Untitled Sermon (4)

Introduction

Good evening everyone. I want to first say what an honor it is to be able to speak in front of you this year. Thank you pastor for allowing me to do this.

Parents, grandparents, friends, and family of the graduating students, thank you for being here tonight. Whatever your role in the lives of these young men and women, thank you for taking part in their journey to this moment.

FCA, faculty and staff, thank you for not only being here tonight but for your investment in these students. Thank you for not just the hours spent teaching but for the unseen hours spent grading papers, lesson planning, and praying for your students.

Let’s give the school staff a round of applause tonight.

Students, congratulations on your achievement. Tonight’s ceremony is the culmination of not only 4 years of high school but truly represenative of the journey you have been on in life for the last 17-18 years. From the coloring sheets of kindergarten to the book reports and algebra tests of just the last few weeks, you have done it. You have successfully accomplished what was asked of you while often going above and beyond the requirements of the curriculum.

Great job.

Tonight I want to answer a question I get from time to time and one you will eventually be asked as well. If I could go back in time, what would I tell myself at your age.

Well, I’d probably start with “get a different haircut”

And after taking care of that important matter. I’d tell myself to not underestimate the power of relationships in your life.

There are three relationships I’d like to point your attention to in the book of Philippians that I believe will have the greatest impact on your life as you grow and continue on your journey.

The first relationship I want to turn your attention to is your relationship with others. Yes, I know, it’s a vague statement. However, the relationships you have in your life are going have a great impact on the direction your life goes.

It’s ben said that a wise man has chosen his friends wisely. It’s my desire for you to wisely choose the friends that you have around you.

As you enter college, the work force, trade school, or the military, you will find yourself surrounded with people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life.

All of them will deserve respect and dignity because they are made in the image of God.

Not all of them need to be your closest friends.

I know a young man that went to college and during his freshmen year made friends with a young man that was constantly having him do things that if they were caught, would have got them in trouble.

Thankfully, this young man got away from that friend.

Before you go off and begin making your life away from high school determine now that the friends you have closest to you will be friends that lift you up and point you to Christ.

Then I’d ask you to determine to be that friend to others.

Paul wrote in Phil 1:1-6

Philippians 1:1–6 KJV 1900

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Notice how kind and gracious Paul is in his communication.

Some may say “well He loved the church at Philipi, they were a church doing great things.’

He said the same thing in

1 Corinthians 1:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

The church at corinth was not known for how good of Cchristians they were.

Paul treated everyone with the respect and dignity they deserved because they were made in the image of God, not because of their actions or ideals.

Paul sought to add value to the lives of those around him. Just as you should seek to have people in your life close to you that add value to you, you should seek to add value to others.

Leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell said “The happiest people are those who have invested their time in others. The unhappiest people are those who wonder how the world is going to make them happy.”

Jesus knew this when He was on this Earth.

Jesus met people where they were in sin, poor health, and poverty and loved them.

You can do the same. See where people are and love them anyway. Because when God sees you, He sees who you are and He loves you anyway.

Adding value to your relationship with others starts with another realtionship that’s important in your life.

That’s your relationship with yourself.

Your relationship with yourself will impact your relationship with others.

Paul was a man that had an honest view of himself.

Notice in

Philippians 3:3–6 CSB

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.

Notice what Paul is doing here.

Paul begins describing all the reasons he has to revel in the flesh. He is open and honest about what he now sees as negative things in his life.

He says I am or I was a man with all of these titles, all of this education, all of these accolades, and reasons to be prideful.

he knew who he was

He woke up in the morning and looked in the mirror willing to admit his faults.

He was willing to say “I have a bad hair day from time to time.” I ahve judgmental thoughts.

He was willing to be honest with himself and with others.

He wans’t hiding behind a keyboard or profile picture.

He was uprfont with himself and others.

People were able to know Paul andd who he was.

He knew his strengths and his weaknesses.