit Anne Graham Lotz’s website.