Communion With God s People 8/30/15

Transcription

1 Communion With God s People 8/30/15 -Lord s Supper Intro: -1 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NLT) For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it." 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again. 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. -3 things about the Lord s Supper that we need to be aware of: (1) IT REMINDS US OF OUR PAST - This is my body, broken for you. This new covenant is confirmed with my blood -Jesus, our perfect and sinless God, willingly crawled upon a cross that had your name and my name on it -Taking our sin and shame -Enduring God s wrath because of it. -We deserved to die because of our sin and rebellion but Jesus took our place. -He now extends His hand of forgiveness to anyone willing to -Trust in His sacrifice -Believe on His Name (2) IT REMINDS US OF OUR FUTURE -We do this until He comes again. -One day soon, all who believe in Jesus will share a meal with Jesus in Heaven at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. (3) IT REMINDS US OF OUR PRESENT - Not unworthily - That is why you should examine yourself -We partake with clean hands and a pure heart. -We are to be prepared before we partake -Only for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus -Only for those whose hearts are right with God. -(Parents, talk with your children about this) -Explain our process: -Don t dismiss by rows there are several stations located throughout the auditorium. -After I pray, you can get up and go to the stations when you are ready. -One of our elders will be at each station to pray with you and minister to you

2 -Afterwards return you your seat and we will continue our time of worship. -Pray and Dismiss to Stations -Announcements: -Dismiss our Kidzworld Kids to their classrooms. -Recognize Kristen Olsen As we are right in the middle of Bridge Group sign-ups, we need to talk about the importance of -Living in community with one another. -When the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives, he begins to lead us into the area of Community with God s people. -As we walk through the door of salvation and live in the land of salvation, we are not to live there alone. -God is very specific that He wants all of us to be in community. -Example: -When God makes children, does he just randomly drop one from the sky? -No, he puts children into the context of a family unit. -What s the purpose of the family? -Healthy and secure place to grow physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. -The same is true for us in the church. -In the Bible, the phrase one another appears 58 times. Here are a few of these Scriptures. -John 13:35 (NIV) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -Romans 12:10 (NIV) Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. -Galatians 5:13 (NLT) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. -Colossians 3:13 (NIV) Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. -Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. -1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. *If we were not meant to live in community, then what do you do with all of these Scriptures? -If you don t live in community with others, these Scriptures are useless. -John Wesley The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion Let s illustrate the importance of community further (10,000 foot view and narrow in)

3 (1) The Godhead -God exists in community (3 persons.) -God lives in community with Himself as Father, Son, HS -Which shows that God is a social being rather than a solitary being. -Genesis 1:26 (NIV) Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. -John 17:4-5 (NLT) I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. -God initiates community with us -1 John 4:10 (NIV) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. -God longs to live in community with us. (He loved us) -God commands us to live in community with one another -Because He knows that His kids grow best in the context of a family (2) Creation -God called Adam living by himself in the garden, Not good. -The only thing called not good is man on his own. -Genesis 2:18 (NLT) Then the LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him. -God then brings all the animals to Adam so he could find a helper from them. -None of them fit. -Then God creates a woman from him. -Genesis 2:22 (NLT) Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. -God s plan from the very beginning was for us to live in community (3) Israel -God called Israel into a relationship with Himself -He wooed them and loved them and adorned them and put His blessing and favor upon them. -He declared His marriage vows to them (Sovereign Choice) -Instead of loving Him back, they gave themselves to the surrounding nations. -God sent judgment upon them and called what they were doing adultery. -God initiated that relationship with them. -God sought them out even though He knew the consequences that would come (4) Jesus on Earth -Jesus was part of a community (disciples) -He shared the experience of seeing Him in all of His glory at the Transfiguration -They experienced some of His most intimate moments as He wept in the garden. -God set it up this way. -Jesus invited them into His world.

4 -He invites us into His world and He commands us to invite others into our worlds (5) The Church -The church has many names (Temple, House, Body, Brotherhood, FAMILY) -God s family is very big as we join together with the total body of Christ -I experienced this as I met with people in Guatemala and Africa. -God s family is also very small -Of the 114 times that the word church is mentioned in the Bible -92 of those times it refers to the local, centralized, body of believers. -Acts 2:42-47 (NLT) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. -They devoted themselves they made a commitment to grow spiritually. -The Word of God, Fellowship, Sharing Meals Together, Prayer. -This is a true picture of the church. -You can t do all of these things if you just come on Sunday mornings and go home. -God birthed these desires within them. -He s birthing the same things in us as well. -The local church is God s idea and what He gave us is a good thing questions: - What does it mean to live in community? -It means that you are now living in the mix. (on campus vs off campus) -It means that you are getting to know the people around you and they are getting to know you. - Why is it so important to be in community? 4 Things. (1) It is vital to your spiritual health -Coal: Burn out -Babies, not held, will suffer greatly including death. -A mother commenting on this subject had this to say: Like love, one has to be touched to live. No one can survive without giving love and receiving love. No one can live without touching and being touched." -Living in community is not optional. God gave it to us for us to be spiritually healthy (2) It is vital to your spiritual growth -You grow strong in the context of community

5 -Encouragement -Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. -Encouraged to be faithful to God, to stick it out when it gets tough. -Encouraged to do the right thing. -Encouraged by others to keep going. -Accountability ( so that you may be healed. ) -You can t hide. -It is a place where you are asked real questions tough questions. -Ministry -We take care of the needs of one another. -We use our spiritual gifts to serve one another. -Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (3) It is vital to your spiritual relationship with God -If God s commands that we do life together and we don t do life together, can you be in a right relationship with God? -1 John 2:6 (NIV) Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. -Galatians 6:2 (NLT) Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. -1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT) Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. -When you obey God, God promises a blessing will follow. -John 12:26 (NIV) Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. -When we obey God and honor God, God will honor us (4) It is vital to your spiritual enjoyment -Friendship -Growing together. Laughing together. Bonding together. -That s what the church should look like. -Acts 2:47 (NLT) All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved What does it look like to be in community? -A funnel -Big part at the top represents our gathering together on Sunday mornings. -Worshipping Together at Venice High School -Celebrate together sing together Hear the Word of God together experience the presence of God together give our tithes and offerings together serve together.

6 -Middle part represents Meeting Together With a Small Group of People -Centered around The Word of God -Centered around doing life together -The place where real and authentic church takes place. -Small part represents Meeting with a few people -People who really know you and who can hold you accountable. -Thank God for Steve Cleckner in my life asking me tough questions. -All three are Biblical. -All three are necessary Are you living in authentic community? -If not, what is God asking you to do to get to that point and what s keeping you from getting there? -Schedule? Give your schedule to God. -Fears? Give your fears to God. -Pride that says I don t need anyone? Give your pride to the Lord.