Senior Send-Off

Quick Background

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last message to the Israelites as he is about to die and pass the baton of leadership to Joshua, his protege. The people of Israel are camped just outside of Canaan and they’re eager to cross the Jordan River to go and take the land promised to them generations before. But I don’t know if you’ve ever fought a war before but it’s scary. This new land that stands before them will not be easy, treacherous, even. There are going to be people that get in their way and put them down for their faith in the God who has brought them this far and there is going to be a lot of failures and mess ups, so they are tasked with the challenge of clinging to He who will see them the rest of the way. Moses encourages them in Deut. 31:6-8 with these promises: READ TEXT

In All That Lies Ahead the Lord Will be With You

Seniors, tonight is a celebration of your passing on to a new season of life as you experience a new kind of freedom as adults. For many of you, this feels as if you’re finally beginning to start your life. Many of you probably feel excited to see what comes next as you go to college, move away, get full time jobs, get married eventually. Or maybe you might even feel worry or fear as there are a plethora of new responsibilities you’ll take on and challenges that will come

The truth about the next step though, is that, your faith will be tested, and there will be people that intentionally try to shake your faith, some of them will be your professors, and there will be things that you do where you are alone, but if your faith is truly your own, you will have an incredible source of strength and courage.

You will have Christ, our conqueror with you and in you. So be strong and courageous as Moses commands the Israelites. Do not fear what lies ahead, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, rather He will keep you.

But in all that you do, know that God is going with you just as He was with the Israelites on the verge of taking the Holy Land.

As you apply for those scary universities or trade schools know that God is with you!

As you apply for that big job know that God is with you!

When the friends that you’ve seen every single day for the past ten years will not be there anymore know that God is with you!

Cling to your faith, seniors, for at some moments, it will be all you have.

In All That Lies Ahead Lead Well

Now I have a message for the now juniors, upcoming seniors

In this text, Moses commands Israel to not fear but trust in the Lord as they enter the Promised Land, but then he directs his message to Joshua by giving him the same message but when a leader is given instructions, they are held to a much higher standard than the people they lead because they are the example.

What if a cop doesn’t wear his seatbelt, a teacher doesn’t study, or a pastor doesn’t read the Bible. How can they demand these things from those they lead?

Juniors, next year you will be top dog. The younger classes will look at you and how you are living out your faith and they will be influenced by it.

So as the seniors now pass the baton of leadership on to you, Juniors, lead well.

Moses, being the one God used to lead His people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and establish His law, left some large shoes for Joshua to fill. I want to challenge you juniors to leave big shoes for the now sophomores to fill.

Conclusion

Seniors go ahead and come up front because we want to pray for you all as we send you off. Remember to cling to the Lord and know that He is going with you even now, and He will not leave you nor forsake.