God's Word and My Story

Intro

My name is Andrew Dyck, and I’m the Senior Pastor at SBF in Steinbach

Further introduce myself and the rest of my family (hopefully in chapel)

I’m really exicted to be your speaker this week

We are going to spend a loooooot of time together

But it will be good! And we will learn a lot together

Preparing for this week got me thinking a lot about my grade 9 - 10 experience

Which was a loooooong time ago

Insert hairline joke here

My Story

Grade 10 Stats:

Back when I was in grade 10: *Advance slide for each item*

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was the most popular film

Friends was the top TV show

The majority of Canadians didn’t have the internet; almost all had dial-up; only 7% had broadband

The iPod was released - not the iPhone (2007), but the iPod

The major video game consoles were Nintendo GameCube, PS2, Sega Dreamcast and the original Xbox

The Twin Towers were still standing strong in NYC (until the Fall of my grade 11 year)

So yeah, the world looked a little bit different

This entire exercise makes me feel old:

Now let’s call up Barry Plett to tell us how the world looked when he was in grade 10… no?

It was in 2001 (in-between grade 10 and 11) that my life changed quite drastically

To get a sense of my story, we need to go back to the beginning

My story:

I was born at a young age (har-har)

Talk about being raised in a Christian home, growing up in Landmark, and accepting Jesus into my heart

First significant life change = moving to Dallas, TX

Talk about parents joining Wycliffe, moving down to Dallas (ROUS), formative years turning into a wonderful experience

I had a great friend group, solid church, and even a girlfriend (miracles never cease)

By the end of my grade 10 year, I was truly content

Second signifcant life change = moving to Airdrie, AB

Talk about parents staying with Wycliffe but moving back to Canada; first day in high school gym without knowing a soul; lack of contentment

I was ANGRY that my life was uprooted (social circles are incredibly important)

My parents said that God had asked them to move; so I had an easy target for my anger: God

God’s Word

My family started attending a baptist church in Airdrie

Youth pastor was fairly new; quickly recognized that I was bitter and angry at God

But he didn’t lecture me; make me feel guilty; tell me what to do

Instead, he invited me read my Bible and meet with him each week

Outline the Bible reading plan; get together over Coke/Pepsi

That’s when I learned something crucial: The Bible is powerful

Cf. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

I thought I was just playing along, but my youth pastor knew that I was opening myself up to more than just words

The Holy Spirit used Scripture to soften my heart; focus on things other than just myself; begin to really ask God why he brought me back to Canada

Eventually, I came to trust that God wanted me to be a good witness to others in my school

Mention SYATP; many other good opportunities and conversations

I came to realize that I was a missionary too, just like my parents

And that God still had good things in store for me, even though I couldn’t see it at the time

Moving back to Canada was necessary to go to Prov, meet Karen, have my family and begin my ministry *Share details to help fill time*

Standing here now, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world

A few years later, I learned more about God’s Word when I went treeplanting

Talk about tree planting experience; getting nicknamed “donkey,” being at wit’s end

I NEEDED to read God’s Word to be filled up to go again the next day; I couldn’t do it on my own

Cf. Psalm 63:1-8.

The Bible was truly spiritual and emotional food and water when I needed it most

Sometimes I even feel guilty that I don’t always have the same longing as I did that summer

Segue into Theme

So I think it’s great that you are focusing on Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Hopefully there are chapters in your story that line up with mine, where God has proven how His Word (hold up Bible) can be a true guide and power to change your life

We don’t know for sure who wrote Psalm 119 (could have been David; likely another)

One theory is that the priest Ezra wrote the Psalm 119.

Based on some of the similar themes of his story and the psalm

Even if it wasn’t Ezra, those parallels make it a great place for us to go to learn more

This is exactly what we will do the rest of the week!

Starting tomorrow we will look to the book of Ezra to find more evidence that God’s Word is _________:

A light to my feet and a light to my path

powerful, and can make things happen!

Pray