Graduation Sunday

Walking into Your Future: Embracing New Beginnings

We’re in the midst of a great transition of life for a few here today. Graduation. It’s a very coming of age moment. It’s a transition.

And when God transitions us, we should embrace it. We also understand that transitions are a place that we need the help of the Lord in. We can be very vulnerable in transitions.

But I know that while life changes, God's faithfulness remains unchanged. Whatever happened in our past, God doesn’t require us to be shackled by it. And God definitely is wanting our two student graduates, Dawson and Violet, to pursue the new opportunities that He presents.

Throughout Scripture, we see God's planning, preparation, and guidance in the lives of His people, ultimately culminating in Christ, who provides purpose and direction for all believers. Jesus is the embodiment of the hope for our future as we step into new seasons.

Graduation signifies a transition, but with God, every ending is a new beginning filled with hope and divine purpose.

Promised Plans of Prosperity

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God knows the plans He has for us, plans for good and not for evil.

It’s HIS plans - not our plans!

God's plans are geared towards a hopeful future.

I want to encourage our graduates today to trust that their life's journey is under the divine guidance and wisdom of God, who desires you to succeed and flourish in their new beginnings.

“He is not willing that any should perish!”

Pursuing Purpose with Passion

Philippians 3:12–14 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We all have to press toward what God wants for us!

You have accomplished a great thing. We believe that scripture that tells us to give honor where honor is due. Graduating high school is no small thing!

However, this scripture in Philippians tells us the importance of forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead!

I want to encourage our graduates to embrace their future with determination and faith, keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize that God calls them to in Christ.

Perceive Promising Paths

Isaiah 43:18–19 NKJV

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

God is doing a new thing.

He is making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I urge this great church to see and embrace the new beginnings that God is orchestrating.

God specializes in transforming the impossible into possible.

To our graduates: anticipate and embrace change as part of their journey with God.

Conclusion

Invite Dawson Butler and Violet Wright to the front.

I am so very proud of these two.

Dawson - hasn’t been with us all that long, but we’ve grown very attached to him! Speaks his mind. Knows where he’s headed. If he feels something is wrong, he’ll let you know. An absolute riot to have in our student ministry!

Violet - this young lady has as big of a heart as anyone I’ve ever met. She genuinely cares about the people around her. And she is quite a learner, as well.

As a matter of fact, both of these two ask the right questions. They have contacted me for questions and advice about what they’ve got going on in life. They’ve asked questions about what the Bible means about a thing or what’s going on in a given moment in one of our services. They’re reaching after the things of God!

We have to tremendous graduates that we are getting ready to pray over as they have crossed this threshold in life.

They are entering new horizons.

They were celebrated for their academic accomplishments just a while ago in an academic atmosphere.

But today, we are going to cover them spiritually, and pray the glory and the anointing of God over them in a spiritual atmosphere.

And I want you two to hear from Bro. LaRue this morning: that school you have been a part of was important. Your education is important. I’m thankful for it. But this place you’re in today - this body that you are a part of (the Church of the Living God) - is absolutely vitally important. And as an adult, you are now going to have to make the decision on your own: I AM THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH IS ME. AND I WILL NOT LEAVE THE CHURCH.

We’re now going to pray over these students and ask God to bless and order their steps!