October 25, Reformation Sunday, Mother-In-Law Day, Harvest Dinner after Worship

Lessons: Philippians 3.12-16

Sermon Title: Pressing On

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INTRODUCTION

I.        Seeing how this is Mother-In-Law day, we ought to have a mother-in-law bit of humor.

In the Jungle... Footnote

A big-game hunter went on safari with his wife and mother-in-law. One evening, while still deep in the jungle, the Mrs. awoke to find her mother gone. Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother.

The hunter picked up his rifle, took a swig of whiskey, and started to look for her. In a clearing not far from the camp, they came upon a chilling sight: the mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large male lion stood facing her.

The wife said, "What are we going to do?"

"Nothing," said the hunter husband, "The lion got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it."

II.       Control and Escape Footnote

The computer company distributed a corporate clothing catalogue that included a pair of cuff links.

          A.       One was inscribed Ctrl (control)

          B.       The other Esc (escape), just as they look on a computer keyboard.

          C.       "They would make a good present for any man," my wife commented to a colleague, "if only to remind him of the two things he can never have."

                     1.       What does one want?

                     2.       What cannot be had?

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MAIN BODY:

I.        The indication appears to be that to press on you need to forget what is behind.

          A.       Paul does not forget.

          B.       He speaks of his past.

                     1.       2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NRSVA

4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

                     2.       2 Corinthians 11:21-30 NRSVA

21bBut whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. 24Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. 28And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

          C.       It not a rehearsal, but a remembering.

          D.       It is not to wallow in the past but to use the past to inspire you on to higher and lasting achievements.

          E.       Forgetting is not forgetting, it is not letting the past dominate or control the present.

II.       Too many people are frozen in time.

          A.       They are locked into the past.

          B.       There appears to be no escape.

          C.       They cannot look so much forward and backward.

          D.       Craig Barnes has written:

One of these voices comes from the painful past. It calls you to turn your head around and keep focused on your failures or sins. “How could you have done that?” the past keeps asking. Or it may preoccupy you with the failures and sins of others who hurt you. Either way, the voice from the past makes it impossible to move ahead because it doesn’t let you even face the future. It doesn’t matter how carefully you analyze your shame, or how long you nurture the hurts you’ve collected, you’ll never have a better past.

          E.       There are too many of these voices.

                     1.       Remember Mary Magdalene was reduced to tears by the sight of the empty tomb.

                     2.       The angels confronted Mary and asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

                     3.       She replied, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know ...."

                     4.       There are too many "theys" out there -- conglomerates of faceless, hostile "theys" whose job it is to make it hard for us to "know" and easy for us to "not know."

                               a.       There are the "theys" of materialism -- urging us to invest in possessions instead of treasures.

                               b.       There are the "theys" of intellectualism -- advising us to trust only our heads and never our hearts.

                               c.       There are the "theys" of commercialism -- persuading us to spend the contents of our wallets instead of extending the power of our hands.

                               d.       There are the "theys" of politicism – dividing us into factions instead of joining us into teams.

                               e.       There are the "theys" of racism, sexism, and ageism -- frightening us into hiding in enclaves instead of gathering us into communities.

                               f.        There are the "theys" of presentism – narrowly fixating us on what we want today instead of what our children will need tomorrow.

          F.       We become so confused our heads are moving back and forth as if we were watching a tennis match.

                     1.       One preacher says one thing, another preacher says another.

She walked into the church office with a look of irritation in her eyes.

“May I help you?” asked the receptionist.

“I hope so,” answered the woman. “I’m looking for a one-armed preacher.”

“A one-armed preacher?” replied the receptionist. “Why?”

“I’m looking for a one-armed preacher who doesn’t always say: On the other hand! On the one hand … but on the other hand ...!”

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III.      If we are going to get some place, we need a personal goal.

          A.       Paul’s goal is stated very clearly.

                     1.       “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

                     2.       The goal is the crown of righteousness.

                     3.       The goal is the kingdom of God.

          B.       He is not going to let anything interfere with reaching this goal.

IV.      Would you like a few tips that might be helpful in reaching this goal for yourself?

          A.       What is your goal?

          B.       What personal goal seems to you to be attractive, alluring, exciting and enticing…but also elusive and maybe even inconceivable?

                     1.       Is it getting over bitterness and disappointment?

                     2.       Is it having a heart big enough to love your enemies?

                     3.       Is it finding the strength to live with constant pain?

                     4.       Is it forgetting the past and moving forward through the present?

                     5.       Is it working on your marriage?

                     6.       Is it learning how to live within your financial means?

          C.       Ultimately it is achieving the “crown of righteousness.”

          D.       If this is your ultimate goal, how are you going to get there?

                     1.       First, let go of any attitudes that can distract you.

                               a.       Destructive attitudes might include:

                                          (1)      The fear that we cannot find a meaningful career.

                                          (2)      Or, that our useful days of contributing to the success of a program are over.

                                          (3)      My life is meaningless.

                                          (4)      I don’t amount to much, and probably never will.

                                          (5)      I do not have many or any friends and am so lonely.

                               b.       When these attitudes are encountered, we need to trash them.

                               c.       They are rubbish and can get in the way of the goal.

                     2.       Second, create ans stick to a schedule.

                               a.       This is the same kind of discipline that we are challenged as we seek to pursue our life goals.

                               b.       We will have a specific time each day to spend with God.

                               c.       We will have a strategy for prayer and a method of remembering those who need our prayers.

                     3.       Third tip: Expect bad days.

                               a.       Will we face injuries, no doubt.

                               b.       There might be gossip or unfair criticism.

                               c.       You will have setbacks.

                               d.       Not everything will work out the way you first planned that it should.

                     4.       The last tip is one of the most important.

                               a.       Don’t attempt to face the challenges of reaching the goal of the heavenly call on your own.

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and paused.

Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them.

One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better."

Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for ten minutes.

                               b.        People who were there are still telling the story. Why?

                               c.       Because deep down we know this one thing:

                                          (1)      What matters in this life is more than winning for yourself.

                                          (2)      What truly matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing yourself down and changing your course.

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CONCLUSION:

I.        One of the best posters is by Nike. It shows a runner taking off down a highway in the middle of “nowhere” with nothing in sight.

          A.       At the top is the caption “No Finish Line.”

          B.       A runner runs not to stop, but for the love of the exercise.

          C.       You runners out there know what I am talking about! It hurts to go that extra mile, but the accomplishment you feel is well worth it.

          D.       This is how the Christian life ought to be seen

                     1.       Running in Christ like there is “No Finish Line.” START NOW!

                     2.       The goal awaits.

                     3.       The prize is worth all that you have to give and more.

Amen!

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