Topical
Well, in case you haven't guessed by now, today is Senior Adult Sunday
at Mt. Zion. It is that
day we set aside to let our senior adults know how much we love and
appreciate them for who
they are and for the ministry they have done through the years and
are doing among us now.
It is impossible for us to convey our appreciation fully but I believe
there is one way that we can
honor them that will be more of a blessing than anything else we can
do. This doesn't involve a
meal out (we did that), or dinner on the grounds (we will be doing
that in just a few minutes). It
doesn't involve anything we might want to give in the way of material
things, although I am sure
they would appreciate those things also.
I believe the way we can best honor our senior adults today is for us
to be the instruments of
change in the hands of Holy God in leading our country back to the
values that our senior adults
hold so high---the lack of which ought to grieve the heart of every
Christian here today; not just
those who grew up in a fairer time.
I polled our senior adults, at least one of them, and asked the question,
"Meemaw, what are the
values that are dear to you that are out of whack in our society today?"
Her answer can be
summed up in three words in descending order of importance---God, family,
church.
So, those will be my points today because I think these three words
strike at the heart of what is
wrong with our country today.
I. GOD
I don't think I have ever preached a sermon with
"God" as a point. Gee, that is rather
broad, don't you think. I can see some
of you squirming right now---"Boy is he gonna' preach a
long one today or what! His first point
is 'God'!" Well, allow me to boil things down a little
bit and render the lard so to speak.
A. We can't talk about God without talking about
the Son. He is the Way to the Father
(John 14:6)
He is also the Foundation
(1 Corinthians 3:11)----of family, church, and society. At
least, He used
to be. We have lost our foundation and things are crumbling pretty
quickly. We
can't blame our senior adults on that. They were not a part of the
problem
for the most part.
Except for the prayer in public schools issue in 1962, the slide off
the foundation really
began with the free love generation of the mid to late sixties. That
is
my generation and
perhaps yours also.
It is time to call people
back to Jesus. There is every other call imaginable being
issued to humanity.
Why is the church so silent---we have the answer and His name is
Jesus!
B. We can't talk about God without talking about Godliness.
1. Morality
The
ten commandments not the ten suggestions---"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
If that sounds too legalistic to you then too bad. Try 1 Corinthians
5:9 ff. on for size.
Heterosexual
immorality
Homsexual immorality--Romans 1:26-32
2. Integrity---truth is not
just a word---it is action that is centered on a person (John
14:6)
Luke
6:45---A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth
that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth
forth
that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
John 8:42-47
C. Holiness---Leviticus 20:7---Sanctify yourselves
therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am]
the LORD your God.
WWJD---It is a good
idea but I am afraid that it has become cliche'
II. FAMILY
A. Husband/Wife relationship---summed up pretty well in Matthew 19:4-6
And he answered and said
unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made
them at the beginning made
them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave
father and mother, and shall
cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain,
but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,
let not man put asunder.
B. Child/parent relationship---Colossians 3:20---Children
obey your parents in everything,
for this pleases the Lord.
Honor thy father and thy mother..........
C. Parent/Child relationships---Colossians 3:21---Fathers,
do not embitter your children,
or they will become discouraged.
III. CHURCH
Maybe some of our senior adults would like to share
with you the place church had in
their lives when they were growing up and
raising their families.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church used to be the hub of this
community. Roads converged on the
point of this ridge from all directions.
People would come any way they could to be in God's
house when the doors were open. It was important
for them to assemble with the Body of
Christ for worship, encouragement, training, fellowship.
That was a priority in their lives.
What has happened? As we have more time for
leisure we have less time for God and
church. It doesn't make sense.
If it was important then it is important then.
Hebrews 10:25---Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Younger folks, if you want to honor our senior adults on this, their
day; if you want to
encourage them, if you want to do something really special for them-----take
a look at
these areas of you own life and see if they line up with the
word of God. Be an instrument of
change in our society by holding high God's standards. If not
for them do it for the Lord
because ultimately, He is the one that really matters and do it for
yourselves and your
family.