Reaching for the Stars

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Reaching for the Stars; NV 5/19/02 AM (1 Thess. 3:11-13)

Jeremy will make a presentation to the graduates, and have a special prayer on their behalf.

PP: Part of our mission as a church is to be a community within which our children come to know Jesus, and thus are prepared for His return.

I.      A HS Graduation is a great milestone in our society.

A.   Several weeks into the school year, I asked my first grader what he thought of school now that he was a seasoned pro. "Oh, I love school," he said. "It's great!" Then, after a brief hesitation, he added, "Well, except for one thing ... I don't really like it when Mrs. Decker tries to teach us stuff."

B.    Life changes when you graduate.

C.   At Milestones align your priorities! Small decisions made during the days milestones will have a long lasting effect.

II.   Reach for the Stars!

A.   Illu – The Prairie Chicken

B.    The message of our text this morning expresses appreciation that planes have passengers.

III.           1 Thessalonians

A.   2:17 – 3:13 (love for one another)

B.    4:1 – 12 (Live right)

C.   4:13 – 5:11 (Be Ready to fly)

D.   B Center piece – 3:11-13

TS] Planes/Passengers (You be ready to fly, and love people enough to try and take as many with you as possible.)  PRIORITIES

I.      C People are Important

A.   12, “May the Lord make you love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else.”

                        1.     “Friends are Friends forever if the Lord is the Lord of them.”

B.    During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one:  "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'Hello'.  I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

C.   Character / Achievement above people

                        1.     If I lie to another person, or step on a co-worker to ensure that I get the promotion its acceptable in our world.

                        2.     It is not acceptable to Christ!

D.   Priority #1 – People are more important than my achievement.

II.   D Preparedness is Important - I must be ready at all cost!

A.   13, “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.”

                        1.     True blamelessness in word and action is the fruit of inner sanctification.

                        2.     *The best way to prepare for the coming of Christ is to never forget the presence of Christ.

                        3.     Reaching for the Stars, being ready to fly is the greatest priority of life. If you miss Christ you have missed life!

B.    Do you really believe with all your heart that Jesus could come back today?

                        1.     On the likelihood that the world will come to an end because of Judgment Day or another religious event in the next century, the percentage who believe it is:

a.   Very likely                        23

b.  Somewhat likely               16

c.   Somewhat unlikely            16

d.  Very unlikely                    41

e.   No opinion                        4

f.    Citation: USA Today /Gallup Poll, September 29-October 1, 1998

                        2.     After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother. "Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?" "Yes." "Could he come this week?" "Yes." "Today?" "Yes." "Could he come in the next hour?" "Yes." "In a few minutes?" "Yes, dear." "Mommy, would you comb my hair?"

                        3.     If you believe anything in the Bible you must believe in the coming of Jesus as well. (pick and choose?)

a.   E 1 Thess. 4:16-17,

b.  2 Thess. 1:7-9 (Gospel)

c.   F&G Matthew 24:36-42

                        4.     Everything in this world has a beginning and an end.

C.   The Question: H “Are You Ready?”

TS] You can take all of life and ball it up together and it all boils down to being ready to fly, and taking as many with you as you can!

There is an old story about a make believe country where only ducks live. On Sunday morning all the ducks came into church, waddled down the aisle, waddled into their pews, and squatted. Then the duck minister came in, took his place behind the pulpit, opened the duck bible and read,"Ducks! You have wings, and with wings you can fly like eagles. You can soar into the sky! Ducks, you have wings! All the ducks yelled,"Amen!" And then they all waddled home.

Don’t do that with this lesson this morning! – you can fly!

“Strengthen your hearts” Where is your heart this morning?

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