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TITLE: Don't Wear a Raincoat in the Shower

TEXT: Ephesians 1:15-19

PROPOSITION: We must remain open to new challenges and opportunities.

QUESTION: How?

KEY WORD: Applications

SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Honor our High School graduates today.
  2. Boy Scout leader took his troop on a hike in the woods. Saying nothing during the hike.
    After the hike, he asked about animals, trees, flowers, and birds. They saw nothing.
    He told them they should remain alert, observe, watch, and take in all around them.
  3. He said, "Boys, don't wear a raincoat in the shower."
  4. You have learned much in your years in school – don't stop now.

 

Think outside the lines

  1. Don't limit your thinking to what is normal. "Normal" is a clothes dryer setting.
  2. Learn to think of things in new and different ways.
  3. Matthew 22:42 – What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?

 

Keep Alert

  1. Open your eyes – Ephesians 1:18 "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened"
  2. Use all your senses – touch, see, hear, taste, smell
  3. Birds chirping, squirrels chasing each other, smell bacon frying, see a rainbow colors

 

Keep Life Fun

  1. Keep on seeing the fun, joy and pleasure in life.
  2. When it stops being fun – it is over.
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:2 – Even in persecution they had abundant joy

 

Set Goals

  1. Don't stop dreaming, big plans, ideals
  2. Have a vision for the future – Joel 2:28 young men shall dream dreams
  3. Set goals beyond your reach – Philippians 3:14

 

Overcome Challenges

  1. There will be obstacles and barriers in your way.
  2. Don't let them stop your dreams.
  3. See beyond the barricades.

 

Learn New Things

  1. After High School – know all that is needed
  2. Matthew 9:13 – But go and learn what this means - -
  3. The more you learn – the more you know that you don't know it all
  4. At 40 I learned computers. At 55 I learned to write HTML code for web pages.
  5. At 53 I was learning Russian. I was 49 when I got my D. Min. degree.

 

Gain New Experiences

  1. There are places you have not been, food not tasted
  2. Don't wear your raincoat and fail to experience the variety of life
  3. Remain willing to try things that are different

 

Conclusion: Don't wear a raincoat in the shower. Keep alert to God's providence.


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