Staying Alive as Long as You Live
Worship
Bright Intervals
40 Brief Worship Services and Meditations for Any Occasion
Object:
Greeting and Call To Worship
Jesus said: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Opening Prayer
O God of abundant life, forgive us when we let our days and years become nothing more than routine existence. Show us how to live the abundant life Jesus intends for us, regardless of age. Make our days special and our years meaningful through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Special Hymn
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
As she sat in a prayer meeting one night, Adelaide Pollard, the writer of this hymn, was so depressed that she could hardly concentrate on what was being said. She had felt a heavy burden on her heart for Africa, and was convinced that God wanted her to go there as a missionary. She was ready to set sail aboard a ship, but the necessary funds could not be raised and her trip was canceled. After returning home that evening, Adelaide Pollard meditated on the story of the potter in Jeremiah 18:3-4. She was a gifted teacher of the Bible and a talented writer. She had a real passion for missions, but it seemed as if God had other plans for her. As she thought about the potter breaking the defective vessel, she wrote, "It's all right, Lord! It doesn't matter what you bring into our lives; just have your own way with us!" From those few lines has come this hymn which has touched so many hearts.
Scripture Reading
Romans 12:3-18
Meditation
There were three clergypersons discussing the issue of when human life actually begins. "Life begins at the moment of conception!" said the Catholic priest. "No, no," said the Presbyterian pastor, "life begins at the moment of birth." The third clergyperson was an aging rabbi who said thoughtfully, "You're both wrong! Life really begins when the dog dies and the children leave home!" When does real "living" begin?
The Apostle Paul was convinced that Jesus had come to this earth to bring us "abundant life." That is, life with a capital "L." For Paul, this was a life that could begin at any age when people put their trust in Christ. It was a life filled with a lilt and a luster that not even years could take away. Writing in the 12th Chapter of Romans, Paul is talking about what it takes to stay alive as long as you live.
He begins by saying the abundant life in Christ gives you a sense of worth that nothing can take away. Says Paul, "Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of your own importance ... but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of faith God has given you." So often our culture determines the worth of persons by how much money they make, or how much they can achieve. At a Christmas party given for former employees of a large corporation, a bright young woman was welcoming the guests who were the retired officers of that company. She walked up to one man and asked, "And who did you used to be?" It was as if that retired man no longer had value or worth simply because he was no longer working!
The Apostle Paul wanted his friends in Rome to know that our personal worth is not based on our accomplishments, nor our power or prestige, nor the size of our bank account, nor even our age. When people put their trust in Jesus Christ, they become people loved and precious in the sight of God! They become persons for whom the Son of God poured out his life on a Cross.
Then Paul goes on to say that the abundant life in Christ gives us another essential for staying alive as long as we live: a sense of purpose. Having a purpose is what makes life worthwhile. Helen Keller once said that she wanted to do more than "spend" her life -- she wanted to "invest" it! Jesus Christ offers each of us the chance to invest our lives in the greatest purpose of all time -- the bringing of God's Kingdom to this earth. No matter how old or how infirm we may be, there is always something we can do for Jesus Christ! Many people think they have no gift that Christ can use. But someone once said, "It is amazing how much God can accomplish through an imperfect person who is willing to put all of his or her imperfections at God's disposal."
Still a third ingredient for staying alive as long as you live, according to Paul, is a positive mental outlook. Paul says, "Base your happiness on your hope in Christ." That is, do not focus on your problems but instead keep your eyes on the Living Christ. An old hymn carries the same message: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace." With our eyes on Christ, every day can be a new experience of abundant life!
Closing Prayer
O God, fill us with your Spirit, so that we can live our lives in the fullness of your joy and in the knowledge that we are precious in your sight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Jesus said: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Opening Prayer
O God of abundant life, forgive us when we let our days and years become nothing more than routine existence. Show us how to live the abundant life Jesus intends for us, regardless of age. Make our days special and our years meaningful through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Special Hymn
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
As she sat in a prayer meeting one night, Adelaide Pollard, the writer of this hymn, was so depressed that she could hardly concentrate on what was being said. She had felt a heavy burden on her heart for Africa, and was convinced that God wanted her to go there as a missionary. She was ready to set sail aboard a ship, but the necessary funds could not be raised and her trip was canceled. After returning home that evening, Adelaide Pollard meditated on the story of the potter in Jeremiah 18:3-4. She was a gifted teacher of the Bible and a talented writer. She had a real passion for missions, but it seemed as if God had other plans for her. As she thought about the potter breaking the defective vessel, she wrote, "It's all right, Lord! It doesn't matter what you bring into our lives; just have your own way with us!" From those few lines has come this hymn which has touched so many hearts.
Scripture Reading
Romans 12:3-18
Meditation
There were three clergypersons discussing the issue of when human life actually begins. "Life begins at the moment of conception!" said the Catholic priest. "No, no," said the Presbyterian pastor, "life begins at the moment of birth." The third clergyperson was an aging rabbi who said thoughtfully, "You're both wrong! Life really begins when the dog dies and the children leave home!" When does real "living" begin?
The Apostle Paul was convinced that Jesus had come to this earth to bring us "abundant life." That is, life with a capital "L." For Paul, this was a life that could begin at any age when people put their trust in Christ. It was a life filled with a lilt and a luster that not even years could take away. Writing in the 12th Chapter of Romans, Paul is talking about what it takes to stay alive as long as you live.
He begins by saying the abundant life in Christ gives you a sense of worth that nothing can take away. Says Paul, "Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of your own importance ... but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of faith God has given you." So often our culture determines the worth of persons by how much money they make, or how much they can achieve. At a Christmas party given for former employees of a large corporation, a bright young woman was welcoming the guests who were the retired officers of that company. She walked up to one man and asked, "And who did you used to be?" It was as if that retired man no longer had value or worth simply because he was no longer working!
The Apostle Paul wanted his friends in Rome to know that our personal worth is not based on our accomplishments, nor our power or prestige, nor the size of our bank account, nor even our age. When people put their trust in Jesus Christ, they become people loved and precious in the sight of God! They become persons for whom the Son of God poured out his life on a Cross.
Then Paul goes on to say that the abundant life in Christ gives us another essential for staying alive as long as we live: a sense of purpose. Having a purpose is what makes life worthwhile. Helen Keller once said that she wanted to do more than "spend" her life -- she wanted to "invest" it! Jesus Christ offers each of us the chance to invest our lives in the greatest purpose of all time -- the bringing of God's Kingdom to this earth. No matter how old or how infirm we may be, there is always something we can do for Jesus Christ! Many people think they have no gift that Christ can use. But someone once said, "It is amazing how much God can accomplish through an imperfect person who is willing to put all of his or her imperfections at God's disposal."
Still a third ingredient for staying alive as long as you live, according to Paul, is a positive mental outlook. Paul says, "Base your happiness on your hope in Christ." That is, do not focus on your problems but instead keep your eyes on the Living Christ. An old hymn carries the same message: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace." With our eyes on Christ, every day can be a new experience of abundant life!
Closing Prayer
O God, fill us with your Spirit, so that we can live our lives in the fullness of your joy and in the knowledge that we are precious in your sight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
