Year Chapel Sermon

Who! What! Why?

1. who you are!

Colossians 3:1-4
v1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
v2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
v3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
v4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

a. v3 - you died - past tense
b. v1 - raised with Christ - present tense
c. v3 - your life is now hidden with Christ - present tense
e. v4 - Christ, who is your life - present tense
e. v4 - appear with him in glory. - future tense

Remember you are His ambassadors as well as ambassadors of the College, even during vacation time!

2. what you do!

2 Timothy 4:5 - But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

a. Be steady - keep your head in all situations. We do this by reading God's word and praying. The more we do it, the more we want to do it. The less we do it, less we feel like doing it, even though we should be doing it. Keep reading Christian books to expand your thinking yet keeping your doctrine and faith pure.
b. Persevere - endure suffering & hardship. It comes to us all. Paul was at the point of being martyred. Tradition tells us he was beheaded soon after this letter was written. Revelation 21:4 - He will take your head in His hands and wipe away your tears...
c. Evangelise - We are not all called to be evangelists, but we are all called to spread the good news of Jesus. When waking up in the morning, as part of your prayers ask for opportunities to arise where you can share your faith with others. People really are interested in discussing religion and in particular about your point of view and why you are at a bible college.
d. Work - do your duty - God wants you fulfil your chosen ministry - whether that is youth work, kids work, family work etc. It may or may not be successful, but God is not interested in that - He requires faithfulness to Himself, and "success" will surely follow if we are faithful to Him.

3. why you do it!

2 Timothy 4:8 - Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

v8 crown of righteousness, our award and reward. This is our prime motivation. God declaring us righteous so that we may live with Him forever and ever and ever (Rev 21:1-4).

Revelation 21:1-4
v1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
v2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
v3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
v4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Remember...

It maybe vacation time from College, but not vacation time to stop remembering

who you are!
what you do!
why you do it!

Dave G Roberts 28/06/2005