Ending & Beginnings
Endings and Beginnings
Pastor Harry Stambaugh
Life is Full of Endings and Beginnings
From formless and void to a creation full of life
From comfort in our family of origin to beginning our journey
From education to application
From single to marriage and family
From career to retirement
From separation from God to eternal life with God
A Time for Every Purpose
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says; “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
My Own Ending and Beginning
An End to 15 years of pastoral ministry at Gateway
The Beginning of the next stage of my life
Unknown but not uncomfortable
What’s Changing and what’s not?
Coming off of Gateway Staff
Continue to live in Franklin and worship at Gateway
Travel as God enables us
Continue to provide pastoral counseling
Continue to co-lead a Life Group
Continue to serve with you here at Gateway
Some of my beginnings and endings
From planning to teach history to the business world
From the business world to Seminary (apologetics)
From Seminary (apologetics) to pastoral ministry
I had never seen myself in pastoral ministry – but others did and influenced my decision and direction
From pastoral ministry to ___________ ?
Hearing from God
Sometimes He speaks directly
Sometimes He speaks through others
Trust the Spirit to give us discernment
A Clear Calling
Come under Pastor Charlie’s authority
Love His people
The best years of our lives
Scriptures to live by…
John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
What Love is like
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13-14)
What does laying our lives down look like on a day to day basis?
Three principles from Jesus’ life
Jesus came willingly
Jesus came lovingly
Jesus came obediently
Jesus came willingly
In John 18:37 Jesus says, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Jesus came lovingly
We are commanded to love “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-14)
Our love is to reflect His great love
Jesus came obediently
In John 6:38-40, Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will oSf him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Love and Obedience go together
The apostle John says it this way, “I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 5-6)
We love and obey in the power of The Spirit
I’m Forever Grateful
Thank You Father
Thank You Lord Jesus
Thank you Georgetta
Thank you Pastor Charlie
Thank you Gateway …for allowing me to serve you and serve with you over these last 15 years here at Gateway!
Amen!