08-16-2026 Sermon Title Between the Dash
"The Life That Matters Most"
Primary Scripture:
Psalm 90:12 – " So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Supporting Scriptures:
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James 4:14
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14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: -
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, -
Matthew 25:2121 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
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2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
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Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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Introduction
Yesterday we attended the ‘Home going of my friend and teammate from the 1983 NC State National Championship Cozell McQueen. Good man, teammate, husband, brother but most of all a ‘Man of God’ There were about 300 people who got hear how this man spent his life ‘Between The Dash’
He will be buried tomorrow
One of the most sobering experiences in life is walking through a cemetery.
As you look across the rows of headstones, you'll notice that every marker contains three things:
A birth date. A death date.
And between those two dates is a tiny dash.
For example:
1948 — 2025
The dates tell us when someone entered this world and when they left it.
But the dash tells the story of everything in between.
The dash represents every smile.
Every tear. Every decision. Every relationship.
Every success. Every failure. Every prayer.
Every sacrifice. Every act of kindness. Every opportunity.
When people gather for your funeral, they won't spend much time talking about your birth date or your death date.
They will spend their time talking about your dash.
The question every one of us must answer is:
"What will my dash say about me?"
1. The Dash Is Short
James 4:14
"What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
Life feels long when you're young.
Children can't wait to become teenagers.
Teenagers can't wait to become adults.
Adults can't wait to retire.
Then suddenly you begin asking,
"Where did the years go?"
The older we become, the quickly time seems to pass.
Moses prayed,
Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days."
Notice he didn't pray,
"Teach us to count other people's days."
He prayed,
"Teach us to count our own."
When we realize life is brief, we begin to value what really matters.
We stop wasting time holding grudges.
We become quicker to forgive.
We become slower to complain.
We begin investing in eternal things.
Truth:
Life is too short to spend it on things that won't matter in eternity.
2. The Dash Is Filled with Choices
Every day God gives us choices.
Choose faith or fear.
Choose forgiveness or bitterness.
Choose generosity or selfishness.
Choose obedience or compromise.
No one accidentally becomes a godly person.
Godliness is built one decision at a time.
Every decision writes another sentence in your dash.
People often think one big decision changes everything.
Usually it doesn't.
Life is shaped by thousands of ordinary decisions.
Showing up. Keeping your word. Reading Scripture.
Praying. Serving. Encouraging.
Choosing integrity when nobody is watching.
Your character is built quietly long before it is displayed publicly.
3. The Dash Is About Relationships
Jesus summarized the entire law with two commands.
AND THIS IS MY LIFE MOTO Love God. Love people.
Matthew 22:37-39.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
At the end of life, nobody wishes they had spent more time at the office.
People wish they had loved better. Forgiven sooner.
Served more. Spent more time with family.
Encouraged more people.
Never underestimate the ministry of kindness.
Sometimes the greatest sermon you'll ever preach is the way you treat people.
People may forget your words.
They rarely forget how you made them feel.
4. The Dash Is About Faithfulness, Not Fame
Matthew 25:21
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
Notice Jesus did not say, "Well done, famous servant."
Or, "Well done, wealthy servant."
Or, "Well done, talented servant."
He said,
"Faithful servant."
God measures success differently than the world.
The world celebrates popularity.
God celebrates faithfulness. The world rewards position.
God rewards obedience.
The world applauds achievement. God honors character.
Your assignment is not to be famous. But if you are, WHO GETS THE CREDIT (GOD)
Your assignment is to be faithful.
THIS NOT MORBID BUT TRUTH
5. The Dash Ends
Hebrews 9:27 reminds us,
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
One day every dash comes to an end.
No one knows how long theirs will be.
Some dashes are ninety years.
Some are thirty.
Some are only a few days.
IN TODAY’S WORLD Millions have die in the WOMB (ANOTHER SERMON)
Length isn't the measure. Faithfulness is.
The question is not, "How long will I live?"
The question is, "How well will I live?"
6. Jesus Changes the Dash
Without Christ, our dash ends in death.
With Christ, our dash becomes preparation for eternity.
Jesus didn't merely come to improve our lives.
He came to redeem them.
He gives purpose to our work.
Hope in our suffering.
Peace in our trials.
Forgiveness for our sins.
Victory over death.
Because of Jesus, the dash isn't the end of the story.
It's the beginning of eternity.
Conclusion
The Apostle Paul looked back over his dash and said,
2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Notice he didn't talk about how much money he made.
How many titles he held. Or how famous he became.
He simply said, "I kept the faith."
One day your family will gather around your casket.
Someone will stand to speak. Stories will be told.
Tears will be shed.
Laughter may even fill the room as cherished memories are shared.
But what will they say about your dash?
Will they say you loved God?
Will they say you loved people?
Will they say you served faithfully?
Will they say you forgave freely?
Will they say you lived with integrity?
The dash is being written today.
Every decision. Every conversation. Every prayer.
Every act of kindness. Every step of obedience.
You cannot rewrite yesterday's pages.
Tomorrow is not promised.
But today, by God's grace, you can write a new chapter.
So live each day in such a way that when you stand before the Lord, you will hear the words every believer longs to hear:
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
ALL OF THIS START WITH BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
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I realize that everyone is comfortable with a public profession of faith in Jesus. If you want the opportunity for salvation is a small intimate environment
Reach out to us by calling of texting 336-338-8037 or southplainfieldfriends.org/ click on contact us and we will guide you through the next steps.
If you’re ready to surrender your life to Christ and to be a part of a loving community of people (THAT AREN’T PERFECT) But will Love you
Say this prayer with me
Jesus,
I know that I need You.
I believe You died for my sins
and rose again to give me new life.
Today, I turn from my old ways
and give my life fully to You.
Please forgive me of my sins,
change me,………and lead me ……from this day forward.
I trust You as my Savior,
Thank You for loving me and saving me.
Amen.
If you said this prayer and truly believe it in your heart, we believe that you are a Christian.
Luke 15:10
10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Reach out to us 336-338-8037 southplainfieldfriends.org/ click on contact us and we will guide you through the next steps.
Invite someone to come with you here.