Senior Service (2)

Intro:

Good afternoon my friends...

It’s good to be here with you! It’s been a while. I hope you had a good holiday last week for the 4th of July. If I look a little tired to you (or even if I’ve gotten some sun), it’s because I spent all last week with a bunch of teenagers at Summer Camp!

While that was exhausting, I’ll also tell you it was worth it. Despite what you may have heard about this next generation, I believe God is doing something special in them and is going to use them to change the world.

But you know what… that’s something I believe is still true for you here in this room - for your generation! That’s the amazing thing about God. While our world and culture can only place value on those in their “prime” years of life, undervaluing the young and elderly… that’s not how God works!

When the Bible says...

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

...Those good works are only designated for the prime years, but to be walked in our entire lives.

For example: God used a young Israelite girl to declare the healing power of God to a mighty Syrian warrior, who was then supernaturally healed of his leprosy.

Additionally: God waited until Abraham was 100 years old to give him the promised son, Isaac - whose lineage would eventually lead to Jesus!

God uses the young, old, and everyone in-between! And my hope today is by the time I finish you too believe God has a plan for you!

Let me start by reading you this verse...

Body:

Colossians 4:7–8 NLT

Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.

Tychicus was a friend of the apostle Paul. And in this passage, Paul is in prison and writing to the Colossian church. And Tychicus is going to deliver this letter from Rome to the church. And I believe the way Paul describes Tychicus can help us walk in good works - regardless of age - if we apply these characteristics to our own lives.

So, first off, Paul call Tychicus a “beloved brother.” When Paul thought of him, he loved him like family.

When you think of people you love like family, what type of things do they do?

I wonder what people think about us? If I were to ask your neighbors here in this community about you, how would they describe you?

Moving on, Paul also calls Tychicus “faithful.”

What does that word mean to you?

Would people call you faithful?

What kind of things could you do to be known as a faithful helper?

Lastly, Paul describes his friend as someone “who serves WITH me.” Another translation says a “fellow servant.” You know what this tells me? It tells me that not only was Tychicus a helpful servant, but he also was present. He served WITH Paul. He didn’t live in isolation, but in community.

You all live in this wonderful facility. It sort of reminds me of the neighborhood I live in - Milestone Commons, just down the street.

Every Halloween, my family buys a ton of candy, we setup games, and have coffee and hot chocolate available in our front yard. The reason we do this is because we know that people come from both Glastonbury and East Hartford to trick-or-treat. It’s not only a safe neighborhood, but there are over a hundred homes in our community. It’s easy for kids to get a lot of candy quickly because our homes are close to each other.

In a similar way, you guys live close to one another. Maybe some of you don’t like that. But it’s actually a good thing. God created us to live in community, not isolation. That means it’s better for our souls when we are PRESENT or WITH other people. That’s how Tychicus lives. He lived in community.

Ask yourself, “How do I view your community?” Do you think it’s a blessing to have people in close proximity? You should because that’s what God thinks. And we should think what God thinks.

When we are close to one another, we can be present to help one another.

This week, let me encourage you to think of one way you can help your neighbor who lives close to you.

Response:

At the end of the passage, Paul says...

Colossians 4:8 ESV

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

As we have briefly discussed, Tychicus was a person known for...

Being a beloved family member.

A faithful helper.

And a good neighbor.

And because he lived this way, God used his life in a powerful way. It’s the reason Paul picked him to deliver this very important letter, which has survived and helped people for over 2000 years! That’s because being a beloved family member, faithful helper, and good neighbor allows us to encourage other people’s hearts.

I believe God is calling you to do the same. He wants you to be known in this Senior Community as someone who encourages people’s hearts, whether neighbors or staff.

So today, as we close, think about one or two ways you can...

Be known as a beloved family member. Think of your favorite family member, think about how they treated you, and then treat someone who lives here that way too.

Be known as a faithful helper. Is there a friend who lives here who needs help? How can you help them? Maybe it’s simply promising to faithfully pray for them daily.

Be known as a good neighbor. Maybe you know you AREN’T known for that today. It’s not too late to change. Jesus is in the business of changing hearts. And today, He can change your heart today.

2000 years ago, when He died on a Cross, it was to do that very thing. He died for our sins - the very thing that causes us to be bad neighbors. He died to wash that away! And God promises you that if you will turn away from your sins (repent), and put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, what He did on the cross will change your life. You will be forgiven and receive a new heart! And not only a new heart, but also His Holy Spirit. And what that means is God will help you to live the way He wants you to live...

As a beloved brother or sister.

As a faithful helper.

And as a good neighbor.

Today, as usual, we are going to close by taking communion. If you’d like to take communion, to remember what Jesus did on the cross (how His body was broken for us and His blood spilled for our forgiveness), stick out your hand and I will give you the elements. Let’s do that now.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank you for your goodness. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross for us. Today, we want to turn from our sin and live the way you want us to live: As beloved, a faithful helper, and good neighbor. Help us to do that today. We need your supernatural power to do it. We want to do it… because we believe you still have good works for us to do here in this place. In Jesus name, amen!