FBA Grduation 2022

Introduction

Good evening everyone. As pastor said my name is Dustin Alley and I’m thankful for the opportunity to stand before you tonight and speak.

Moms and Dads, Grandpas and Grandmas, aunts and uncles, other family and friends, thank you for being here tonight. Thank you for being with these students in whatever capacity you have been up until this point. Aren’t you proud of these young men and women?

Freedom Christian Academy Staff, my how you’ve grown. I remember when we were having 1 teacher teach Kindergarten and middle school. Thank you for the time you have given to these students. The time in the classroom, out of the classroom, the time in your prayer closet and the the time away from your families.

Let’s give the staff and leadership of the Academy a show of apprecaition tonight.

We give God the glory and praise and thank those who are faithfully serving Him.

Students, great job. Congratulations on this accomplishment. I’m sure each of you here tonight can attest to the fact that this accomplishment did not happen in a day. We are hear tonight to celebrate the terrible drawings you made in kindergated that your mom kept, along with the algebra assignment you just finished a few weeks ago. Tonight is a culmination of 13+ years of coloring, studying, test taking, and home work completing. Tonight is a night where you should feel proud of what you have done.

Be proud knowing that you have completed High School. However, don’t be proud alone. Because you did not get here alone. It is by God’s grace, you are here tonight. It is because of loving parents and family members you are here tonight. It is because of a faithful staff you are here tonight. It is because of a loving and dedicated pastor you are here tonight.

When I sat under Pastor Matheny for about 8 years, I would often hear him say “There is no such thing as a self made man.” He is exactly right. Whoever you become, whether success or failure, will be impacted by who you know. Or, said better ,who you allow to influence you.

I’m only 34 years old and I’ve already been asked by teenagers and younger people “If you could go back and talk to your 18 year old self, what would you tell your self?”

I’d probably first say something about the hair cut. Maybe by 18 I had a better one but my high school fashion sense was not where it should have been.

After a haircut, I’d hope to emphasize what I just told you. Who you know will influence your life. Who you allow in your life, will greatly influence the direction of your life.

Tonight I’m going to speak to you about two people you will always need to know.

In the book of Philippians the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Philipi from a roman jail about having joy as a Christian.

In Chapter 3 of this letter we find him speaking about two people that He knows who have had a major impact on the life he has lived up until this point.

Look with me at the first few verses of Chapter 3

Philippians 3:1–6 CSB

1 In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— 4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

Exegete:

Paul starts with instructing the believers to rejoice in the Lord or to find Joy in the Lord. He has apparently wrote them about this prior to this letter.

What he writes about what is a safegaurd for them. He tellls them to stay away from people like verse 2 describes…these are the people you know for the purpose of leading them to Christ. These are not to be traits that describe your friends, mentors, and those you spend an abundance of time with.

Then he introduces the first person you need to know by introducing the one he knows.

He speaks of himself and who he is in the flesh.

Proverbs 4:23 CSB

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

In the Hebrew culture that Paul was raised in, the heart was a reference to the source of knowledge and deccisions. It was a descriptor of the true you. The heart was understood to be the place decisions and actions flowed from.

Paul knew who he was. He recognized the things he could find confidence in. Titles, being well educated, zealous, self righteous and one who could not be blamed.

He could have bragged about these things to people, he could have made a good living for himself off of what he could have been confident in the flesh.

He is truly teaching the same princpiple he wrote about in Romans 12:3

Romans 12:3 CSB

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Illustrate: