Sunday, July 30, 2023
MORE TO THIS LIFE: Your story 7-30-23
MORE TO THIS LIFE: Your story 7-30-23
INTRODUCTION
God is doing a new thing!
There has got to be more to this life!
The ontological question - What am I? The inevitable question about God
The existential question - Who am I? How should we exist?
Whose are we?
Why are we here?
What is your choice?
What is the point?
My story - How I got here? How we got here?
Corrections
My parents used a record player to play the wedding song.
My brother was born in Iowa.
My family went to an instrumental church for the first time in Illinois.
What is your story?
I. WE MAY UNDERSTAND HOW GOD WANTS TO USE US
A. Our background and history
1. Moses - member of pharaoh’s household, shepherd, leader of God’s people
2. David - giant killer and leader
3. Simon and Andrew - “fishers of men”
B. Our gifts and abilities
1. What we do well.
2. What we do that no one else does.
3. What needs to be done.
C. Our interests and passions
1. What we like.
2. What we love.
A story by Mark Eberly
Often God surprises us to our shame. I remember a couple that shared how they tried to witness and help their neighbor who was a raging alcoholic. They prayed for her and took her under their wing but she seemed hopeless. She might get clean for a little while, but then she went right back to the bottle. Eventually, they began to put some distance between them and her, and even eventually they forgot to pray for her. She seemed hopeless.
After spending the summer in PA, they went back to Florida to find this woman sober for several months. Her countenance had completely changed. She was saved and involved in her church. She was completely different. She even thanked them for all that they had done for her, even though they inwardly were thoroughly embarrassed by their lack of faith. But they were able to celebrate the amazing power of God and God’s continuing ability to surprise us in what seems to be the most hopeless of cases.
God often does His best in unexpected ways.
II. WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW GOD WANTS TO USE US
A. Sometimes God uses our weaknesses and not our strengths
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 NIV
B. We need to understand who we are
“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
Philippians 3:4b-6 NIV
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Timothy 1:12-17 NIV
C. We must be open to use our lesser abilities
“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NIV
I spent last Sunday telling you my story so you would understand that sometimes you have to do what is asked of you even when you don’t want to or feel like you are the best choice. I am your example.
CONCLUSION
Step up and do what needs to be done.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 NIV
The actions of a few are often a clarion call to courage. It requires radical sacrifice and radical commitment to accomplish these things. All that it takes is for one man to refuse to surrender!
Anyone who is familiar with Winston Churchill understands that he was such a man who refused to give in to surrender. His first statement as Prime Minister to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940, was this: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
Three weeks later after the capture of Dunkirk, Churchill rallied his nation with these words:
"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
Five months later, reporting on the war situation to the House of Commons, Churchill said,
"Death and sorrow will be the companions of our journey; hardship our garment; constancy and valor our only shield. We must be united, we must be undaunted, we must be inflexible."
In a unique speech to the London County Council, July 14, 1941, he referred to a "comradeship of suffering, or endurance" and told Hitler and his Nazi forces: "We will have no truce or parley with you, or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst-—and we will do our best." And later, "We shall never turn from our purpose, however somber the road, however grievous the cost."
He stirred the boys of Harrow School that same year on October 29:
"Do not let us speak of darker days; let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days: these are great days-—the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."
He pressed, motivated, and drove his countrymen to a victory over the German armies that bombed and harassed them in World War II. One man can make a difference!
From a sermon by Philip Harrelson, "What the King Desires" on 1/30/2009.
Are we prepared to respond to the clarion call to courage.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
MORE TO THIS LIFE: My story 7-23-23
MORE TO THIS LIFE: My story 7-23-23
INTRODUCTION
God is doing a new thing!
There has got to be more to this life!
The ontological question - What am I? The inevitable question about God
The existential question - Who am I? How should we exist?
Whose are we?
Why are we here?
What is your choice?
What is the point?
Before I enter the 2nd and 3rd phases of this sermon series I need to tell you a story.
I. HOW I GOT HERE
You cannot choose your calling. Your calling chooses you. You have been blessed with special skills that are yours alone. Use them, whatever they may be, and forget about wearing another’s hat. A talented chariot driver can win gold and renown with his skills. Let him pick figs and he would starve.
Og Mandino “The Greatest Salesman in the World”
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
A. My background
1. My family
a. My name
b. Detroit
c. Moving a lot
2. My Christian upbringing
a. Service
b. Commitment
3. My influences
a. Nursing homes
b. Special Olympics
c. Churches
d. Kentucky Christian College (University)
e. Seminary
B. My calling
1. Youth ministry
2. Servants of the Son
3. Warrior - a KCU camp team
C. My preparation
1. Associate ministry in Ohio
2. Preaching ministry in Alabama
3. Pastoral ministry in Tennessee
D. My ministry here
1. Associate ministry
2. Pastoral ministry
II. HOW WE GOT HERE
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:28-31 NIV
A. A church split a long time ago
B. A people without a church home
C. A new people gathered to change the world
The actions of a few are often a clarion call to courage. It requires radical sacrifice and radical commitment to accomplish these things. All that it takes is for one man to refuse to surrender!
Anyone who is familiar with Winston Churchill understands that he was such a man who refused to give in to surrender. His first statement as Prime Minister to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940 was this: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
Three weeks later after the capture of Dunkirk, Churchill rallied his nation with these words:
"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
Five months later, reporting on the war situation to the House of Commons, Churchill said,
"Death and sorrow will be the companions of our journey; hardship our garment; constancy and valor our only shield. We must be united, we must be undaunted, we must be inflexible."
In a unique speech to the London County Council, July 14, 1941, he referred to a "comradeship of suffering, or endurance" and told Hitler and his Nazi forces: "We will have no truce or parley with you, or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst-—and we will do our best." And later, "We shall never turn from our purpose, however somber the road, however grievous the cost."
He stirred the boys of Harrow School that same year on October 29:
"Do not let us speak of darker days; let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days: these are great days-—the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."
He pressed, motivated, and drove his countrymen to a victory over the German armies that bombed and harassed them in World War II. One man can make a difference!
From a sermon by Philip Harrelson, "What the King Desires" on 1/30/2009.
Are we prepared to respond to the clarion call to courage.
III. WHERE WE GO FROM HERE
“I somehow sensed that destiny was waiting … a hunger had been birthed in my heart that just wouldn’t go away. The gnawing vacuum of emptiness in the midst of my accomplishments just got worse. I was in a frustrating funk, a divine depression of destiny…I just sensed that something awaited us from God.”
Tommy Tenney in “The God Chasers: My Soul Follows Hard after Thee”. Destiny Image Publishers, 1998. Chapter 1.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
A. What does God want us to do?
B. How to accomplish His plan for us?
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan
C. Let’s consider 3 important factors
1. Identity
2. Integrity
3. Intentionality
CONCLUSION
How I got here. How we got here. Where we go from here.
For Paula and I, our world has been turned upside down, but we know that the One who makes the world go round is with us still. He is with us all.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.