Divine Appointments
Sermon by Charla Belinski, Director of Children, Youth and Family Programs
Recorded at Snowmass Chapel on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sermon Notes - Divine Appointments
Faith is not something we are accustomed to speaking about freely with people, sometimes even in our own homes. What are some opportunities you have in your daily life to present your faith to those you are close to? Would people recognize you as a person of faith? How so?
Grace is something God gives each of us as believers. Author James Ryle has suggested "Grace is the empowering Presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be, and to do what He has called you to do."
Mark 8:38 says: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." What if Jesus really meant what he said? Divine appointments can happen at any time. Can you think of an event or experience that was divinely appointed? Often God will let us know when to take a bigger step in helping someone along in their journey. Consider Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Along a lonely road in the African bush, a man suddenly appears and asks a missionary traveler, "Can you tell me who Jesus is?" That was certainly a divine appointment! (Acts 8:26)
Meet people where they are -- we are all on our own spiritual journey. Time and again, Jesus taught through parables....he let the stories settle on each individual, knowing that they would take from it exactly what they needed at that point in their lives, given their own unique experiences and perspectives. With Jesus as our example, we can also share parts of our faith with those around us in a non-threatening way that meets them where they are.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
(Charla Belinski Nov. 11, 2012)
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