Sermon Starters provided by Rev. E. Anderson

March 6, 2008 at 10:11 pm (Sermon Starters)

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This is but a sermon starter to get you thinking and studying in relation to the text and theme. Trust it will be provocative and promotive. 

THE BLESSING OF LATER LIFE

READING   92 

It is good to note and know that later life in God does have some distinct advantages.  There are things to be appreciated and valued at this particular point that should serve to the glory of God and to our greater usefulness and blessedness. It is not all up and finished when we reach the final period of our pilgrimage. Much should be in evidence that brings a wonderful finishing touch to life, mission and ministry      

     1/.   LATER LIFE SHOULD SEE US IN A STATE OF HIGHEST WISDOM

One of the great prayers prayed by one of the noble servants of God in the Bible, Moses, was:  “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” – Psalm 90: 12. Again in the book of wise sayings: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding . . .” – Proverbs 3:13-18.  One may not become fabulously rich but we can be become very wise both naturally and spiritually. Age should create and bring about a great deal of wisdom and wisdom contains hindsight, insight and foresight. Knowing where you have come from and lessons learned; knowing where you are and what is actually taking place in your affairs of a Godward nature; knowing where you are going so that you have a clear faith and perspective for all your tomorrows.      

     2/. LATER LIFE SHOULD SEE US FULL OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY

The real spiritual growth and development should have taken place throughout the years in the spiritual and physical sense so that all can note the maximum achievement and be blessed. All the ‘I’ should have gone and the pure and full nature of Jesus Christ be embodied and expressed at every level in every part of our lives every day. We do not make excuse for old age because we possess the life of a new age in us and is to operate in a great manner and measure. The fruit of the Spirit of Christ becomes more evident and productive and there is now a sweetness and freshness that others can taste from our contribution to life and living – Galatians 5: 22-24. Throughout the years there has developed a more conformity to Christ, to His life and input and expectations. 2 Peter 1:3-10; Romans 8: 29. Illustration:  Our house and garden when we took over in 1988 were in a dreadful state and required transformation which duly took place the following years There has got to be the home improvement factor at a personal level. 

    3/.  LATER LIFE SHOULD SEE IS US SERVING IN AN ENCOURAGING ROLE

When we come to the final run in we do not cease to be active and spend out days moaning and murmuring. It is essential to discover the task and assignment that the Lord wills that we should play within the Christian community. We may not be able to play up front in the team and display boundless energies and abilities, but there is an assignment from heaven that He designs that we should function in and fulfill. The Lord does not have an unemployment office nor a scrap or junk yard. No retirement or giving in or up until time called. Illustration:   Colin Montgomery – golf expert teaching 7, 000 youngster        

     4/.  LATER LIFE SHOULD SEE US FULLY PREPARED FOR A SUCCESSFUL  ENTRANCE INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM 

Seeing that we are a step away from eternity we should be making honest and earnest effort to make sure that our exodus is going to be the best possible. There should be no neglect or indolence with regard to getting wholly ready for the next important consideration: heaven and eternity and the prospect of meeting the Lord and experiencing a good judgment both on our lives and service – 2 Corinthians 5:10; “an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” – 2 Peter 1: 11. No one can afford to have any slip-ups on this. God wants us to finish well here so we may enjoy the movement into the greater life, world and kingdom. One is not looking for a coffin but a divine carriage into the eternal scene! 

CLIMAX   ·          We have some thinking to do: what are we going to do with respect to what remains of our lives? Be wise – be mature – be useful – be ready!    ·          Decision and action is called for so that it becomes the most productive period of life – Psalm 92: 13, 14. It is not coercion but choice is required. 

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News and Views edited by Rev. A. Hocking

March 6, 2008 at 9:53 pm (News and Views)

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Rev. A. Hocking

BISHOPS PLAN BOYCOTT OVER GAY DEBATE 

Nearly two thirds of the Church of England’s bishops are considering boycotting next year’s Lambeth Conference because of the row over gay clergy. The conference, held every 10 years at Canterbury, is the formal meeting of the world’s bishops and Archbishops and is the setting for some of its most profound decisions. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had hoped that next year’s conference would form the beginning of a healing process for the Church, which has been torn apart by the row over homosexuality over the last nine years. 

The Church’s 880 bishops were invited to the conference. But by the end of July -the deadline for replies - only a couple of hundred had accepted the invitation. Although the American Episcopal Church decided in late-September to halt appointments of gay bishops and same-sex blessings temporarily, many bishops are expected to join the boycott. 

The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, told the Church of Irelond Gazette that as many as six in 10 senior English bishops would consider a boycott if the US did not back down over blessings for same-sex unions. And according to The Church of E gland Newspaper, up to a third of all bishops worldwide will boycott Lambeth if Dr Williams proceeds to invite the US and Canadian bishops who consecrated Rt Rev Gene Robinson, the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire. 

The debate over the ordination of practicing gay priests erupted at the last Lambeth conference in 1996, where homosexual practice was rejected as incompatible with Scripture and churches were advised against “ordaining those involved in same gender unions”. 

But in 2003 controversy was stirred with the appointment of Robinson. Later that year, the Archbishop of Canterbury set up the Lambeth Commission to look into the crisis. Its report, in 2004, called for the US Church to “repent” for consecrating Robinson. But the Episcopal Church rejected this. 

Dr Williams has asked all Churches to sign a covenant maintaining “biblical standards” of Anglican doctrine. But the debate rumbles on amid fears this autumn that the Church would split by the end of the year, as a leading African archbishop drew up plans to adopt a breakaway group of American dioceses.

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