ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. – 1 Peter 3:15 To recognize opportunity is the difference between success and failure. When opportunity knocks, we have to get up and answer the door. And we never know when it will knock. If we as Christians are going to obey the Lord’s command to go into all the world and preach the gospel, then we must know what we believe and how to present it. The Bible tells us, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Sadly, many Christians are unable to do just that. They have little to no understanding of why or what they believe. The Bible warns that “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14). When we don’t know what we believe, we are vulnerable. And because of this spiritual deficiency, we are ineffective witnesses for the Lord. The Bible tells us that Stephen certainly was not such a man. He was prepared for a significant moment in his life, a defining moment in both his life and the church. We see from Acts 7 that when he was brought before the Sanhedrin, Stephen was ready for the opportunity God dropped in his lap. He seized the moment and made a difference. You can do the same. Because you never know when those golden opportunities will come your way. As they would say in the 19th century, “Trust in God and keep your powder dry.” Be ready for that opportunity, because you never know when the Lord will drop it in your lap. We must be ready to stand up for our faith, to be able to defend our beliefs. We enjoy serving the Lord but why? Just as we need nourishment for our physical body to be prepared to serve Christ, we also need to be nourished in the spirit. We can do that by taking advantage of the Christian Education that our church provides. First of all, there is Sunday School. There is a wide range of opportunities for an adult to choose from. This fall, we hope to offer several different study opportunities through the week. Be thinking what day and time is best for you. The Education Committee will be distributing a survey for you to express your study interests and also the time that is good for you. But don’t forget Sunday School – we have excellent teachers who are teaching a wide range of topics. Check them out!! If you need some help, check with Sam Inman (Adult Coordinator), Tommy Pharr (Education Chair), or me – Pastor Sarah. We would all love to help you on your journey of spiritual nourishment. See you on Sunday! See you at Cokesbury UMC next Sunday! |
Did You Miss a Sermon or Want to hear one Again?Pastor Sarah Kalish’s sermons are taped each Sunday and are available to shut-ins and others who missed hearing her. If you would like a copy of the sermon, contact the church secretary at |
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