Sunday Service on July 28, 2024

Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on July 28, 2024

Musical Offering

Sermon - Finding Sliver Linings

The sermon discusses finding silver linings in difficult situations, using biblical stories and parables to illustrate resilience and hope.

Key Insights:

• Finding silver linings helps cultivate happiness, especially during hardships. Recognizing the positive aspects can shift our perspectives and enhance our well-being.
• Biblical teachings provide guidance on resilience and faith, illustrating the importance of believing in a higher purpose amidst challenges.
• The old man’s story teaches that misfortunes can lead to unexpected blessings, encouraging us to remain hopeful in tough times.
• Daniel's deep-seated values of serving God and others played a pivotal role in his miraculous survival in the lion's den.
• Personal growth often emerges from trials, highlighting the necessity of perseverance and endurance in life’s challenges.
• Serving others can create a ripple effect of positivity, leading people back to God, the ultimate source of happiness.
• Recognizing God’s constant presence helps us see the silver linings in all situations, reinforcing our faith and hope in life’s journey.

The topic of today’s sermon is about finding silver linings. Since this is a sermon for youth service, I am using stories to dig into the topic. What are silver linings? Silver linings refer to the shining edges around clouds. It occurs when sunlight is refracted by the cloud droplets at the edge of clouds with larger drops. This phenomenon has become a metaphor referring to the positive elements found in difficult or negative circumstances. Studies indicate that identifying the silver linings in tough situations can contribute to our happiness.

Let us read two Bible verses before going to stories teaching us about silver linings.

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Exodus 33:19

The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4

At Sunday school, we discussed how to approach obstacles and hardships through the Chinese parable "The old man lost his horse," and I hope the attendees take this lesson to heart. I'm telling the story to the audience at today's Sunday service.

In China, there's a saying, “Sai Weng Shi Ma,” used when misfortune strikes, which serves as a reminder that even events perceived as unfortunate can have beneficial outcomes.

The following is a summary of the story.

A man in northern China experienced a series of fortunate and unfortunate events.

The man's horse ran away with wild horses, causing initial sadness but also a belief that something good might come from the misfortune.

The escaped horse came back with an additional horse, prompting praise from the villagers.

As the man's son trained the new horse, he suffered a leg fracture, yet the man stayed optimistic about potential positive outcomes.

The son's broken leg exempted him from a dangerous military draft, which spared his life as many other young men lost their lives.

The man concluded that even in difficult times, one should believe that something positive might emerge from adversity.

I am showing a short video clip of the story.

Did you enjoy the story?

Adopting the old man's positive outlook during difficult times may not be simple. One could realize from a lifetime of experiences that there's always a bright side to every situation. Here is another story, this one from the Bible's book of Daniel in the Old Testament, which offers perspective on finding those silver linings.

Daniel, a distinguished Jewish captive from Judah, was taken to Babylon. King Darius recognized Daniel’s exceptional qualities and appointed him as a top official in the Persian empire. This caused envy among other administrators who deceived the king into creating a decree that banned praying to any god or person except the king for thirty days. The penalty for breaking this law was being cast into a den of lions. Despite this, Daniel continued his prayers to God and was placed in the den of lions for a night. However, he was divinely protected throughout the night, with an angel closing the mouths of the lions, and Daniel remained unharmed.

This story is considered a divine miracle by the faithful and a myth to those with a scientific and pragmatic view. Some younger individuals might find the idea of an angel sealing the lions' mouths inconceivable.

In my opinion, it's more than just a story of divine intervention. The lions in the story could symbolize a deeper meaning. The term "lion's den" is often used to refer to a situation that is highly challenging due to significant adversity or hostility.

Daniel found himself in an alien place, surrounded by hostility, a situation expressed as a lion’s den.

We often find ourselves overwhelmed by adverse surroundings and entangled in difficult circumstances, akin to being eaten by lions.

Daniel's deep-seated values of serving God and others played a crucial role in his miraculous survival in the lion's den.

Now, let's examine his remarkable traits.

Even when confronted with adversity and life-threatening challenges, Daniel held firm to his beliefs.

His steadfast faith and continual devotion to God and those around him, including the king, were unwavering.

Daniel deeply affected the king, prompting him to recognize God in the end.

Let's examine the scripture detailing the king’s recognition of God.

King Darius wrote the following decree:

To all the peoples, nations, and languages inhabiting the entire earth: I wish you much peace. I now issue this command: In every region of my kingdom, all people must fear and revere Daniel’s God because:

He is the living God. God stands firm forever.

His kingship is indestructible. God’s rule will last until the end of time.

He is rescuer and savior; God performs signs and miracles in heaven 

and on earth.

Here’s the proof: He rescued Daniel from the lions’ power.

Let us conclude lessons from today’s stories.

God is ever-present, like the sun behind the clouds.

His goodness will manifest before us.

Thus, every situation has its silver lining.

Trials in life promote endurance, which leads to personal growth and maturity.

Our fundamental commitment to serving God and others can initiate change in our surroundings and lead people back to God, who is the source of happiness.

In difficult times, remember the stories from today and stick with your core values, then you will see the silver linings.