Sunday, May 21, 2006
May 21, 2006--New Life and Spring Stuff
Note: This is not a transcript of the sermon delivered. This posting is based upon the loose outline notes used by the pastor in delivering the sermon. Actual sermon may have varied. No recording available. Sorry.
Text: John 11:25-26
This is a funny time of year. You see so many weddings, so many new beginnings. We have graduations. We have the beginnings of new life. I attended a wedding yesterday. A friend of mine got married to her lifetime love. It was special. There is something about brides, in their gowns. Something that no matter who or what, just makes them resplendent. The same for graduating students. Just something special, so full of promise, about this time. The weddings and the graduations signify new life, a new beginning. We feel renewed by these things. We may even remember our own younger days, and be buoyed by seeing others go through the same things we did. However, there is a better feeeling with being born again, committing to Christ.
This earthly feeling of renewal can lead us to an indestructible feeling. How many folks feel love for the first time in spring today and decide to get married before their time? How many people feel indestructible after graduation, and they make a stupid decision to go too fast, to drink too much, etc? How many are sacrificed because of that feeling? How many relationships are sacrificed when one is reminded of younger days? This feeling of earthly renewal, is not always a good thing.
However, renewal through Christ is different. It leads only to salvation. It leads only to a new perspective. It leads to peace, not unbridled desire. It leads to understanding, not malevolence. It leads to a new perspective that we cannot take our times and things for granted. We are on limited time, so we must focus, have a purpose, and serve the Lord.
The earthly renewal fades. As summer turns to fall, we lose that feeling of youth and fancy free. We turn to obligations and the winter ahead. Things don't seem to have the luster they did in Spring and summer. With the renewal of the Spirit, we always feel the joy of the Spirit, even in our sorrows. With the renewal of the Spirit, we bear fruit even in the coldest winter. With the renewal of the Spirit, we realize that all things work to the Good, we see more of God's plan, and it builds our faith, leading to more peace and serentiy.
My prayer is that we will be renewed more and more by the Spirit, and that it wil embolden us, that it will give us power and understanding, that it will bring us closer to God, that it will give us better perspective.
Text: John 11:25-26
This is a funny time of year. You see so many weddings, so many new beginnings. We have graduations. We have the beginnings of new life. I attended a wedding yesterday. A friend of mine got married to her lifetime love. It was special. There is something about brides, in their gowns. Something that no matter who or what, just makes them resplendent. The same for graduating students. Just something special, so full of promise, about this time. The weddings and the graduations signify new life, a new beginning. We feel renewed by these things. We may even remember our own younger days, and be buoyed by seeing others go through the same things we did. However, there is a better feeeling with being born again, committing to Christ.
This earthly feeling of renewal can lead us to an indestructible feeling. How many folks feel love for the first time in spring today and decide to get married before their time? How many people feel indestructible after graduation, and they make a stupid decision to go too fast, to drink too much, etc? How many are sacrificed because of that feeling? How many relationships are sacrificed when one is reminded of younger days? This feeling of earthly renewal, is not always a good thing.
However, renewal through Christ is different. It leads only to salvation. It leads only to a new perspective. It leads to peace, not unbridled desire. It leads to understanding, not malevolence. It leads to a new perspective that we cannot take our times and things for granted. We are on limited time, so we must focus, have a purpose, and serve the Lord.
The earthly renewal fades. As summer turns to fall, we lose that feeling of youth and fancy free. We turn to obligations and the winter ahead. Things don't seem to have the luster they did in Spring and summer. With the renewal of the Spirit, we always feel the joy of the Spirit, even in our sorrows. With the renewal of the Spirit, we bear fruit even in the coldest winter. With the renewal of the Spirit, we realize that all things work to the Good, we see more of God's plan, and it builds our faith, leading to more peace and serentiy.
My prayer is that we will be renewed more and more by the Spirit, and that it wil embolden us, that it will give us power and understanding, that it will bring us closer to God, that it will give us better perspective.
# posted by Mark : 2:16 PM
