Founders Day Chapel is one of the featured events at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) annual Homecoming and Family Weekend. It brings students, families, alumni, faculty and staff to worship together and honor the Alumnus of the Year. This year’s honoree, Ryan McDermott, is a teaching pastor and the senior executive director of family ministry at Christ Fellowship Church.
“Ever since Bernie [Cueto] called me a couple of weeks ago to talk about this, I jokingly said, ‘The only people more surprised about this recognition than I am, are my professors,’” McDermott said.
In his message, McDermott encouraged the congregation to say ‘yes’ to wherever the Lord is leading you.”
Referring to Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem despite not knowing what would happen to him in Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”
It shows how we must trust in God even when the road is unclear.
This led to his second point: say ‘yes’ to going without knowing.
McDermott said, “We often want to know the full plan before the obedience, but that’s not how it works. You often have to give God your ‘Yes’ before knowing the plan.”
That doesn’t mean the journey won’t be challenging.
His third point: say ‘yes’ to the cost that comes with the calling.
“What God longs for you to do with your life is going to cost you something,” said McDermott.
In the Scripture, Paul was unsure how the plan was going to work out but God told him it is not going to be great for him.
McDermott referred to Acts 20:23, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
“We don’t follow Jesus because following him is easy. We follow Jesus because he’s worthy,” said McDermott.
McDermott’s fourth point was to say ‘yes’ to the mission of God: spreading the good news and bringing people to the kingdom.
“Every follower of Jesus is called to participate in the mission of God. Whatever that looks like for you,” said McDermott. “God is on a mission in the world around us, and he is simply inviting us to participate in the work that he is doing in the world.”
In Acts 20:24, Paul experienced God’s grace, and his mission was to tell the world about it.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Which led to McDermott’s final point: We keep saying ‘yes’ until the task is complete.
“It is yielding your ‘Yes’ to God every moment of every day, staying focused, and staying faithful until the task is complete,” said McDermott.
For more information about PBA’s Chapel services, click here.
