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Notes
Intro:
President Dr. Frank Bateman Stanger’s Commencement Message to the class of 1980 Asbury Theological Seminary
Learning to live within the tensions of contemporary ministry reveals the possibility of the impossible.
I. The tension between THIS WORLD and THE WORLD OF THE SPIRIT
II. The tension between WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY and WHAT GOD MUST DO IN AND THROUGH ME
III. The tension between THE TRADITIONAL and THE CREATIVE
IV. The tension between DECLARING TRUTH and AFFIRMING PERSONS
V. The tension between THE PERSONAL and THE CORPORATE
VI. The tension between PEOPLE and PRIVACY
VII. The tension between WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH and WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO ACCOMPLISH
VIII. The tension between THE NOW and THE THEN (the tensions of hope)
I. Two _____________ in Our Lives
A. __________, Temporal, Visible Activity and _____________, Eternal, Invisible Activity
B. Inside / _________ and Outside / __________
Luke 10:38-42 (NASB) 38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Ecclesiastes 3:10 (NKJV) 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
II. Three God Truths to __________ in Times of Tensions Eccl 3:11
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
A. He Has Made Everything ______________ in Its Time Eccl 3:11a
Genesis 50:19-21 (NASB) 19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Romans 8:28-29 (NASB) 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
B. He Has Placed ___________ In Our Hearts Eccl 3:11b
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
C. He is ____________
John 5:17 (NASB) 17 But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."
III. Our ____________ to the Tensions in our Lives Eccl 3:11c
Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NASB) 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB) 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. See also Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
Conclusion:
Ecclesiastes 3:2-9 Summed Up:
Begin End
Accept Reject
Hold Onto Give Up
Rejoice Mourn
Accept what you haven’t achieved / Give thanks for what you have been able to achieve.
Accept what you can’t do anymore / Give thanks for what you can do now.
Accept the loss of what is gone / Give thanks for what He is bringing into your life now.
Accept the changes that are happening / Give thanks for what is still the same.
Accept being challenged to do new things / Give thanks for wisdom given to figure new things out.
Accept the hurt of losing friendships as they were / Give thanks for shared memories with friends.