Pastor Rich's sermon, Sunday, September 1, 2002

Can you identify a turning point in your life?

A turning point would be some event or person who significantly impacted or changed your life. The kind of event that would make you say, “I wonder what my life would have been like if it wasn’t for that event, or that person.”

As I thought about turning points I realized that my life like the world and American history has many turning points. When I think of everyday life I would have to include as turning points the invention of the automobile, the airplane, the light bulb, medical discoveries, the computer and where would people be today without the cell phone. When I think of historical events I think of September 11, Viet Nam War, December 7, the Depression. When I think of my own personal life I think of the obvious my marriage, the birth of my children, my call to the ministry.

I know a major turning point in my life was coming here nine years ago. When the search committee contacted me in the early spring of 1993, I was planning on staying at the Huguenot Reformed Church in Staten Island until Greg graduated high school, which would have been in 1998. After he graduated I expected I would leave parish work and pursue hospice chaplaincy full time.

The search committee’s phone call forced me to wrestle with what I wanted and what I thought would be best for my family and God’s call. I was faced with Proverbs 16:9

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Do I follow my plans or allow God to determine my steps? My acceptance of the call to become your pastor became a turning point not just for myself but also for Diane, Adam, Greg and hopefully for you.

Turning points, we all have them, good or bad.

Some turning points we plan for and some literally thrust themselves upon us, as was the case for Moses. Moses was going about his work, tending his father-in-laws flock when he noticed a bush that was on fire. When he looked closer he saw that this bush may have been on fire but the bush itself wasn’t burning. Little did he know that this burning bush was going to be a turning point in his life, that his life would never be the same. For as you know when Moses approached that bush God spoke to him. God not only spoke to Moses, God called him to be a shepherd to a greater flock, specifically His people the Israelites.

We should not gloss over the fact that God came to Moses at his work place. Moses wasn’t in prayer. Moses wasn’t worshipping God. Yet God came to Him. Do you look for God in your daily activities? Do you expect to encounter God in the check out line, commuting to work, car-pooling the kids, on a senior citizen bus trip? Is not God the same today as He was in Moses day? We must be open to the idea that God uses our everyday activity for a turning point in our lives or someone else’s.

He did it to Moses and He did it to Peter.

Jesus’ passion prediction was a turning point.

“From that time on Jesus began to explain
to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...
and that He must be killed and on the third day and be raised to life.”

Up until then Jesus had been trying to keep his identity a secret. Once Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Christ, Jesus started talking about his death. This kind of talk shocked Peter after all the Christ was not expected to die. It is no wonder Peter rebuked Jesus saying, “Never! Lord.” Jesus responded by rebuking Peter calling him satan. No doubt it was a turning point very different from the turning point when Peter boldly proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” When Jesus replied,

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah...
I tell you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church.”

Now Jesus calls him a “Stumbling block.”

Jesus’ passion prediction is not the only turning point in this story His definition of discipleship is a turning point as well.

“If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

Let me ask you, was your confirmation, your confession in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior a turning point in you life?

Peter made his great confession without understanding its meaning or implication. Can the same be said about your confession? What are the implications of confessing Jesus as the Christ? Surely it means forgiveness and salvation, but it also means discipleship. It means taking up the cross of Christ and following Him. It means losing your life. This does not mean we all have to be martyrs. It means that we have to look at life from Jesus’ perspective, from an eternal perspective instead of an earthly perspective.

Your attendance at worship reveals a strong commitment to discipleship. However if your discipleship is limited to worship you need a turning point. God needs to become more than a God you worship. You need God. To become a God you have an intimate relationship with Him.

You need to evaluate your life from an eternal perspective instead of an earthly perspective. We mustn’t make choices as though this life is all we have. We must make choices from an eternal perspective. This is a major turning point. When we look at God not as an eternal blessing machine. When we look at our destined end not as happiness or health but holiness. When we surrender our feet, our tongues, our minds, our every detail of life to the scrutiny of God.

Is your relationship with God a constant turning point? It should be!

What can you do, starting today, to make your faith a turning point in your life?