The In-Between
Yesterday, Sunday, May 5, marked a special day for me. Yesterday, I had the privilege and opportunity to deliver my very first sermon. The Division Chaplain gave me the challenge and blessing as Main Body 2 was moved to the Rhine Ordinance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany. We would be here Friday through Thursday with no Chaplain on ground. The Holy Spirit whispered a word of inspiration to me, and during our 9-hour bus ride, I wrote the rough draft to my first sermon on Friday. Inspired by my previous post “The Dash”, I used the Canva app to create the service poster (below) on Saturday.
On Saturday, I wrote the sermon on a small notepad and began to memorize it as best I could. Then Sunday morning, I woke up before anyone else, and secured the classroom available to us in the massive USO hangar. I set up the room, cleaned it, and prayed for every seat to be filled and for lives to be forever changed.
What I want to do today is share the transcript of that sermon. Enjoy.
Give greeting of the day.
Ask everyone to greet one another.
Open with two worship songs:
“Everyone please be seated.”
Opening prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer.
Tell the congregation why I am standing at the pulpit.
Talk about home church and the experience leading to kids ministry. “If I can teach a group of 4-year-olds the Word of God every week, surely I can share something new and exciting for a group of grown men (and women) this morning.”
“I do not stand here as an expert of the Word. I have never been to seminary. I took a few classes on the origins of the Hebrew Bible and World Religion in college. But what I have done is study the Holy Bible, the recorded, spoken Word of God, throughout generations. I want to share with you today what I consider my ‘Common Sense’ interpretation of what I consider the most important part of the Bible.”
“What I hope to do today is teach you something new. To open your eyes to the greatest work available to us. And I will do it by looking at four key verses in the Bible.”
Ask congregation to open their Bible, app on their phone, or simply GOOGLE Genesis 1:1.
Read Genesis 1:1-2.
“That is our first two verses.”
Ask congregation to turn to the very end of their Bible, or search Revelation 22:20.
Read Revelation 22:20-21.
“Those are our third and fourth verse. It is what is in between these four verses that offer the keys to the kingdom. What is between these four verses is what I want to talk about to you today, and what I call “The In-Between.”
“In the history of mankind, we have had several ‘in-between’s.’ The in-between from when God spoke the universe into existence to when He formed the earth. The in-between from God shaping our world to when He formed Adam from its dust. The in-between from Adam to Abraham, who became the patriarch of all three major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The in-between from Abraham to Moses. From Moses to Israel’s first King, set in place to lead their nation after they settled in the “Promised Land”. The in-between from Israel’s great kings, like David and Solomon, to the Prophets. From the prophets to Israel’s capture by the Babylonian empire. The “silent” in-between from when Babylon carried away the Israel people to the turn of history. For over four hundred years, God stopped speaking to His Chosen people as BC met AD, and the Old Testament ends, and the New begins.”
“Then we start the New Testament in betweens. Beginning with the miracle in the manger, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth to His time as a child. From Jesus teaching in the Temple to the moment John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. The in-between from the Jordan River, as Jesus launches His ministry and begins preaching and performing miracles around modern day Israel. This three year ministry was carefully documented by four independent eye witnesses and form the Gospels in the Holy Bible. Then we come to the first “great” in-between from Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified on the Cross, to Resurrection Sunday, when Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave. The next “great” in-between were the forty days where Jesus appeared to all His Disciples, His brother James, Saul on Damascus Road, and over 500 other eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. This in-between ends with Jesus’ ascension to sit at the right-hand of God. Then came the in-between from Jesus’ ascension to the start of the Christian church, as the Disciples turned to Apostles and began to spread the Good News of the Gospel around the world.”
“Now we are in what I consider the “Final” in between. As we anxiously await the return of the King of Kings, to take away all the pain, suffering, heartache, and evil of this world and usher His people into His Kingdom.”
“We are living in this last in-between. You are living in your in-between. For there is the day we’re born, the day we pass, and in between is just a dash. Just a dash. An ‘in-between’. Think about that. When I pass away, and I am going to give my age away here, my grave stone will say ‘Here lies SGT Z, born March 24, 1981 [dash] to the day I pass. In between those two dates is just a dash. An in-between. My in-between.”
“What am I doing with my in between? What are you doing with your in-between?”
“We are about to come to the end of one in-between. I arrived in theater on September 7. In four short days, the in-between of my time in Europe comes to an end. I hope you all made the most of your in-between over here.”
“I know most of you did. Most of you took this opportunity to get in the best shape of your lives. Some dedicated their free time to earning professional certificates. Some worked their asses off to earn a promotion. Many used their time to travel all over Europe and explore this beautiful part of the world. Some fell in love. We all made new friendships and built lasting partnerships in this great race we call life.”
“What did I do with my in-between here in Europe? Well, obviously, as I stand here before you today, I was referring to myself when I said some of us got in the best shape of our lives.” (Pause for laughter)
“No, what I really focused on was the in-between I first mentioned. The in-between from Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.”
“By March, I had read the entire Bible cover-to-cover. This marked the fourth time I have done this. Every time I read the Bible I see something new. I learn something different. I could read this Good Book a thousand times over, and each time I would get the same results. I wrote a 9-month devotional, edited it, and self-published the work to Amazon’s print-on-demand platform. I attended every Bible study each week to learn, grow, and hear from some of the wisest and intelligent men and women I have ever met. I attended as many Sunday Chapel services as I could to worship and hear amazing sermons from our Chaplains. And, finally, I was baptized for the first time as an adult and had the absolute honor and privilege to baptize two soldiers and assist in baptizing a third.”
“I do not stand up here telling you this to boast, for I can boast in Christ alone. I tell you these things to illustrate what you can accomplish when you focus on this in-between” (tap Bible).
“On May 10, we begin our next in-between. From when we finish re-integration, or demobilization for us MCPODers, to whatever your next big thing is. What are you going to do with your next in-between?”
“If you have never read the in-between of Genesis to Revelation, I challenge you to make that your focus. I challenge you to read the stories of ancient Israel, from Noah building the Ark, to Moses parting the Red Seas. I challenge you to read the history of Israel’s greatest judges, kings, and prophets; from Samson’s strength to the miracle of Daniel in the lion’s den. I challenge you to read those precious letters in red, the recorded spoken word of the Son of the Living God, the cornerstone of our Christian faith. And, finally, I challenge you to read the writing of the Apostles, who gave us the final words to help guide us on how to live righteous lives. Fill your next in-between with God’s in-between. Spend your time reading the one book that will forever change your life.”
“I eluded to four verses that would show you the most important lesson within this Bible, and I want to show them to you now. Open your Bibles, or app, and find Matthew Chapter 22, starting with verse 37. Here we find Jesus being questioned by a Pharisee. Now a Pharisee is one that was well-versed in the Jewish Law. They strictly followed all rituals and attempted to add even more rules for the Jews in the time of Jesus. This Pharisee asks Jesus what is the most important commandment in the law of Moses. Beginning in verse 37, and following the next four verses, Jesus gives His reply.”
Read Matthew 22:37-40.
These four verses teach us the greatest lessons to learn in the Bible: Love God with all your mind, body, and soul; and love ALL people as we love ourselves. If you do not believe me, find out for yourself and read this in between.” (Hold up the Holy Bible)
“Let us pray. With every head bowed and every eye closed, I ask you who will accept this challenge? Who will accept the challenge of reading the in between of God’s spoke word? Who will accept the challenge of devoting just a portion of your life to study the Holy Bible in its entirety? On the count of three, if you are ready to accept this challenge, raise your hand in the air. One, two, three.”
At that point, all but one in the audience raised their hands. I finished out the prayer and then concluded the service. At the end, I informed everyone that for those who raised their hands, I would have a signed copy of my latest devotional waiting for them at home. Those copies are currently on their way to our home in Georgia.
I hope this word gives you inspiration as well to read the entire Holy Bible from cover-to-cover. If you need a guide, a simple, nine-month reading plan, you can find one by clicking here. If you can not afford to buy one, send me a message at csrapostles@gmail.com and I will send you a copy. Read the Word, learn the Word, spread the Word, and Trample the enemy beneath your feet.
Common Sense Reborn 