Pentecost

[0:00] In a moment, another announcement I forgot to say, we're doing well this morning, aren't! we? Is that Hahi and Q and Debbie and Bill next Sunday, I believe, is this correct, are! coming into membership. I meant to announce that. Is that news to you? You look shocked.

[0:19] Okay. Phil asked me to announce that this morning. Maybe. We'll get back to you if that is wrong. I think you're wrong. We're just sitting there today.

[0:31] Okay. Great. We're doing really well this morning, aren't we? We'll check with Phil. But God willing, in the next few weeks, that will happen. Yeah. We're doing really well. We need God's help.

[0:50] We always do. But that's a reminder that we do. So let's pray. Father God, thank you so much for your words. Thank you for speaking to us through it.

[1:08] And Father, we are weak. And we need your help. So please help us. Please help me as I speak and help all of us as we listen to your word. Would it be you clearly speaking in and through us? And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. A few weeks ago, we went to visit Portsmouth to the historic dockyard. And one of the highlights of it is you get to see the Mary Rose, this ship that's been under water for 500 years. It's been taken up out of the water and preserved for us to see. It's an incredible sight. And at the end of seeing the Mary Rose, we got to this. Dive the Mary Rose in 4D. A new immersive 4D experience at the Mary Rose Museum. So we're like, well, we must go to this.

[2:15] 2D, just so we all know, that's what you're viewing on the screen, very flat things. 3D, you might go to the cinema and put on the 3D glasses, which are really fashionable, and see things pop out the screen. 4D is a whole other level. Not only do you wear the glasses and things pop out the screen, but your chairs start moving and wind blows and bubbles appeared. I wanted to pop them. It's an incredible experience. What's that good to do with Acts 2? Well, I think this passage is really exciting. You've got wind blowing, well, the sound of wind blowing. You've got fire appearing. You've got people speaking in languages they've never even learned. An incredible day.

[3:04] And I think, though we're looking at just words on a page, it's far more than that. Hopefully we'll experience today, the day of Pentecost in 4D. So we'll give it a game. Before we get to there, firstly, let's note this is the day of Pentecost. We know it as the day the Spirit came upon the church, but its roots go back way back in time, back to the Old Testament. You could read Leviticus 23, for example, and read of the Festival of Weeks. This happens 50 days after Passover, and this was what Pentecost was. An explanation by someone far cleverer than I am, it was one of three great agricultural festivals held annually to acknowledge God's goodness in the cycles of the seasons and the fruitfulness of the air. And so that's why lots of people descended upon Jerusalem for celebrating this day of Pentecost. And noting it was 50 days after Passover is interesting. A few weeks ago we looked at the subject of communion, the Lord's Supper, when Jesus handed the bread and wine to his disciples. And that was done on another significant day, on the day of Passover, when the Lord Jesus instituted the new covenant. He was doing something new for his people. And God does something new again, 50 days after that day, on this day of Pentecost, for his people as the Spirit comes on all believers. It's an exciting day. So we're going to see five sights and sounds of one extraordinary day in the history of God's salvation work in his world. So first of all, we see wind. Well, we don't see wind, but we do see wind. Bear with me.

[5:09] Because we're not told there was actually wind. We're told there was the sound of wind. Verse 2, Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. It was dramatic. It was an unmissable sound as they gathered in that room.

[5:33] It was not a gentle breeze. It was a violent wind, sound for violent winds. And it comes and fills the whole place where they were sitting. They knew it. You wouldn't have been able to miss it.

[5:48] And there's a lot of significance behind wind on this day. The word spirit, it means breath or wind. And Jesus makes an explicit reference to the spirit and wind in John chapter 3.

[6:03] Just read one verse to you from John chapter 3, verse 8. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

[6:20] And then here's the key bit. So it is with everyone born of the spirit. But I guess we like to feel in control of our lives, don't we?

[6:35] This week, a news story from this week that I heard on the radio, Brighton and Hove bus drivers are going to go on strike potentially because the company wants to record voice conversations on buses.

[6:48] And the drivers feel like this is a step too far in terms of their privacy. They want to be in control of what is going on in their buses.

[7:01] And we ourselves, we want to be in control, don't we, of what's going on in our lives. Maybe a website comes up and it says, do you want cookies to be allowed? We want to be in control of those kind of things.

[7:13] But look at the weather forecast. And that's something we can't control. Maybe we're quite happy with the sunny weather today. The weather forecast is a good one.

[7:24] But like last Thursday, I was going to have a little walk into town and I looked at the Met Office weather radar, the rainfall radar, and it said there won't be any rain for the next half an hour.

[7:36] So I headed out and before long, rain started falling. We're not in control of the weather. We'd love to be. We'd love to look at our apps and think, well, that's the most optimistic weather forecast.

[7:50] Okay, for that. But we're not in control of that. And that's the same for the work of the Spirit. The wind blows wherever it pleases.

[8:01] We're not in control of the Lord. We're not in control of the Lord. Of what he'll do by his Spirit. We cannot know how or when or whether someone will be saved.

[8:15] It's a mysterious work. We cannot know. The wind blows wherever it pleases. The Spirit works in ways that we can't control.

[8:26] And that's a reminder as he comes is this awesome sound of wind on this extraordinary day of Pentecost. Secondly, tongues of fire appear in this passage.

[8:38] Fire is awesome too. There can be such comfort in fire, can't there? You can sit around a campfire. I'm due this week to go on a minister's retreat.

[8:52] And apparently in the evening there's going to be a campfire to sit around. I'm sure it will be a joy. You can do wonderful things. You can toast marshmallows on a campfire. You can have a good time.

[9:04] But there's also danger with fire. Get too close and you'll be burned. If it gets out of control, it can cause much danger and harm. Don't get too close.

[9:15] It's an awesome thing. And on this day of Pentecost, we see fire appear. Look at verse 3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

[9:32] The Spirit comes and is resting like tongues of fire on their heads. The fire that's not burning them up. It just comes and it gently rests.

[9:47] A wonderful image. And it's a significant image. Just take you back to a few verses in the Bible that speak about fire. Love us to turn, if we can, to Exodus chapter 3 back in the Old Testament.

[10:05] A few verses there. Where we see fire. Where we see fire. Where we see fire. Exodus chapter 3, 2 to 4.

[10:16] There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire. That's appeared to Moses from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up.

[10:31] So Moses thought, I will go over and see this strange sight, why the bush does not burn up. And when the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush.

[10:44] Moses. Moses. Fire appears in the bush. And this is a symbol of God's presence there in that bush.

[10:55] We call it the burning bush. It's a bit misnamed. It doesn't actually burn up. And so Moses comes to the fire and hears God's voice there in the fire in the bush.

[11:12] Another verse for you. Exodus 19, verse 18. Another place we see the Lord's presence and fire going together. Exodus 19, verse 18.

[11:25] The people around Mount Sinai. They're told not to get too close to the mountain. Don't touch it, otherwise you'll die. Because God was going to come there.

[11:36] Verse 18. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace.

[11:46] And the whole mountain trembled violently. The Lord descends in fire. And one more verse in Isaiah.

[11:58] In the middle of the Bible. Isaiah chapter 66. And we see more fire going with the Lord's work.

[12:12] And. Actually from verse 14.

[12:23] When you see this, your heart will rejoice. You will flourish like grass. The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants. But his fury will be shown to his foes. See, the Lord is coming with fire.

[12:35] And his chariots like a whirlwind. He will bring down his anger with fury. And his rebuke with flames of fire. The Lord and his judgment. Got fire there.

[12:49] The Lord coming with fire. So the Lord comes here. On this day of Pentecost. Fire. Tongues of fire resting on their heads.

[12:59] But in a way that's not burning sinners up. But coming upon sinners.

[13:10] Trusting in the Lord Jesus. Waiting for him. They were instructed to wait. In Jerusalem for the Spirit. And he comes.

[13:21] The Lord comes. God is like fire. He is holy. He is complete purity. Don't get too close. Otherwise you might be burned.

[13:32] And yet he's approachable. Like fire. We sang of Jesus being strong and kind. Jesus came down. To be with us.

[13:42] Inviting sinners near to him. Because like. Also like fire. The Lord is approachable. He is love.

[13:54] He is all compassion. And now he's come on his spirit. By his spirit. The spirit. And rests on their heads. Fire does not burn them up. Sin is able to live with God inside them.

[14:07] In a safe way. Remarkable. Remarkable thing. On this amazing day of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost.

[14:20] It's not just some random acts. But God's involved here. That's what he's showing. In the wind. And in the fire. He's showing the spirit of God has come down.

[14:34] That's what is going on here. In a dramatic. Audio visual way. We're told this in verse 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.

[14:46] And began to speak in other tongues. As the spirit enabled them. All of them were filled. All the 120 or so followers of Christ. That were there.

[14:57] That were all filled. Without distinction. God is working wonders. In ways he's not done before. With his people. And it's interesting.

[15:10] That he should come in tongues of fire. Because the next thing. Involves our physical tongues. Languages. Speaking languages.

[15:21] Goes on here. Look at verse 4 again. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. And began to speak in other tongues. Other languages. As the spirit enabled them.

[15:33] Every day. Near enough. I go on Duolingo. And I do a bit of French. Every day. We started that.

[15:44] Because we booked a holiday. To go to France. Back in February. And we thought. We'll get some idea. Of what the French are saying. And try and be able to speak.

[15:55] Some French. And Duolingo. We hoped would help with that. As soon as we arrived. And got to the airport. In Lyon. I went to order a coffee. And the lady.

[16:07] Just started speaking to me in English. Duolingo. Hadn't quite done its work. And so it's pretty awesome. It amazes me here.

[16:17] That in this passage. People without Duolingo. Uneducated people. Would just start. Speaking in other languages. This motley crew of disciples. Speaking in languages.

[16:29] They'd never learned before. That's what's happening. In this passage. It's pretty awesome. I think. And this is an opportune time. For this to happen. An opportune time.

[16:41] For the spirit to work. In such a way. For look at the nations. Present. Verse 7. Utterly amazed. They asked. Aren't all these.

[16:52] Who are speaking Galileans. And how is it. That each of us. Hears them in their own language. Who are there. Parlians. Medes. Elamites. Residents of Mesopotamia. Judea.

[17:03] Cappadocia. Pontus. Asia. Phrygia. Pamphylia. Egypt. Parts of Libya. Near Cyrene. Visitors from Rome. Cretans. And Arabs. People from around the world.

[17:15] Were gathered. Loads and loads of people. And so it's great. That the spirit is working in this way. To communicate the wonders of God. To people.

[17:27] Showing that language is now not a barrier. To the work of the gospel. That's interesting to us. If we know our Bibles well.

[17:38] Maybe we'll think of Genesis chapter 11. Where the people of earth. Tried to build a tower up to God. To make a name for themselves. But God won't share his glory with another.

[17:52] And so he confused them. And their languages. Language became a barrier. To people. But now God is breaking that down.

[18:02] In order to bring salvation. To the world. And this is the very beginning. Of a key verse in Acts. Being fulfilled. Verse we looked at last week.

[18:13] And a verse we should go back to. Time and time again. I think it's really key. Chapter 1 verse 8. But you will receive power. When the Holy Spirit comes on you.

[18:24] As it does on this day of Pentecost. And you will be my witnesses. In Jerusalem. In all Judea. And Samaria. And to the ends of the earth.

[18:36] That's the mission of God's people. To take the gospel to the ends of the earth. But we begin in Jerusalem. Jerusalem. That's where we are.

[18:46] On this day of Pentecost. The crowd of Jewish people. Scattered throughout the world. Who've descended here. Paul writes doesn't he. The gospel is first for the Jew.

[18:57] And then for the Gentile. It will get to the Gentile soon. We'll see that in Acts. But firstly. He's beginning with. The Jewish people. As he did in the Old Testament.

[19:07] With Abraham. Isaac. And Jacob. But no longer is salvation. Confined to just one people. And one nation. It's for the wild. God is a God of the nations.

[19:20] Let's just glimpse to the future. Briefly in Revelation. Chapter 7 verse 9. After this I looked. And there before me. Was a great multitude. That no one could count.

[19:32] From every nation. Tribe. People. And language. Standing before the throne. And before the Lamb. God is doing that.

[19:43] Even now. Bringing people. From the ends of the earth. To salvation in him. So that one day. Every nation. People from every nation. Tribe.

[19:53] People. And language. Will stand. Before the throne. Of God above. So how do these hearers. Respond to all this.

[20:04] It's an exciting day. It's an exciting audio. Visual. Experience. Well there's some reactions. We see that. In this chapter.

[20:17] Firstly. In verse 7. Utterly amazed. They asked. Aren't all these.

[20:27] Who are speaking Galileans. We see amazement. Utterly amazed. They couldn't understand. How these uneducated. Galileans. Could possibly.

[20:39] Speak in their own native language. They didn't even have duolingo. It was just not a thing. And so they're amazed. Verse 12.

[20:50] Says a bit more. They're amazed and perplexed. They asked one another. What does this mean? What's going on? Scratching their heads. What's going on? They can't explain it. It's extraordinary.

[21:01] How could this happen? But there's also mockery going on here. As well. Verse 13. Some however made fun of them.

[21:13] And said they have had too much wine. This is ridiculous. What's going on. They're clearly drunk. I don't know about you.

[21:24] I've been watching a show on Channel 4 called Night Coppers. It's set in Brighton. Police in Brighton at night time. And they're just herding lots of drunk people.

[21:37] And drunk people don't make a lot of sense. Let alone speaking in languages they've never learned. So these people can mock.

[21:49] But this is God at work. That's what's going on here. This is an extraordinary work. Of the great and awesome God. Of heaven.

[22:02] It just can't be that they're drunk. And Peter says so. Peter takes them back to God's word. Because God's word is being fulfilled today.

[22:13] This is an important day. In the history of God's plan of redemption. For his world. Have a look there.

[22:24] Verse 15. Peter says. These people are not drunk as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning. No. This is what was spoken.

[22:35] By the prophet Joel. Peter gets up. Boldly. And says. To these mockers. Turn with me to Joel chapter 2.

[22:48] That's what he says. As he starts his sermon. We'll look at the rest of the sermon. Next week. But this is what Joel chapter 2 reads. This is what Peter says.

[23:00] Verse 17. In the last days. God says. I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions.

[23:11] Your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants even. Both men and women. I will pour out my spirit in those days. And they will prophesy.

[23:23] I will show wonders in the heavens above. And signs on the earth below. Blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness. And the moon to blood.

[23:34] Before the coming. Of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone. Who calls on the name of the Lord. Will be saved.

[23:44] That passage from Joel starts in the last days. These last days are not a future time.

[23:57] Like the last few days. Or few weeks. Or few months. Or years. Before Jesus returns. They started when Jesus ascended into heaven. And Peter is saying.

[24:09] This is what's going on. In the last days. God says I will pour out my spirit on all people. These are the last days in Acts chapter 2. We're still in them. This is the last era of God's work of salvation for the world.

[24:25] And saying the last days. It gives a sense of urgency to us. For the mission. We don't know when Jesus will return. About times and dates.

[24:36] We don't need to know. We just need to know that Jesus is coming. And that could be today. So we have a sense of urgency to our mission.

[24:47] To tell the world of him. And for these last days. God equips us with all that we need. He gives us his presence. With us.

[24:58] That's what is coming to pass. On this day of Pentecost. Words from Joel. I will pour out my spirit. On all people.

[25:11] God is equipping us with power from on high. His very presence within us. And though that initially may sound like. Every single person on earth.

[25:24] It says I will pour out my spirit on all people. That's not who it's for. If we read carefully. As we read the verses following. Particularly verse 18.

[25:34] We see that's really not the case. Even on my servants. Both men and women. I will pour out my spirit in those days. And they will prophesy. On God's servants.

[25:47] On all his people. People from the Jewish nation. And people from other nations. On all who come.

[25:58] To serve the living God. They will receive the spirit. That's who the spirit is for. It's for God's people. Once it was just for the kings.

[26:09] And judges. And prophets of God's people. Israel. Now it's for all. Without distinction. It's an exciting thing. God is doing something new. He is for all.

[26:23] If you're a believer today. We can be filled with excitement too. This was an exciting day. But that same spirit is still at work in us today.

[26:39] And lives within each Christian. God dwells within you. We are privileged this morning. I seem to struggle more and more.

[26:52] To get up in the morning. Maybe it's because I'm now 30. But maybe. If I remembered. When the alarm went off in the morning.

[27:03] If I remember that God. By his spirit lives in me. And equips me with all I need. To serve him today. Just maybe. That will just help me. Get up in the morning.

[27:16] Help me in the tiredness. And the lack of energy that I feel. At seven in the morning. Oh hang on. The spirit is in me. And just maybe. That's an encouragement. That you need to hear today.

[27:27] The spirit dwells within you. Believer. Maybe you're feeling a bit inadequate. For the responsibilities. God's given you.

[27:38] To do through the week. God lives in you. You're a home. For the Holy Spirit. You have value.

[27:50] And worth. Because God loves you. He has died for you. And he has given his spirit. To live within you. And is equipping you. For all that you need to do. Even this week.

[28:02] And so why not pray to God. Each day. Fill me with your spirit. So that I may serve you. In what you have called me to do today. I'd be a great prayer to pray.

[28:16] When it comes to telling others of the Lord Jesus. Maybe we feel so helpless. In doing that. When it gets to that question.

[28:28] On Monday morning. What did you do at the weekend? And don't mention the C word. Don't mention church. Church. The Holy Spirit is in you. And he can help you.

[28:40] To say. I had a great weekend. Thank you. I particularly enjoy being with God's people. I heard this sermon. And I got to take communion. And remember what Jesus has done for me.

[28:53] Whatever it is for you. You want to say about church. The Holy Spirit is in you. And can help you. Someone asks you tomorrow morning. What did you do at the weekend?

[29:06] The awesome God. Who's come down with the sound of strong wind blowing. Fire resting on people's heads. Helping people who didn't know languages.

[29:17] To speak these languages. He is with you. By his spirit. He will help you. He loves you. He is for you. God is a wonderful God.

[29:32] And the world he has made. Is a wonderful world. Full of extraordinary things. Maybe some of us a few weeks ago. Were able to see the northern lights.

[29:43] In the sky. What a marvel. God has made that. That's a part of God's creation. That's an absolute wonder. And he brought it to bright and hope.

[29:57] Verse 19. Prophecy from Joel. It says. I will show wonders in the heavens above. And signs on the earth below.

[30:08] Blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness. And the moon to blood. Before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

[30:21] He shows wonders on this day. And God is full of wonders. What's going on when Joel says the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood.

[30:35] What's going on? How are we to take that? The Lord has already shown wonders in the skies. Even before this day.

[30:47] Have a look. Luke 23. 40. Verse 44. Luke 23. 44. This was the day Jesus died.

[31:03] The day he hung on a cross. And what happened? In the middle of the day. Verse 44. It was now about noon. And darkness came over the whole land.

[31:14] Until three in the afternoon. For the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. The sun was darkened.

[31:26] God was showing wonders in the heavens above. And signs on the earth below as the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, died upon the cross. And that is sort of prelude to the great and glorious day of the Lord.

[31:46] Verse 20. Before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Jesus is coming again. There is a day when Jesus will return.

[32:01] And this day of Pentecost. Encouragement to believers but also a warning to the world. God is coming. The great and glorious day of the Lord will come.

[32:15] Sinners will be judged. Sinners will be judged. But there is also, amidst the warning, there is also a great invitation from the Lord.

[32:28] Verse 21. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

[32:41] There is warning but there is also invitation. And just in case we don't know what name to call on. Chapter 4.

[32:54] Verse 10. Says this. That know this. You and all the people of Israel. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified.

[33:06] But whom God raised from the dead. That this man stands before you healed. Jesus the stone the builders rejected. Which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in the name of the Lord. Salvation is found in no one else.

[33:19] For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. What name do we call on the name of Jesus Christ?

[33:32] And even this morning. If you have not done that. You can call out to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And find salvation.

[33:43] Find forgiveness of sins. This is an exciting day when the spirit comes upon people. God's presence within people. He can come and live in you today.

[33:57] If you call on his name. Next week we'll see the rest of Peter's sermon.

[34:10] We see it's not all about the spirit actually. It's all about Jesus. He's the one people are to call on for salvation. And he's the one we're going to remember in the bread and the wine in a moment.

[34:29] And the Lord Jesus is empowering us for mission by sending his spirit to us. To take the gospel to the ends of the earth. To the ends of Brighton and Hope. Pentecost was a day of harvest celebration.

[34:48] And now it's known as the day when the spirit comes on all God's people. So that a greater harvest can be brought in. A harvest of people from across the world.

[34:58] Men, women, boys and girls brought safely into his kingdom. An extraordinary day. A great 4D experience. Violent winds blowing.

[35:11] Or sounds. Sounding like they're blowing. Tongues of fire. Resting on people's heads. Are you amazed? Behold, this is your God at work.

[35:24] The only explanation is that God can be at work. And maybe if you've seen that for the first time. And want to know more.

[35:35] Please do talk to me. I'd love to read the scriptures with you. Or organize someone else to read them with you. Would love to do that. Would love to tell you more. But maybe you're like those who mock still.

[35:50] Can I urge you? This is, this is, this can only be God at work. And so please think again. Let's pray.

[36:04] A minute or two. Just to help us. And prepare us before we go through the communion service. Acts chapter 2.

[36:15] I want to read those few verses after the passage that we were in this morning. Verse 22. Men of Israel, listen to this.

[36:26] Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles. Miracles, wonders and signs which God did among you through him.

[36:38] As you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you. By God set, by you even. By God set purpose and foreknowledge.

[36:50] And you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death. By nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead.

[37:04] Freeing him from the agony of death. Because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

[37:16] We're told there by Peter very directly about the Lord Jesus. The wonderful son of God. Come down to be with his people.

[37:29] He did wonderful miracles. He was amazing. And yet, he says that you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

[37:47] The Lord Jesus came. The son of God. And we handed over to death. Sinful people did that. Sinful people did that. But this was no accident.

[37:59] This was part of God's deliberate plan for salvation for the world. And it's humbling to think that the Lord Jesus, as he took the bread and broke it, he took that knowing that was his, representing his body.

[38:20] Which was going to die that awful death. And as he handed around the cup with wine. And as he handed around the cup with wine. He knew it represented his blood, which he sheds on the cross for his people.

[38:30] And yet, this was God's deliberate plan for the salvation of the world. So that, as we heard this morning, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

[38:43] And this morning, those of us who are believers in Christ, get to take this and get to celebrate what Jesus has done for us.

[38:54] Because we have once called on the name of the Lord Jesus to save us. We're going to go through the communion service. We've got a form of words to go through, which I hope are helpful to us.

[39:09] And explain clearly what we're doing this morning. So firstly, the Lord's Supper is a meal for sinners who are trusting in Jesus as their only saviour.

[39:24] If that's not you this morning, you are so welcome to be here with us today. But please, can you allow the bread and wine just to pass you by?

[39:37] Because we believe it wouldn't be appropriate for you to take it this morning. In taking this bread and wine, we show our unity together in Christ.

[39:51] Therefore, we ask that also you only take this, if you're in good standing with this local church or with your own local church, if that's you.

[40:02] We also want to say that it is normal for people who are walking in fellowship with Christ and his church to clearly mark their entrance into spiritual life by means of the sign of baptism.

[40:18] So if you're happy to take communion this morning, but you haven't been baptized yet, please do talk to us. I would love to chat with you about that. In fact, please talk to any of the elders.

[40:31] If any of this raises any issues for you, I would love to speak with you. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul writes this, For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

[40:51] As we're taking the bread, we're proclaiming to one another the gospel. He also says, So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

[41:06] Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. We do come as sinners to this meal.

[41:18] Sinners saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. It's only the Lord Jesus who makes us worthy, but it's right that we spend just a moment just examining ourselves and maybe confessing before the Lord any sin which comes to mind.

[41:32] So let's just have a moment of silence and then we'll pray a prayer of confession together before we come to the bread and wine. Let's pray this prayer of confession.

[42:14] Lord God, we have sinned against you. This prayer is on the screen. Lord God, we have sinned against you. We have done evil in your sight.

[42:25] We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love. Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

[42:37] Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[42:48] We read in Luke's gospel that on the night before he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and gave thanks and he broke it.

[43:09] And he gave it to them saying, this is my body given for you.

[43:23] Do this in remembrance of me. Let's just say a prayer of thanks. And then we'll take the bread together. Father God, we thank you so much for the Lord Jesus who broke that bread.

[43:39] Knowing that that was representing his body, which would very soon die upon the cross. Father, we thank you that he was willing to do that for us, to die in our place.

[43:52] Thank you that we get to share in this meal together. Amen. Let me just explain what's going to happen. Our Sema, Corinne and Rose will help with the distribution of the bread to us.

[44:06] And please hold on. Rip a piece of bread off. Hold on to it. And we'll all eat together. If you are gluten free or would prefer a piece of the gluten free flat bread, which is available, please do flag that up.

[44:26] Just let us know as the bread and wine is coming around and we'll get that to you. Let's take. For the salvation full and free that we find in him.

[44:41] And thank you that we can rejoice to take this wine, this grape juice together and remember what he would do for us.

[44:53] Amen. So in a similar way, but we've got two of these. The wine, well, grape juice will be delivered to you.

[45:05] And please hold on to your cups and we'll drink together. Let's go.