Sermon Notes: I stumbled upon a compelling and fascinating story about an old cargo ship sailing captain set in the late 1800’s. This man completed a daring and pioneering feat at an age a bit later than most of us may think. Not wanting to give too much away, this story raised all sorts of interesting questions for me, and I’d like to explore these questions with you. First, what does it mean to age and age well in our culture? Many of us are familiar with the message culture sends—the longer you can stay young, the better. But what does God say about aging? What is the biblical view of aging? Our church has aged significantly since it’s beginning. Often when people refer to the “golden days” of our church, it’s understood we’re talking about what was, not what could be. Are our best days behind us? Are our most creative and innovative ideas of church in the past? Have our greatest acts of advocacy and service past us by? Or is there another way to think of aging? Paul in his second letter to the church in Corinth writes: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Paul speaks of a new kind of new—a new that isn’t limited to linear time but instead governed by the redemptive work of God who is making all things new each and every day. What I have discovered is that there are different ways to think of aging than what our culture may suggest. What I have discovered is that there are two kinds of new. Garrett Speyer Associate Pastor for Youth Ministries
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 02:00:01 +0000