Graduation 2019: Kairos: Defining Moments

Opening

I haven’t been your Bible teacher this year, but I got to last year, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to have one last shot at teaching you something to take with you. So I’m going to do this by telling a story. To be honest, I don’t know if I told you this story last year. But here goes:

Separating my shoulder playing football.

This was a defining moment for me, because I realized that I really wasn't invincible.

In Scripture, there is a Greek word that is used for moments like those. That word is "kairos".

A "kairos" is a moment that defines a quality or characteristic of something or someone. It's when things are brought to a crisis: and following that moment of crisis, things are never the same for that person or thing.

This is a "kairos" for you. After tonight, you will no longer, never again, be 8th graders at Eastern Hills. Tonight, that becomes what you were, no longer what you are. This moment is going to define a characteristic about your education, about your maturity, and about the path you're about to take. You can never, never go back. It's a "kairos".

Tonight, we're going to quickly look at a couple of "kairos" times in the life of Peter. But first we're going to look at something a "kairos" ISN'T.

1) A "kairos" isn't based on what you THINK you'll do in a moment.

Matthew 26:31–35 CSB

31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.

- At this point, Peter might have told you that this was a "kairos" for him. They have had the Last Supper, Jesus has washed their feet, and Peter makes this bold statement after Jesus tells him (and the rest of the disciples) that they are going to run away from him that night.

At this point, Peter might have told you that this was a "kairos" for him. They have had the Last Supper, Jesus has washed their feet, and Peter makes this bold statement after Jesus tells him (and the rest of the disciples) that they are going to run away from him that night.

To put this together with my football story, I thought that I wouldn't get hurt. I thought that I would catch the ball and be a hero. I even thought that I wasn't hurt after the initial landing. But what I thought didn't make one bit of difference. What happened did.

You probably have some ideas about what you're going to face in high school. You might be right. You might be wrong. Regardless, you're going to face many "kairos" times: situations that will have the opportunity to define you in some way.

You might even think that you know how you're going to respond to those situations of temptation or stress. But before we talk about "kairos" any further, I want you to understand that what you THINK you're going to do isn't what defines you. You'll be defined, by others, and often even in your own mind, by the ACTIONS you take.

Don't get me wrong: you need to have a plan for facing those situations. How are you going to respond when you're invited to that party? Or when that cute guy asks you out? Fill in your own tempting situation here. A plan is great. But a plan is only as good as the actual EXECUTION of that plan. That's what makes it a "kairos"!

Peter had a plan. He heard what was coming. He thought he was ready. But this wasn't his "kairos".

2) A "kairos" can have NEGATIVE results.

Luke 22:54–62 CSB

54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. 59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

This was Peter's "kairos". His plan was one thing. His actions said something else.

- This was Peter's "kairos". His plan was one thing. His actions said something else.

And it was certainly a "kairos" moment. Even the angel speaking to the women at the tomb as recorded in the book of Mark told them, "But go, tell His disciples and Peter..."

He had blown it. His "kairos" came, and he denied his Lord, his best friend. It only took a moment, and his entire life was changed.

I want you to understand that sometimes a "kairos" has very negative results, results that can last for a LONG time. And it only takes a moment for that to happen.

That day that I separated my shoulder was a "kairos" for me: it defined my shoulder as damaged. Following that moment, my shoulder has never been the same. I have never been able to throw as hard, or for as long. It eventually messed up my other shoulder, and now I have arthritis in both. It also took its toll on my neck and upper back. One moment, over 20 years ago, that I'm still living out the consequences of.

Some of you had some negative “kairos” moments this year. I’m not going to go into them, but you know what they are. Moments that negatively impacted your school year in some way. But most of these have been small time “kairos” moments. Sure, they impacted your 8th grade year, but that’s mostly it.

When you go off into high school, and the rest of your life, you're going to have a bunch of "kairos" times that could have a profoundly negative effect on your future. You'll have "kairos" times that will affect your reputation with your peers and your teachers. You'll have "kairos" times that will affect your relationship with your parents. You'll have "kairos" times that will affect your very life, especially once you get your driver's license. If you approach those moments foolishly, then the results of those "kairos" times could last for the rest of your life, or the rest of someone else’s life. The stakes have changed.

Paul says this in :

Ephesians 5:15–17 CSB

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

"Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk -- not as unwise people but as wise -- making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

He says to make the most of the "kairos"... the defining moment. He says that you should be pay careful attention, that you should be wise, that you should understand the will of The Lord. That's how you'll avoid the results of unwise, evil, foolish choices when you face a "kairos".

- He says to make the most of the "kairos"... the defining moment. This shouldn't be a shock to you: we just talked about it a couple of weeks ago with our tape illustration. He says that you should be pay careful attention, that you should be wise, that you should understand the will of The Lord. That's how you'll avoid the results of unwise, evil, foolish choices when you face a "kairos".

Here's the good news about "kairos" times:

3) A "kairos" can have POSITIVE results.

John 21:15–19 CSB

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. 16 A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. 18 “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

Peter had denied Christ three times. And now, Jesus presents Peter with another "kairos". He restores him to fellowship and service as many times as Peter had denied Him. Peter's life is again redefined.

- Peter had denied Christ three times. And now, Jesus presents Peter with another "kairos". He restores him to fellowship and service as many times as Peter had denied Him. Peter's life is again redefined.

Following this "kairos", Peter is never the same. In the book of Acts, we see him preaching with great boldness, even in the face of persecution and death. We see him healing people in the name of Christ. We see him leading the fledgling Christian Church through amazing growth.

I've had many positive "kairos" times in my life: coming to faith in Christ, my wedding, the birth of each of my girls, starting in student ministry, being called to pastor Eastern Hills. All of these have in some way redefined who I am as a person.

Maybe this year you’ve had some of these types of “kairos” moments: maybe the mission trip to Honduras, maybe some other moment that changed the course of your education or maybe even your life in a positive sense.

The same holds true in this aspect of your impending high school career. Those same opportunities for negative consequences might have opportunities for positive results as well. Maybe you’ll have the opportunity to positively impact not just your own life through some of these moments, but the life of the lives of others as well.

The best example of a positive "kairos" in Scripture is what Christ did on the cross for us. According to :

Romans 5:6 CSB

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

"For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly."

Christ redefined our helplessness, giving us hope for salvation. And this was done at just the right “kairos.” This is huge! There is no greater positive result of a "kairos" possible. I just want to be clear with you right now, parents and students: if you’ve never had that “kairos” of faith in Christ that now defines you, today is the day of salvation. Jesus died for the ungodly, you and I, so that we could be reconciled to God. Surrender your life to Jesus if you never have before.

- Christ redefined our helplessness, giving us hope for salvation. This is huge! There is no greater positive result of a "kairos" possible.

Closing

So the choice is yours: How are you going to live? What are you going to choose? Will you let your "kairos" times define your life positively, or negatively?

Our prayer is that Eastern Hills has given you a foundation to build upon, that you have been prepared to choose wisely in the "kairos" moments you are going to face, and that you will be a positive element in the "kairos" moments that your friends will face as well.

Don't waste them. Those moments have huge meaning and incredible possibilities.

We are proud of you, and we love you.

Prayer