Right now, all over America there are graduation exercises in the months of May and June. We see signs in yards in our community that highlight a High School or college graduates that lives there. There are parties, there are graduation trips, and there are graduation ceremonies. At those ceremonies proud family members and friends watch a loved one as their name is announced, they walk across the stage, get a handshake from the Principal or University president, then are handed a diploma that states that this student has now officially met all the qualifications for a graduation from this institution. Rightfully so, our western culture has placed a great deal value on this moment. It is a rite of passage. It is a historical moment worthy of great photos. This spectacular event marks a proud new chapter in this person’s life.
We all know what a graduation ceremony is. But many of us do not know what a Baccalaureate is. In our modern world there are still baccalaureates in some places, but often even when they have one, few understand what it really is and why we would consider having one, and most often they are sparsely attended. The last baccalaureate service I attended was led by a former Youth Pastor at our church about 25 years ago, Sean Smith. Sean was asked to speak to graduates at our own Decatur High School back in the late 1990’s. Sean did a great job speaking at it, but I remember that there were no more than about 20 students in attendance. Of course it was voluntary in attendance, but there were almost 400 graduates.
Baccalaureate is a Christian tradition that began in Oxford England in the mid 1500’s. It was led by the Church in that community to not only honor the academic achievements of the students but help them all realize the spiritual significance of why they were graduating with an academic degree. In other words, now that you have achieved this degree, how can Almighty God use you with this achievement for His Glory and His Gospel work in this world. Graduation was an opportunity to worship the God who gave us the intellect to achieve. And most important baccalaureate was a way to dedicate my graduation to advance the Gospel. To state it again, this degree, this diploma, this achievement is NOT just for your personal use. It is for Him.
This Sunday I am teaching in this series again that we are calling “The Gospel in Every Chapter of Life.” We are going to recognize graduates, and essentially, I am preaching a baccalaureate sermon to the graduates. We as a Church family will have a special gift for the graduates, and we will together pray for them. I urge you to read ahead as you prepare for worship with the family. I am highlighting three Scriptural passages in this message. Read them ahead as you prepare for worship with the family:
- Psalm 119:9-11
- Hebrews 4:12-13
- Proverbs 3:5-6
See you Sunday We celebrate our graduates!
