Sermon Title: How Tall Are You Today?
Sermon Text: Acts 2
Sermon Date: April 20, 2008
Combined Children’s
Message and Sermon
I measured each of the children in
the service so I could see how much they will grow during my three and a half
months away. You see, my sabbatical
begins today after church.
I asked them how much they thought
they would grow and we marked that too.
Then we will see how close they come to predicting their growth.
Adults: how much will you grow while I’m gone? Three and a half months can be the snap of
fingers or an eternity, depending on what is going on in your life.
How much will you grow while I’m
gone? How much will the church grow?
I suspect that some of you are
thinking that you really don’t want to change.
You like things the way they are.
And you know, I do too. I like who we are and how much we care. But I also know that as things change so must
we. I’ve done over 50 funerals in my 7
years here so that means we lose members with those funerals and we lose what
they bring to our church. New people
have come in and they bring new gifts.
That means change.
My hope is that during this
sabbatical time we will not be radically changed, unless that is what God has
in mind for us, but to find more ways to do what we already do well. Love, share, care, learn. Can we do that better? Can we allow God to transform us in order to
be a better version of what we already are?
How much will you grow in the next
three and a half months?
Perhaps you need to let go of some
old hurts. I know that some of you
aren’t speaking to each other from the hurt that happened ten years ago. It’s time to let that hurt go and let God
heal you. Ten years is a long time to
hold a grudge and for we Christians it is ten years too
long. Put the past aside and speak to
the person you’ve avoided for the past ten years. You take the first step and don’t wait for
them to do it. Let go
and let God work in you.
Perhaps you need to let go of some “coulda, shoulda, woulda’s” in your life.
Remember I mentioned my Oz Syndrome last week. If I only had a brain, courage, a heart, a
better job, better health, a new house, a marriage, a divorce, etc. You can’t live in the “If I onlys” and be emotionally healthy. Let go and let God help you find your way
into the healthy present.
Perhaps you need to get out of the
house and get involved in something. We
have plenty of opportunities for growth right here. Singing in the choir. Helping with Children’s Church or the Bread
Giveaway. Volunteering
to be a worship leader or scripture reader. Working with John in
Missions or Melody in Christian Education. Asking Ed what you can do to help around the
building or telling
Or perhaps you have your own idea of
what you can do.
How much will you grow in the next
three and a half months? Let me end with
this: we don’t remain stagnant. We either grow and move ahead, or regress and
go backward. Staying in place doesn’t
really happen. Time and life move on and
so must we. If we don’t move ahead we
fall behind. Losing height is a sign of
aging and while our bodies will indeed do that, our spirit and church does not.
Grow with God this summer and all
the days of your life.