Sermon

A Time to Keep and a Time to Throw Away

How are you doing deciding what to do with your time.
 
The average person will live:

    * 70 years
    * 840 months
    * 3,640 weeks
    * 25, 480 days
    * 611,520 hours
    * 36, 691,200 minutes

Galatians 4:4-5  
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.
¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time . He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
   

1. Let’s talk about being late.  

    * ICA late Survey results

ICA late Survey  
Why are people often late?
 
    * Everyone is doing it so it’s normal
    * They think the worship is not important
    * Family is not ready yet
    * The traffic is bad
    * They think why should I come on time if the others are not on time.
    * They don’t respect the person who is inviting them.
    * It is part of our culture
    * Something urgent came up.
    * The Weather: rain, heat cold...
    * They don’t plan well
    * I was held up at work

How do you feel when people are late? NOTE Not one person said they liked it if someone was late to meet them and they were on time.  

    * I want to bite their head off
    * It’s so common here I get used to it
    * I get upset
    * I think they are lousy people
    * I don’t like it that my time is wasted.
    * I get angry  
    * I cancel the appointment with them.
    * I can accept it if they are usually on time but if they are always late it’s all lies to me.
    * I feel unappreciated

What’s your most common excuse when you are late?  

    * They made a mistake about their appointment time.
    * They woke up late
    * I’m waiting for my kids
    * Waiting for my Husband / Wife
    * I’m never late.
    * If I’m going to be late I call postpone the meeting


1. Let’s talk about being late.  

    * ICA late Survey results
    * If you are late for a show you may not get in.  Matthew 25 :1
    * What are some legitimate excuses for being late?
    * What happens when you are late?
    * What are you saying to others?
    * Why am I bringing this up?

II. Let’s talk about time to God. Isa 49:8  

    * God’s time and our time are not the same.
    * Ps 105:16-19   He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,  cutting off its food supply.  ¹⁷ Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.  ¹⁸ They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.  ¹⁹ Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character.
    * We should live lives that are subject to God’s time for them.
    * What are you waiting for today.  All Mysteries will be revealed to us in eternity.

III. How can you use your time more wisely or keep your time?  

    * Plan well.
    * Start early.
    * Think about where you are going and who you are meeting.
    * If you are going to be late let the person know about it.

IV. What will a timely life do for you?  

    * You will honor God
    * You will honor your friends
    * You will honor strangers and be someone who can be counted on.

GO Question

Ice Breaker:  Share with your go group members your memorable experience of being
                      late.
 
Title:  A Time to Keep and a Time to Throw Away
 
Questions:
 
1.  Pastor Jeff said that the average person will live  70 years, 840 months, 3640
     weeks, 25480 days, 611520 hours, and 36691200 minutes.  How well do you
     manage your time?
 
2.  Everybody is given 24 hours a day, why do some people find time not enough?
     What seems to be the problem?
 
3.  In the bible, Jesus was often late in arriving for things, but in the end, it turned out
     to be the right moment.  How can we spot the right timing?
 
4.  In Eccl 3: 1-13 says there is a season for everything.  We should be happy and
     enjoy the fruits of our labor, as these are gifts from God. Does it mean we should 
     wait for things to happen?
 
5.  God’s time is not the same as ours.  Why does God make us wait?
 
6.  In what occasion are we more prone to be late?  Why?
 
7.  What action can we take so that we can honor God, friends, and stranger with our
      time?
 
Pray for commitment of member to be on time to church.

GO Question by Frosin Driyorejo