The Elements of Worship
Ø A
Ø C ommunion
Ø T
Ø S
Ø P
Ø O
Ø E
Ø M
Ø S
COMMUNION #3 with Jeff Martin
August 27, 2006
Here’s the best I could remember from this morning.A few weeks ago, Adam asked me if I would preach on August 27. I toldhim that I wasn’t the up-front guy who’s supposed to preach, like him.I was more of a behind the scenes guy.He told me to think about it and let him know.
I’ve been stressing out about it ever since.I read the passage, 1 Corinthians 11:27-34, through a few times. Iread the cross reference Scriptures. I read a few commentaries bythose who were or are preachers.I made a few notes and thought it sounded pretty good, so I e-mailedthem to Adam.He said, “Are you sure that’s what you want to say?”
I immediately took it the wrong way and thought he was criticizing me.He said that he wasn’t, but he was asking if those were my words orGod’s words.He suggested that I pray again about it and then just wait for God tospeak.I did.Then God did.What I heard was totally different from what I had written before, andit made more sense. It was a clearer message. I made more notes andnow I was ready. Until this morning.
As I was taking my shower, I asked God again for clarity on what I wassupposed to say this morning.That’s when I heard in my heart, “Just fear Me.”
I didn’t have any of that written down, so when I got dressed Istarted looking for the words “Fear Me” in the Bible..
I found them in Ecclesiastes 12:13.Solomon wrote this book and what he said was that nothing else in thewhole world mattered except to “fear God, and obey His commands.”That’s what the Corinthians lacked- fear of God. Everything they weredoing was self-centered, not Christ-centered. Everything that Paul wasrebuking them for, it could have been turned around by fearing God andobeying Him and His commands.Take every verse in this passage, and understanding the wrong thischurch was doing, then look at your own life for any similarities, doyou have the fear of God?That’s what I tried to do this morning. I spoke from the heart- nonotes- and tried to point out that we all need the fear of God totruly worship Him at Communion.
I can’t remember anything else I said.
Jeff
Monday, August 28, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
ACTS POEMS: Communion Part 2
The Elements of Worship
Ø A
Ø C ommunion
Ø T
Ø S
Ø P
Ø O
Ø E
Ø M
Ø S
COMMUNION Sermon 2
August 13, 2006
Adam told a story of a time in college when communion first became real to him during a 24 prayer experience in his dorm
JESUS & THE PASSOVER CEREMONY
Ø God skips the Hebrew homes ~ Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 "This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time. 17 "Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day.
Ø Jesus fulfills the Passover ~ Matthew 26:26-30 (Mark 14 & Luke 22) "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”
Ø God skips the Christian hearts ~ JOHN 6:35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty… 47 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.48 Yes, I am the bread of life!49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever."
Proclaiming The Message Jesus
Ø Paul received the communion story from the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Ø He passed it on to the Corinthian church.
Ø We remembered His story last week
Ø Every time we eat of the bread and drink of the cup, we identify ourselves as ones redeemed. (John 6:54-58)
Ø A
Ø C ommunion
Ø T
Ø S
Ø P
Ø O
Ø E
Ø M
Ø S
COMMUNION Sermon 2
August 13, 2006
Adam told a story of a time in college when communion first became real to him during a 24 prayer experience in his dorm
JESUS & THE PASSOVER CEREMONY
Ø God skips the Hebrew homes ~ Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 "This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time. 17 "Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day.
Ø Jesus fulfills the Passover ~ Matthew 26:26-30 (Mark 14 & Luke 22) "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”
Ø God skips the Christian hearts ~ JOHN 6:35 Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty… 47 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.48 Yes, I am the bread of life!49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh." 52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. 53 So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever."
Proclaiming The Message Jesus
Ø Paul received the communion story from the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Ø He passed it on to the Corinthian church.
Ø We remembered His story last week
Ø Every time we eat of the bread and drink of the cup, we identify ourselves as ones redeemed. (John 6:54-58)
Monday, August 07, 2006
ACTS POEMS: Communion
August 6, 2006
COMMUNION WEEK #1
Acts 2:41-47 “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about 3,000 in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 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—all the while praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”
This week was a community experience of remembering what communion was all about. We praised the Lord in many songs and Jeff read a lot of Scripture. Here are the texts that he read during our celebration. There was no formal sermon except for Adam’s closing thoughts at the bottom.
The Story of Stories
v Luke 22:14-20 à The Lord’s Supper Initiated
v Mark 15:1-15 à The Trial
v Mark 15:25-30 à The Crucifixion
v Matthew 28:1-9 à The Resurrection
Closing
l Communion is the only element of worship that is repeated both corporately and communally in this passage of Scripture. I think it underscores its importance of REMEMBERING the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as THE story of the church.
l In the next few weeks we will be uncovering more aspects of communion before moving on to the other elements of our worship.
l These elements include:
Ø A ltar Calls
Ø C ommunion
Ø T alks from the Pastor
Ø S mall and Large Gatherings
Ø P rayer
Ø O ffering
Ø E ating
Ø M iracles
Ø S inging
COMMUNION WEEK #1
Acts 2:41-47 “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about 3,000 in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 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—all the while praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”
This week was a community experience of remembering what communion was all about. We praised the Lord in many songs and Jeff read a lot of Scripture. Here are the texts that he read during our celebration. There was no formal sermon except for Adam’s closing thoughts at the bottom.
The Story of Stories
v Luke 22:14-20 à The Lord’s Supper Initiated
v Mark 15:1-15 à The Trial
v Mark 15:25-30 à The Crucifixion
v Matthew 28:1-9 à The Resurrection
Closing
l Communion is the only element of worship that is repeated both corporately and communally in this passage of Scripture. I think it underscores its importance of REMEMBERING the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as THE story of the church.
l In the next few weeks we will be uncovering more aspects of communion before moving on to the other elements of our worship.
l These elements include:
Ø A ltar Calls
Ø C ommunion
Ø T alks from the Pastor
Ø S mall and Large Gatherings
Ø P rayer
Ø O ffering
Ø E ating
Ø M iracles
Ø S inging
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