Rev. David Holwick V Holwicks' final Sunday First Baptist Church Ledgewood, New Jersey June 24, 2018 Acts 20:17-27,35-36 A PASTOR'S FAREWELL I. It can be hard to say good-bye. A. Some ways work better than others. From a website on the best (worst) ways to say good-bye: 1) Tell them, "Adieu." While it may sound pretty benign and faintly European, "adieu" literally translates as "to God." This means it has a sense of finality, like "I won't see you again until after we're both dead." Not so charmingly now, is it? So, if you want a subtle, under-the-radar way of saying "I'd rather not see you again until I'm dead in the grave" consider "adieu." 2) Tell them, "You should leave." This sounds like a request, but it's not. It could also sound like a suggestion, but it's definitely not. "You should leave" is a polite way of saying "You need to leave right now." The person saying this doesn’t want to see you for one more second. They might say it in a sweet voice or a sharp one, but either way, they want you to go away immediately. [1] I haven't heard this one yet - to my face, anyway. 3) My son-in-law's suggestion - throw down the microphone and walk out. I told him I don't use a hand-held microphone. He said maybe I could do it just this once. But it's not my style. B. Paul gives a better way to say good-bye. 1) It is positive in tone. 2) It looks to the past, and to the future. 3) It points them to God. a) I would like to say good-bye like Paul does it. II. You know how I lived. 20:18 A. Our parsonage has been very open. 1) You know how messy we can be. a) But not now - Celeste did such a good job cleaning the bathrooms I told her we should delay our retirement one more year. But then it would get messy again. b) We tried not to put on airs or pretend we are something we are not. 2) We hope our home was never off-limits to you. a) We welcomed many into our home, and many of you welcomed us into yours. B. Our children have been open books as well. 1) Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy for Christian leaders - they must have control of their families and have kids who are well-behaved. 2) You may not have realized our kids were well-behaved because of all my sermon illustrations about them, but they were. 3) We raised our children in this church family so all of you have had a hand in how they turned out. 4) They gave as well as received - their friendships opened many opportunities of ministry for our church. III. You know how I served. 20:19 A. Ministry is a interesting career. 1) In a way, you are always on call. 2) Your whole family is taken up in it, in a way that few other careers require. 3) You get to know people on a deeper level, in the good times and the really hard times. B. Paul mentions humility and tears, which go well together. 1) I have never felt I had to present myself as perfect, just a Christian trying to do my best. a) I struggle with many of the things I preach about. b) There may have been times when you felt I was preaching directly about you. 1> I hope so. 2> Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is living and active and penetrates our soul, exposing the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 3> We should always feel the Bible is speaking directly about us. 2) Being a pastor means sharing in some of the greatest, and the worst, episodes in life. a) What may be a routine hospital visit for me, has been a life-or-death experience for you. b) This week someone in our community who has never been to this church, and is not a Christian, choked up when she told me how much it meant for her when I visited her husband at Morristown Hospital. c) It is a great privilege to be invited into people's lives like this, and it is also a great responsibility. d) I hope that you have found I took it seriously. C. Paul was severely tested by his opponents. 1) My experience in Roxbury has been much more positive. 2) The town has supported us in the National Day of Prayer, the town Christmas Tree lighting, and the food pantry. 3) Many in our town are ignorant of the gospel, and even more may be indifferent, but few are openly belligerent. 4) The atmosphere of acceptance may change, so use it to the advantage of the gospel while you can. IV. You know what I preached. 20:20 A. Paul tried to preach what is helpful. 1) I have had the same motivation. a) I hope my sermons have dealt with real issues you have faced in your life. 2) I have loved preparing my sermons, and delivering them. a) Digging deeper into the Bible is something I enjoy. b) I wish I was better at the delivery of a sermon. 1> I admire pastors who never look at notes and engage their congregation with direct eye contact. 2> I have been bound to notes from the beginning but I try to be as natural as I can be. c) To me, the content is more important than the delivery. 1> I have preached from almost every book in the Bible. 2> There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible and I have preached 1,327 sermons to you. 3> Almost every week I have distributed a condensed outline of my message. Here is how many there have been [hold up pile...] B. Presenting God's Word in a variety of settings. 1) Publicly - for us, that means in church. a) I have always loved this church. b) It is beautiful, and it is intimate. 1> Our sanctuary doesn't feel cold or overwhelming. 2> It is designed so that no one is too far away. c) One of our challenges is to get the public in here. 1> We have a lot of competition on Sunday morning. 2> Soft, warm, comfortable beds are at the top of the list! 3> But I really believe what the book of Ecclesiastes says, that God has set a desire for eternity in the hearts of every human being. A> They may not be religious, but they cannot have true contentment until they find God. B> We need to tell them how to find him. 2) From house to house - Bible studies. a) I was nurtured in Bible studies as a young Christian and I have always wanted to emphasize them. 1> In Bible studies, you can apply God's word in a practical way. b) Some have literally been in your homes. 1> Bob and Kathie Stark hosted the men's study for years. 2> The Sullivans and Bostedos have hosted the Tuesday Bible study, and the Bostedos even provide or arrange a full meal each week. 3> The women's Bible studies have been in a variety of locations with a variety of leaders. c) Our Bible studies are not lectures, but discussions with give and take. 1> I hope this church continues to sponsor many of them. C. Paul preached a consistent message. 1) It was the same for every group or ethnicity. 20:21 2) The message has always been: turn to God, repent, and put your faith in the Lord Jesus. 3) You may have to say good-bye to me, but never to Jesus! V. Compelled to move. 20:22 A. Paul felt called to Jerusalem; Celeste and I to Boothbay, Maine. 1) Neither Paul nor us knows what will happen. a) None of us do. b) Paul says he would never see them again, but he probably did - 1 Timothy shows that. God has the last word! 2) We make our plans but how often do they fail, or change direction? a) As the book of James tells us, we should always say, "...if it is God's will." B. Sometimes the goal is more important than the journey. 1) We like to emphasize the adventures of dealing with an unpredictable life, so we emphasize the journey. 2) Yet the Bible focuses on the finish line - salvation. a) The life of every Christian has a goal and a purpose. b) So many people these days cannot see a purpose in their life beyond getting more stuff, or having more experiences. c) Christians have something greater to aim for. 1> Do you have this purpose? 2> Do you have confidence in your spiritual status? 3) It is a do-or-die choice. a) Paul says he is innocent of their blood. 20:26 1> He is alluding to a passage in the book of Ezekiel. 2> God tells the prophet he is required to warn the people of God's call for repentance. 3> If he doesn't do this, God will hold him responsible for their blood. b) Salvation is serious stuff. 1> Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? 2> If you have not, my ministry has failed for you. 3> The gospel is good news, and God's grace is free and available to all. A> Make sure you don't neglect it. VI. Nothing is left but hugs and kisses. 20:37 A. Celeste and I are not alone in saying good-bye. 1) We have many visitors this morning who used to attend this church but said goodbye to us and moved away. a) Nancy Bartolec, a missionary for CRU (Campus Crusade) used to attend my FIRST church in Ohio! b) The Jackes have come from Pennsylvania, the Caddigans from the Jersey Shore, and Cathy Johnson even came from where Celeste and I are going to - Maine. 2) Other dear Christians have said their final good-byes to us. John and Trinka Osborne, who took us under their wings before you ever voted for me to be your pastor. Shirley Blewett, who was a real Baptist. It didn't matter what a pastor thought, she needed it proved from the Bible. Kenny Van Hook, who is now experiencing the song "I Can Only Imagine." Sam and Margaret Mino, some of the hardest-working people I have ever met. Howard and Bobbi Jacke Carolyn Cocking Edna Schuckmann Helen Stasilli Andy and Emelia Budin Millie Johnson Bill & Leila Henderson Goldy Weller Sr., the oldest person I have done a funeral for: 101. Karen Lang, my first secretary, and Sharon Lesko, one of my last B. You all have meant a lot to me. 1) I grew up without a sense of community and moved almost every year. 2) I have now lived in Ledgewood almost half my life! 3) This church has treated me, and my family, as one of your own. 4) I hope each of you feels the same acceptance and love here. C. I wish you enough. A pastor overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. The airline had just announced the plane would begin boarding. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough." The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to where the pastor was seated. He could see she wanted and needed to cry. He tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed him in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," he replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever goodbye?" She said, "I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral." The pastor had to bring up his curiosity. "When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them." Then turning toward the pastor she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory -- I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye. #20393 Christians don't have final good-byes, just temporary ones. It will always be "Hello!" in heaven. 1) It can also be "hello" on earth. a) Hopefully in the near future you will be greeting a new pastor in Ledgewood. b) Welcome them as you welcomed us. 2) The best is yet to come. a) I want this church to have a renewed vibrancy and see solid growth. b) And may all the glory be to God! ========================================================================= SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON: [1] “The Best (Worst) Ways to Say Goodbye,” no author given; <link>. #20393 “I Wish You Enough,” submitted by Pastor Dwayne, Dmpcc@charter.net, January 19, 2005. I do not know who the original author was. There are several versions of this story on the internet. These and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html ========================================================================= |
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