Thursday, January 28, 2010

Sunday Sermon Notes 1.24.10

What's your deathdate?

Everybody knows their birthdate, but do you know your deathdate? Of course you don't! But...

Even though we don't know when we'll die, we know we won't be living forever on this Earth. We'll die someday. At least by... when?

Do you think you'll make it to at least 90? 80? 70 is the average. So how old are you now, today? How many years till you hit 70? Or 80? If I make it till 80 I've got 45 years left. What will I do with 45 years? What will you do with the years you have left?

When we think that we have all the time in the world, we tend to squander our time. Life is a gift of God. And Jesus Christ is our model for how to make the most of our short, swift days. Jesus has garnered the reputation of walking in peace, of being generous with love - and all this with only 33 years under his belt.

What kind of reputation will we have when we die?
What kind of reputation will we build with the years we have left?

Paul outlines some key tasks for the man, for the woman, who wants to make the most of the years they have left on this Earth with the people God has put in their life to influence. The saint of Tarsus writes:
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.
Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.
It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. 
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way
When you consider what constitutes a great life - well, Paul sums it up best. When you contemplate what kind of habits and practices will produce a fruitful, good life, Paul's recipe is best. And it all starts with an acceptance of the way of Christ in the world.

Here's something else to ponder, it's a thought taken from a letter written to Hebrew Christians in distress:
Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

If we don't ever think about death, we haven't really thought about our life. Death can be a motivator for making the most of these days. But what we do with these days has consequences for the life to come. For the Christian, we hope in the resurrection when Christ returns.

What we do with our life these days will shape our anticipation and celebration when Christ returns. Our bodies are like a seed for the resurrection body, and our deeds are like seeds for the life to come. What we do today matters for a long, long, long time. So whatever you do...

Your Life Together with the people God has brought to you – are they a Gift or do you take them for Granted?

Who are you Becoming on purpose, or are you just Drifting? Love and Peace come from intentional choices made moment by moment day after day.

Jesus’ Same Spirit of Adventure is available to you these days. Are you bored? Are you wandering? Make the most of your days - let Him lead you forward.

Is Death for you a . or a ; ? Do you fear death? Do you accept death? Does it motivate for the good? Does it paralyze you for too long?

Resurrection… do you hope for it?

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