ONE MORE YEAR

TEXT- LUKE 13:1-9

INTRODUCTION

A MAN WOKE UP ONE MORNING, BEGAN TO READ THE NEWSPAPER AND DISCOVERED THAT HIS NAME HAD BEEN PRINTED IN THE OBITUARY COLUMN BY MISTAKE. BEING VERY UPSET HE WENT TO THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE AND COMPLAINED. "THIS IS TERRIBLE!" HE SAID, "YOUR MISTAKE WILL CAUSE ME NO END OF EMBARRASSMENT AND WILL ALSO CAUSE ME TO LOSE BUSINESS.  HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?"  THE EDITOR EXPRESSED HIS REGRETS, BUT THE MAN WAS UNSATISFIED AND BECAME UNREASONABLE.  FINALLY THE EDITOR SAID IN DISGUST, "CHEER UP, I'LL PUT YOUR NAME IN THE BIRTH COLUMN TOMORROW AND GIVE YOU A NEW START IN LIFE!"

BEGINNING A NEW YEAR IS LIKE GETTING A NEW START IN LIFE.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 13:1-9 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "ONE MORE YEAR."

I HAVE TAKEN THIS TITLE FROM VERSE 8 AND 9 WHERE THE NIV SAYS, "'SIR,' THE MAN REPLIED, 'LEAVE IT ALONE FOR ONE MORE YEAR, AND I'LL DIG AROUND IT AND FERTILIZE IT.  IF IT BEARS FRUIT NEXT YEAR, FINE!  IF NOT, THEN CUT IT DOWN.'"

WITH 1996 BEGINNING TOMORROW, GOD IS GIVING US ONE MORE YEAR.

HE IS GIVING US A FRESH START.

HE IS GIVING US A SECOND CHANCE.

AS WE EXAMINE WHAT JESUS SAYS IN OUR TEXT I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT TWO WAYS GOD GIVES US SECOND CHANCES TODAY.