CBA Graduation 2023: "I am Sure"

Intro:

Class of 2023, you made it! You are here!

Comments about their write ups

Parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, teachers, God used all of you to get us to this point tonight.

You may not be sure how you got here or what you are going to do after here, but there is one thing that is for sure according to Paul...

Having the mind of Christ: Suffering, humble unity, pressing on towards God’s goal, Cares concerns and conflicts

Outline:

Prayer: “I Thank my God” (vs. 3-4)

Partnership: “In the Gospel” (v. 5)

Promise: “He who began…will complete” (v. 6)

Summary:

Prayer:

Prayer: “I Thank my God” (vs. 3-4)

Thankful Remembrances of Joy (vs. -)

I thank my God: Paul and Timothy- both men have a story of what brough them to Philippi. Acts

Paul: a very religious and moral individual, at one point hated Jesus, and then came to love and serve him

Timothy: Mom was a believer, Dad was not. Paul picked him up on his way to Philippi. This was the first city that he went to with Paul. He didn’t make the decision to go there, but it profoundly influneced his life!

In all my remembrances- we just heard of some of your greatest memories.

Always in every prayer of mind for you all

Making my prayer with joy- Wow, what could possibly bring about this response every time he prays? There were some hard times for Paul in Philippi, He was beaten and put in prison. Remember, him and Silas singing until mid-night and then the earthquake.

The amount of times they made it to school on time?

The grades and assignments finished?

The performances in sports and at CASSO?

Graduates, do you know what brings about the most joy to your teachers and parents?...

Partnership: “In the Gospel” (vs. -)

In the Gospel (vs. -)

Because of your partnership- not a one sided thing!

in what…the Gospel!

The Gospel is so important, Jesus is so important!

If you have not joined in partnership with Jesus, what is preventing you?

From the first day until now

We heard how many years you all have been here, the time between Paul’s first visit and this letter is about 10 years

Promise: “He who began…will Complete” (vs. -)

p1 (vs. -)

For I am sure of this

That He who began a good work in you

Will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ

Application/Implications:

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

We have prayed for you and we are going to do that in a moment

Graduates, don’t let these be the best years of your life, Just like Paul was excited to see there partnership in the gospel over 10 years, we would love to see you continuing that partnership for the next 10 years. You are going to partner with a lot of people over your lifetime, the most important partnership is with Jesus!

As sure as you are of that diploma that you are holding and the rewards for accomplishments, you can be sure that what Jesus starts, He always finishes. And the wonderful thing, is that He is not finished yet!

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Pray for the graduates, if you want to come up and stand behind your student, put your hand out towards them, or just pray for them where you are, we are going to have a moment of prayer.

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