Say “Yes!”

Preached on an Annual Meeting Sunday

[This sermon looks at the stewardship of our choices and all parts of our lives. It is not a money sermon.  It works equally well not on an annual meeting Sunday.]

I know not a lot of time today to read all the Annual reports.

So much happening!  So busy we are.

So much that it’s not possible for any one person to be part of it all.

As the number of activities and programs we could each be a part of increases, each of us will be required to pick and choose how we are involved.  It’s true in all aspects of life.  Especially if you have kids, but I hear it’s equally true in retirement.

It’s no longer possible for any of us, to do it all.

Which requires a new way of thinking.

What I don’t want is any of us to get the idea that IF I CAN’T DO IT ALL I WON’T DO ANY OF IT!

Instead, each of us needs to ask ourselves the question:  Which activities will help me to grow in faith?  Which activities will I make time for in my busy schedule?

Adopting this new mind-set will also require us to learn a vital skill - HOW TO SAY “NO.”  Both in our church life, and equally in our personal and family lives. 

Saying “NO” can be a hard skill to learn.  NO can disappoint people.  NO can put us at odds with people.  NO can make us feel guilty.  At least it can seem that way at the time.  But NO is required for healthy living.

Let me ask you, “What do you need to say NO to in your life?”  “How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

[If you are able to, this is a good point to show the Nooma video “Shells.”  If you can’t that’s OK.]

I want to suggest that in order to say NO, I have to know to what I’ve said YES.

Doesn’t that make sense?

It’s an idea that Rob Bell develops in a video in the Nooma series entitled “Shells”.

He tells the story of one of his kids running into the ocean to grab a starfish, only to find that he can’t because his hands are already full of shells.  The only way to get the starfish is to let go of the shells.  The idea is clear.  If I’ve said yes to shells, then I can’t also say yes to the starfish.  In order to say yes to the starfish, I have to say no to the shells.

Think about that in your life.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to hockey, than I have to say NO to activities that interfere with hockey.  Right?

If I’ve said YES to getting the best job I can, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of getting that job.  It makes sense.

If I’ve said YES to keeping my family intact and healthy, then I have to say NO to anything that gets in the way of that goal.  Of course.

If I’ve said YES to growing closer to God by following Jesus, then again, I have to say NO to anything that stands in the way of growing that relationship.  It just makes sense.  In fact it more than makes sense, it’s imperative.

So Rob Bell encourages us with this idea, “We must examine the rhythms of our life if we’re ever going to will the one thing.”  Hear the need for intentionality in that statement?  Randomly reacting to life’s opportunities isn’t good enough.  Just doing everything that comes our way, isn’t good enough.  There MUST be intentionality.  We MUST examine and choose with purpose. 

What have I said YES to?

What have you said YES to?

And this is so true, not just for us personally, but also for us as a church.  Saying NO is based on what we have already said YES to.

As a congregation of God’s people striving to follow Jesus we have said YES to this:
[The mission statement for your congregation].

Therefore, to what might we have to say NO?

Having said YES to our mission will help us decide to what we have to say NO.

Having said YES to these things will help us decide what we have to let go of, what we have to lay down, and also, to what we have to say YES!

So here’s my hope and prayer for us this year and in the coming years.  Guided by God’s Spirit and embracing God’s path for us, in our personal lives and as a church, may we be healthy, may we be intentional, and may we be like Jesus, able to say NO, because we’ve already said YES.

Think about it:

1.    What do you need to say NO to in your life?

2.    How do you decide whether to say NO to something?”

3.    To what have you said YES?

AMEN.