Senior Send-Off

You have the incredible responsibility and privilege to represent Christ with your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 CSB

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 1:27 CSB

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,

Living for Christ is not a burden, it is a joyful privilege.

You among all the people in the world have been chosen by Him!

2. If you aren’t careful good things will become God things.

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

1 John 5:21 CSB

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Idols are everywhere, if you don’t guard yourself from them, you will become entrapped by them.

An idol is anything that you love, want, and desire more than God.

3. Who you are becoming matters more that what you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 CSB

1 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Your occupation or status are secondary to your character.

4. You will become like the people you surround yourself with.

1 Corinthians 15:33 CSB

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Proverbs 22:24–25 CSB

24 Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one, 25 or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Romans 16:17 CSB

17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them,

Philippians 3:17 CSB

17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

5. If you stand for your faith, you will at some point face ridicule, be outcast, and possibly be persecuted.

Stand firm to the end!

2 Timothy 3:12 CSB

12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Matthew 10:22 CSB

22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:33 CSB

33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 2:9 CSB

9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.