Recently my grandpa, Dr. Jerry Johnson, sent me some of his sermons. He preached these as the head of Nazarene World Mission and as a General Superintendent. I came across the sermon he preached at the time of his retirement in 1997 and it has me in tears. He talks about generations worshiping and serving together. It is titled: “Living Sacrifices.”
He spoke to those younger than him saying, “be patient with us as we work through today as we did yesterday.”
His notes reference his feeling of change in the church and society. He writes, “fear, left behind.”
He talks about patience for “when we can’t stand for 30 minutes (arthritis?)”
His next two points say:
“We still belong to you. We pay our tithe. As human being change-abrupt, we need time.”
“Maybe even move a bit toward us. We’ll move toward you. We want unity, harmony.”
“This patience- helps my generation.”
He goes on to say,
“This makes possible to believe God is as much at work in today’s church with this generation as with mine...responses may be different, but new generation just as committed.”
“Therefore, then, I can indeed face retirement with assurance I am still in God’s will while change is taking place. And I can even make changes myself without soiling his will in my life.”
“That which matters— I am still a living sacrifice. And you- of your generation- are also. Together we will find his will pleasant, Good, perfect.”
His conclusion is this:
“Christians will be faced with, ‘Where do I go from here?’ Have choice. Settle into routine- no real contribution OR living sacrifice?”
I love his theme of patience. I think people of all ages could have more patients with each other and move toward one another as we live as sacrifices.
I get to go and see my 90 year old grandpa next week. I can’t wait to talk to him about his sermons and thank him. He and my grandma continually live as sacrifices to all around them. They lead a worship service in their retirement community and give us all the greatest gift of prayerfully following Christ all the days of their lives.
My prayer is that we will be people of patience with one another. Serving one another as living sacrifices. May people around us know us by our love.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cara
5539 Quivira Road
Shawnee, Kansas 66216, United States
(913) 631-5555
office@shawneenaz.org
(913) 631-5555
office@shawneenaz.org
Shawnee Church of the Nazarene
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