- my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom I would be nothing, but through whom I have
eternal life;
- my Christian family at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in West Columbia, SC, without whom I may
never been able to attend ILC for as long as I have (or will);
- the faculty of ILC for allowing me to present these chapel addresses at ILC.
*Note: The chapels listed on this page are ones that I had the privelege of sharing with the students at Immanuel Lutheran College. Some of them are dated the day that I gave the chapel, but unfortunately not all of them were. All hymns are taken from The Lutheran Hymnal.
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now,
Our hearts in true devotion bow,
Thy Spirit send with grace divine,
And let Thy truth within us shine. Amen.
TLH-3 v.1
Body: For my last chapel this year, I thought it would be suitable to use as a text the passage from Scripture that Amy and I have chosen as our graduation passage. This is a passage that helped me tremendously throughout my practice teaching experience. When I became overwhelmed with the work before me, which was often, I would remind myself of this passage and be able to finish the duty the Lord had laid before me.
Before I share this passage with you, however, I want us to look at the world's viewpoint on making it through tough times. "You can do anything you put your mind to." The world uses this phrase to encourage themselves to make it through times of frustration in school, in sports, at work, and in life. People who are lost in the darkness of this world are selfish, as are we at times due to our sinful flesh. When the going gets tough, the tough get arrogant or proud. They say, "I can do this thing I'm struggling with if I put my mind to it. There's nothing I can't do." This belief of the world has caused many to stumble.
James 4:6, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." This idea of I can do anything if I put my mind to it is false. John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Without Christ we can do nothing. Acts 17:28, "For in Him we live and move and have our being." Without the Father who preserves life we would not exist. Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Without the Holy Spirit, who creates faith, it would be impossible for us to do the Father's will. We can do nothing on our own. Without God, we would not even exist.
But we can do anything. Not because we put our minds to it, for we are "dead in trespasses and sins," but because "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, made us alive together with Christ." He gives spiritual life to us who are spiritually dead. So how are we able to do anything? We find the answer in the passage which I alluded to at the beginning of this chapel. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We can do anything through the strength which Christ gives us.
As I said before, I had to use this passage over and over again while I was student teaching, especially since I was sick seven out of the nine weeks. Had it not been for the strength Christ gave me while I was student teaching, I would have been utterly useless. Christ's love will strengthen you too. I want you to say the passage together with me. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Again. When you feel pressured by homework these last few weeks of school, Christ will strengthen you. When you feel sorrowful and guilty for a sin you've committed, Christ will take away that guilt and strengthen you. When you are sick and weak, Christ will strengthen you. When you are pressed about on all sides by temptation, it is Christ who gives you the strength to say, "No." When you are persecuted for being a Christian, Christ will strengthen you. When you feel like you can't go any further, turn your eyes to the cross and empty tomb and see that Christ has the power to give you this strength. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Amen!
Closing Hymn: "The Lord Hath Helped Me Hitherto" TLH-33