June 7, 2015
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
Graduate
Sunday
Hebrews
12:1-3 NIV
Romans
5:1-5 NIV
Galatians
5:22-23 NIV
Finishing Just To Begin. . .
Prayer for God’s word
to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
Have you ever played video
games or some of those on-line games? One of the games I have played is Candy
Crush. In order to go on to the next level, you need to finish with a certain
amount of points or collect the right amount of a certain candy. Just when you
think you have finished the game. . . another level pops up. It’s kind of like
schooling. You have to complete. . . to finish. . . a certain level of
education in order to go to the next so that you can acquire a certain degree.
I remember when I was at
Boston University. I had finished my course in United Methodist History only to
have to take United Methodist Polity. I couldn’t take the Polity class unless I
passed the History class. We have some Katahdin High Seniors here with us today
and now that they have completed their “studies” they can now begin a new era
of schooling. This finishing to begin can be a little daunting at times but the
“prize” at the end is worth it. . .
Jesus Himself had a time of ending to begin. In order to
fulfill His purpose, He had to end His life and then rise from the dead, to new
life, in order for us to have a new beginning with God. Jesus ended His
ministry here on earth in order for us to begin our ministry to the least, lost
and forgotten. He had to end His life to begin His new reign over heaven and
earth. He had to end His life in order to fulfill the law and become a new life
as the spotless “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 talks about what happened as He ended to
begin. . . (I am going to ask you to take out your bibles to read along again this
week. . . ) It reads:
Hebrews 12:1-3New International
Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us, 2 fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy
set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.
He became and is the “Author
and Perfecter” of our faith. As we fix our eyes on Jesus. . . we too will be
able to end. . . come to the end of
ourselves. . . only to begin. . . begin
our new life in Christ Jesus.
There are many pieces of
scripture that talks about ending in order to begin. As we come to the end of
ourselves, Romans 5:1-5 tells us we are given peace, hope and grace. . . let’s
read what it tells us. . . turn to Romans
5 in your bibles. . .
Romans 5:1-5New International Version (NIV)
Peace and Hope
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in
the hope of the
glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not
put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
As we persevere we build the
character that we need for our new beginning and as our character builds, so
does our hope. . . we have hope for the
future. . .
The final piece of scripture
I want us to look at this morning comes from Galatians. It talks about what
happens to us. . . what our lives will look like. . . as we come to the end of
the old life and into our new life in Christ. There is a change. . . a renewing
of our minds. . . as we set aside our old ways and pick up new ways in our life.
. . a new character that emerges. . . please open you bibles to Galatians 5:22-23:
Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
There is a change. . . a
shift. . . a new beginning. . . that transpires as we emerge from the cocoon of
faith and into a vibrant child of God. . . ready for the road He has set before
us.
Finishing to begin. . . it
is how we live our lives. We go from one completed task to another knowing that
as we move forward we grow in grace and faith. As we finish to begin, newness
is birthed. It is not easy looking at new beginnings in the light of what is
old and familiar but two things that will always stay the same. . . our God
goes with us and that Jesus will strengthen us for the journey. I would ask
that our Graduates will come forward as we honor them as they finish only to
begin a new life. . . a life that God has put upon their hearts. . . a life
with promise and hope. . . a life that is enveloped in peace and grace through
our Risen Lord Jesus. . . Graduates come forward
Prayer
for and over the graduates. . .
Amen!
Third
Sunday of Pentecost
Graduate
Sunday
Hebrews
12:1-3 NIV
Romans
5:1-5 NIV
Galatians
5:22-23 NIV
and sermon,
“Finishing Just To Begin. . .”
with
presentations by Terry Pettengill and Pastor Ruth Foss
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – crayons
-
“”
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
&
Message by Rick Hill, Chair of Finance Committee
on church budget
&
“Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?”
“Down In My Heart”
“May Jesus Christ Be Praised”
“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” (most of song)
“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” (end of song)
song before offering – “In The Presence”
songs during Communion, “Lord, You Are More
Precious Than Silver”
and “Our God”
prayer after Communion
closing song – “My Jesus, I Love You”
Departing Blessing
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
June 7, 2015
All of my
poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 37,870+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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