OPENING PRAYER
Oh God, there are times when we become impatient with You.
We want to know all the answers
and become frustrated when we don’t see Your justice.
Your plans and Your ways seem so distant to us.
Forgive us in the times when we give up on You.
Remind us of Your presence
and allow us to see further into Your kingdom.
We are impatient with others,
wanting everyone’s priorities to be like ours.
We demand that others listen to us
but often do not make the time to hear them.
Release us from our impatience,
have mercy on the people around us,
and fill us with Your Spirit of love and peace.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
SERMON
Galatians 5:22-25 NRSV
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
POINT: Patience is not just about
James 5:7-11 NRSV
Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged.
See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about, for the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
“A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” —Henri J.M. Nouwen
POINT: A distinguishing characteristic of Christian patience is that it is rooted in
The “Framing Effect” suggests that people make decisions based on how an issue is presented or “framed” rather than on the facts presented.
HOPE & TRUST
“Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility; Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, refrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom; Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty in the State, harmony in families and societies; she comforts the poor and moderates the rich; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calumny and reproach; she teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving; she adorns the woman, and approves the man; is loved in a child, praised in a young man, admired in an old man; she is beautiful in either sex and every age.” —Bishop Horne, Discourses on Several Subjects and Occasions Patience Portrayed
Matthew 6:33-34 NRSV - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.