WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.099 All right, church. Today is a very special service. We do this once a quarter, and you could call it communion or the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Table. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:32.939 But we find a couple of instances of it mentioned throughout the scriptures. This was the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples, and then he commanded us to observe that going forward as often as we plan to do it. 00:00:32.939 --> 00:00:43.140 And so in this church, typically we have done it about once a quarter, and that's what this Sunday is. So you'll notice the deacons wearing suit jackets, and I'm wearing a suit jacket. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:51.819 And if you don't feel like you're comfortable wearing a suit jacket, that's okay. There's no judgment on you. We typically only do this around Lord's Supper time, so that's all right. Don't feel bad. 00:00:51.820 --> 00:01:03.799 But we want to dive into a study of this today, and I hope that we can take something away from the scriptures that would be impactful to us, as that's certainly what the Lord intends. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:09.680 So today we're looking at the Lord's Supper. Do this in remembrance of me. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:17.719 Now, before we dive into our passage today, and if you'd like to get ahead, you can go ahead and turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 11. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:20.819 1 Corinthians chapter 11 is where we will be. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:31.339 Can you go ahead and jump into these sermon slides for me? I think the first one says Passover. 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:33.959 Then I can advance them with this. 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:38.179 1 Corinthians chapter 11. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:51.319 What this is, is Jesus had this, thank you, Jesus had this supper that we read about and has lasted on for all this time because of the Feast of Passover. 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:56.099 And without taking the majority of our time this morning and diving into all that the Passover meant, 00:01:56.659 --> 00:02:04.039 back in Egypt, when God was sending plagues on the Egyptians because his people, the Israelites, were being held hostage, 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:10.379 the death angel was sent from heaven to pass over all these homes across Egypt. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:27.300 And the firstborn son would be killed that night supernaturally because of God's judgment on these evil people who would not let Israel go free and kept them in captivity against their will. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:31.780 So this was called the Passover, when the death angel would pass over. 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:38.960 And the only way to escape this terrible judgment on a household would be, according to God's command to his people, 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:45.500 to make an animal sacrifice and take the blood from that sacrifice and paint it on the doorposts, the top, the sides. 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:54.920 And when the angel would pass over that house in the night, he would see the blood and he would not judge that household and strike the firstborn dead. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:03:01.539 So what a terrible judgment, but God ultimately used it to set his people free. 00:03:03.079 --> 00:03:07.879 And of course, his people, those that obeyed his command, were not included in that judgment. 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:10.019 The angel would pass over their house. 00:03:10.020 --> 00:03:20.860 So from then on, every year, the Hebrew people would have a Passover feast, remembering that night, remembering God's deliverance from them. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:29.460 And so it was around the time of this Passover that Jesus had this meal with his disciples that was called the Last Supper. 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:35.460 And so he said that he would be the one who would be the final sacrifice. 00:03:36.200 --> 00:03:38.520 There would be no more need for animal sacrifices. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:42.820 He would be the one, the final sacrifice for sins. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:48.620 And so the final Passover became the first communion. 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:52.300 And he said, this is my body. 00:03:52.760 --> 00:03:54.219 This is my blood. 00:03:55.219 --> 00:04:01.040 And he used these symbols as pictures of the sacrifice that he would make. 00:04:01.640 --> 00:04:04.420 It was an incredibly meaningful moment. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:13.959 And even though his disciples, his followers gathered with him in that room, having the Passover feast that night, probably didn't know exactly what was coming. 00:04:14.779 --> 00:04:20.019 It may have had an idea through hints and clues that he had given them leading up to the time of his death. 00:04:20.659 --> 00:04:22.919 But they gathered that there was something significant. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:28.340 Of course, the Roman soldiers and the religious leaders were closing in. 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:34.379 And they knew at any moment he could be arrested for trumped up charges, supposed crimes. 00:04:35.140 --> 00:04:43.240 So this moment was a special shared moment between friends, between followers and their rabbi, 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:49.420 between the Son of God and his first disciples on this earth. 00:04:49.420 --> 00:04:54.740 So let's look now at 1 Corinthians chapter 11. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:01.939 1 Corinthians chapter 11, we'll begin reading down in verse 23. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:06.500 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 23. 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:12.139 The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the church in Corinth. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:42.120 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 23. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:06:12.120 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 23. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:18.000 the story of Jesus and his time on this earth, his 30 plus years walking around this earth, 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:24.379 showing us, telling us that he was the son of God. He was God himself and he was come to seek us and 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:30.879 to save us. And you get to see the actual words of Jesus written down through recorded history 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:37.819 for our benefit today. So if you're reading through the gospels, you see all of these 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:43.639 pictures that Jesus painted in a couple of weeks, we'll get back to the series that we started last 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:48.420 Sunday. We started a brand new series last Sunday, all about the parables of Jesus. Anybody know what 00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:56.420 a parable is? If you raised your hand, you got to say now the story. Yeah, it's a story, right? A story 00:06:56.420 --> 00:07:04.779 meant to tell a bigger picture, a story meant to give a moral, a story meant to change us, to tell us 00:07:04.779 --> 00:07:12.059 something in a very illustrative way. So we dived into this series last Sunday. We talked about the 00:07:12.059 --> 00:07:18.519 wheat and the weeds or the tares, the difference there. But Jesus was always using something to 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:23.779 illustrate his point. So he's using this bread and he's sitting here with his disciples saying, 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:30.099 this is my body. You see, as we break it, as we typically do at the Passover feast, 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:39.120 my body is going to be broken like this for you. I'm not saying it to get sympathy from you or 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:48.439 make you feel bad for me. He said, I'm doing this of my own will for you. And then we pick it up 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:57.460 back in verse 25. So he says, this is my body. It's for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And then 00:07:57.459 --> 00:08:04.539 in verse 25, in the same way also he took the cup after supper. And this, he said, this cup is the new 00:08:04.539 --> 00:08:11.939 covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:20.039 bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Can y'all focus on that last 00:08:20.039 --> 00:08:25.139 sentence there? Usually when we read this passage, we're getting ready to observe the Lord's supper, 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:31.719 drink the cup, eat the bread as just as they did so many years ago, centuries ago. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:36.939 But I'd love for us to highlight the last thing he said there. 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:45.439 When you do this, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. So that's what we're talking about 00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:51.580 this morning. We're going to highlight that part of this famous account of the communion, 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:57.920 the last supper that Paul wrote down. Let's ask God's blessing over his word this morning. God, 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:03.600 we pray right now that as we have read this passage, Paul wrote it so many years ago to this church in 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:08.360 Corinth, and it's been passed down from church to church, from generation to generation. It's still 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:15.600 alive and helpful for us today. Looking back at that fateful night when you would be arrested, 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:21.960 you would be killed. But it was all part of your sacrificial plan for our redemption, 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:30.740 our salvation, for our good, for your glory. Help us to glorify you this morning by proclaiming your 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:35.700 name, proclaiming your death and resurrection, not only through our observance of the Lord's supper, 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:41.480 but through our lives. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So we read here in 1 Corinthians 11, 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:47.700 23 through 26, this account of the Lord's supper, and he wraps it up by saying, when you do this, 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:54.120 kind of giving us the bigger picture of what this is all about. And you might be sitting out here, 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:59.320 and maybe you've taken the Lord's supper many times in a church setting, or maybe you've never done it 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:03.879 before, and you're here and you're like, what are we doing? This is a weird thing. Why are those silver 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:09.039 plates down there? And you don't know what's happening. That's okay. Let me give you the bigger picture. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:16.659 Paul gives it for us as he says, when you do this, you are proclaiming God's death. We're bringing 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:24.860 the minds back to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This was the central point of human history. If you 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:31.939 don't believe that Jesus' death and resurrection were the central point of all of human history, 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:42.320 let me explain to you how it is actually seen that way. Because BC and AD, the way we date our 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:49.900 calendars, centered around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Before Christ, BC, 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:56.320 and then AD is the Latin Anno Domini, which means the year of our Lord. So, 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:06.900 truly, this is the pivotal point of human history. So, when we do this, we observe this, we bring our 00:11:06.900 --> 00:11:14.720 minds back to him, to his death and sacrifice, and we proclaim. It's interesting that that word 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:21.520 proclaim is used. We proclaim his death and resurrection. So, what does that proclaim mean? 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:26.740 This is the Greek word. Of course, the Bible wasn't originally written down in English. I'm sorry. 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:31.419 It was written down in Greek. It was kind of the trade language of the day. English has kind of 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:36.579 supplanted that now as the trade language of the world. But back then, it was written in Greek. And 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:42.059 so, we look at this original Greek word, keruso. When I studied to be a pastor, went to Bible college 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:46.679 and seminary, I had to study biblical Greek because I had to go back and, you know, look at the original 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:53.219 manuscripts and all that. So, I learned how to say that. Don't come up to me afterwards with your 00:11:53.219 --> 00:11:57.859 Greek question because I don't know it that well, just enough to get by, all right? But they have all 00:11:57.859 --> 00:12:09.839 these tools now. And it says keruso is that word, and it's announce and proclaim. So, our job as followers 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:16.560 of Jesus is to keruso or proclaim. Can we say keruso together? Get your mind around some Greek 00:12:16.560 --> 00:12:21.620 today. It might be too early for all that, but let's try. Okay, ready? One, two, three. Keruso. 00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:30.120 Man, you guys are, it's all Greek to me. All right. It was there. It was low-hanging fruit. I just took it. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:38.740 So, first of all, there is a singular truth here that I hope we can understand. God calls proclaimers. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:45.279 We studied a while back. If you've been coming here for a little while, then maybe you heard the 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:50.000 series that we did talking about, we talked, it was that Who's Your One series. We mentioned this 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:55.500 Who's Your One earlier in the service. And we talked about Jesus calling his followers, 00:12:55.500 --> 00:13:01.720 Jesus calling his disciples. He didn't take the typical rabbi approach, right? He didn't go for 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:06.440 the best students, the guys who made straight A pluses across the board in seminary school, 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:11.740 in rabbi training school. He didn't do that. He went for the guys who kind of dropped out. 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:18.019 He went for the guys who didn't make the cut. The guys who had to go be fishermen, who had to go do 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:23.179 whatever their family business was because they didn't make that high-paying, high-success, 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:31.179 high-notoriety job of rabbi in training. So he went and found the others. And even though he was 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:37.120 the greatest rabbi who ever lived and had all the authority or that crazy Hebrew word, shmiha, 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:44.379 remember that? Shmiha. Jesus had it in spades, man. But even though he had way more shmiha than any 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:52.599 other rabbi, he didn't take the elite group to be his followers. Boy, sometimes we get the wrong idea 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:57.700 about Christianity, don't we? We feel like it's for the elites. We feel like it's for the best of the 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:03.399 best. And I have no problem wearing a coat or something up here, but I just hope nobody gets 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:14.120 the idea that you got to dress up to come worship Jesus. That he only will listen to your praise if you 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:20.620 look the part, if you meet the expectations of society. That could not be further from who Jesus 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:29.500 was and who Jesus is. But what he did do was he called proclaimers. He called guys that didn't even 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:39.080 know yet how bold they could be. And every generation since then, God has called more and more 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:46.379 proclaimers. And listen to me, if he called you, he called a proclaimer. So what do you mean? 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:52.900 I'm not getting up there and preaching like you do. I'm not saying you've got to proclaim on a stage 00:14:52.900 --> 00:14:59.360 in front of 200 people, but I am saying that God called you to proclaim him to someone. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:08.159 There is someone in your life, maybe multiple people, maybe family members, maybe coworkers, 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:13.960 maybe neighbors. There are people within your circle of life that God called you to proclaim him, 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:22.440 his love, his compassion, his grace, his mercy, his salvation for their lost condition. 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:30.140 God calls proclaimers. I read this quote and I wanted to share it with you. It's from Francis Chan, 00:15:30.760 --> 00:15:38.920 a pastor and prolific author who kind of tells it how it is sometimes, you know, and sometimes even 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:42.640 reading through his books can be uncomfortable for me because he gets me under conviction. Like, wow, 00:15:42.760 --> 00:15:48.200 I'm not really living dedicated to Jesus, but I wanted to share this quote. He says, 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:55.580 proclaiming the gospel to a lost world cannot just be another activity to add to the church's crowded 00:15:55.580 --> 00:16:02.340 agenda. Y'all know we have a pretty crowded agenda here, right? Most churches do. We have a lot going 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:08.900 on. We were looking at the church calendar, seeing about when we can do certain programs and different 00:16:08.900 --> 00:16:14.700 things that we need to do. And it's like, man, April's full, man, May's full, man, June's full. When are 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:19.400 we going to do this? You know, it just gets further and further along because we have such a crowded 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:25.900 agenda. We're no different than you or the school or your workplace. Everybody's busy. Everybody has a 00:16:25.900 --> 00:16:32.320 lot going on. And Francis is making this point, proclaiming the gospel to a lost world can't just 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:39.940 be one of the things that we do here. Can't just be another activity. Instead, it must be central to who 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:49.400 we are because it actually forms our identity. Jesus put it this way. He said, if you follow me, 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:55.740 I'm going to make you fishers of people. Why did he call them fishers? Well, because in that moment, 00:16:55.800 --> 00:17:01.160 he was calling fishermen. He was calling guys who were literally out there fishing as their vocation. 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:05.700 Remember, they'd flunked out of rabbi school. And so they're out there fishing, running the family 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:12.440 business. And he says, Hey guys, come follow me. And they're looking at him, this great rabbi with 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:17.559 all this shmeha. And he's calling us to leave what we're doing and now come be his disciples. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:22.720 What in the world? He said, yeah, if you follow me, you're not going to fish for fish anymore. 00:17:23.080 --> 00:17:27.400 Now you're going to be fishing for people. You're going to be proclaimers. 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:37.019 And I'm going to give you a message to proclaim. So God calls proclaimers, but what do we proclaim? 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:44.700 What's that message? Number two, we proclaim his death. We proclaim his death. Get your fingers 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:48.980 ready. We're going to start turning to a couple of scriptures in just a moment. Start with John 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:56.560 chapter 12, would you? John 12 and verse 24. While you turn there, I want to share this kind of longer 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:00.759 quote. And you're not going to be able to probably read most of it unless you're sitting right up front 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:05.099 here, but I'll read it to you. And if you'd like me to send it to you, I will. Erwin McManus is a 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:10.679 pastor out in Los Angeles, uh, through his ministry, countless people have been brought to Jesus Christ. 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:22.099 And he said this kind of a diagnosis of Christianity and churches today. I want to share it with you. 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:29.879 We created a religion using the name of Jesus Christ and convinced ourselves that God's optimal desire 00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:39.319 for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:48.619 lose nothing, worry about nothing. But Jesus's death was not to free us from dying, 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:54.739 but it was to free us from the fear of death. You realize that you're still going to die. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:19:01.119 You just don't have to be afraid of it anymore. He took the sting out of death. He took the fear 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:12.399 out of death. He said, Jesus came to liberate us so we can die up front and then live. What's he talking 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:18.980 about? I have preached a message here before about dying to ourselves, picking up our cross, 00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:25.100 carrying it and following Jesus in the example that he gave. You understand what you, what I'm 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:31.540 talking about? Dying to your priorities, dying to your agenda, dying to your comfort zone, dying to your 00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:39.440 path that you had set out for your life and saying, instead, Jesus called me to be a proclaimer for him. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:47.519 I'm going to follow him. So he said he came to liberate us so we could die up front and then he 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:54.279 can teach us how to live. Jesus Christ wants to take us to places, watch this, where only dead men 00:19:54.279 --> 00:20:04.420 and women can go. I'm not talking physically dead. I'm talking recognizing that you were spiritually dead 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:11.400 until Jesus came and breathed life into your spirit, rescued you, 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:20.180 redeemed you, brought you to spiritual life, awareness, awakening, understanding, 00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:27.860 and now he has given you a purpose for this new life. So you died to the old one that you had. 00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:35.079 You can't have both. You can't have not your cake and eat it too. You can't have that rotten, 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:42.019 nasty, old, moldy piece of cake and eat that. And you're following Jesus at the same time. 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:49.019 It doesn't work like that. Jesus wants to take you where only dead people can go. 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:54.619 Spiritually dead people can go because he's going to breathe new life into you and give you a new 00:20:54.619 --> 00:21:02.160 purpose, a new way, a new walk, a new message to proclaim. Are you in John 12 and verse 24? 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:08.559 Jesus replied to them, the hour has come for the son of man to be glorified. Truly I tell you, 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:14.099 unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:21.459 it produces much fruit. Jesus wants to do something with you. We kind of touched on this a little bit 00:21:21.459 --> 00:21:29.000 last week, but Jesus wants to do something with you that will produce much fruit. And you'll know 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:36.740 if you're following him by the fruit that your life is producing. If you are proclaiming his message, 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:40.099 listen to me, God's going to bring fruit to you. 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:49.399 If you are being a proclaimer for Jesus, then you're going to see results. Not every time. 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:55.699 There's no guarantee of a percentage of amount of people. If you tell enough people about Jesus, 00:21:55.859 --> 00:22:02.319 then half of them will turn to faith in Christ. That's not promised. But what is promised 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:10.079 is that if we go out and tell, remember that go and tell, it's what Jesus has called us to do. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:21.460 Then he will bring in fruit. Second Timothy chapter two. Second Timothy chapter two and verse eight. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:28.939 Remember Jesus Christ. Easter's coming y'all. This is what we're doing. Remembering Jesus Christ 00:22:28.939 --> 00:22:35.099 risen from the dead. I love it around Easter time. We said it last Sunday, the whole world stops and 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:40.179 thinks about, well, at least America, but probably a lot of other places too. Uh, they all stop and 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:48.879 think about bunny rabbits and carrots and eggs and Jesus rising from the dead. So the clash there is 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:53.659 weird, but that's all right. It's all fun. As long as we remember that the main focus there 00:22:53.660 --> 00:23:02.220 is Jesus rising from the dead. So we remember Jesus risen from the dead, but let's go on to verse 11. 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:11.480 This saying is trustworthy. If we died with him, we will also live with him. 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:21.700 You understand that if you proclaim his death, you have to proclaim his resurrection. 00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:31.400 You can't have one without the other because that is what makes Jesus God. He didn't just die. 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:38.400 He didn't just perform magic tricks, walking around this world, gather a following, get crucified on a 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:45.860 cross and buried in a tomb. And that was the end of an amazing life. That's not the story. If it was, 00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:49.640 then let's close the doors and go home and find something else to do with our Sundays. 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:55.060 Some of you are nodding your head like, yeah, that's a good idea. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:24:03.759 No guys, because Jesus rose from the dead because he's God, because he's different than us, because he's real. 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:15.599 He proved it. Thousands saw him alive. He went back and did more miracles after he had risen from the dead. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:24.500 He revealed himself in his risen glorified state to hundreds and even thousands. 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:33.879 He's been written down for all of us in recorded history. Jesus was crucified, buried, and then came back to life. 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:40.240 So you can't just proclaim his death without also proclaiming his resurrection. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:48.419 That's what we proclaim. Whether we're taking the Lord's Supper, whether we're singing that choir song that was magnificent, 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:58.660 whether we're lifting our voices together, singing how great thou art, whether we're stepping out in faith and identifying ourselves as a follower of Jesus by being baptized up there, 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:05.420 just like Jesus did, hanging on the cross, buried in the ground, and we put him under the water and then coming back to life. 00:25:05.600 --> 00:25:06.860 We get to raise him back up. 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:11.199 If you've gotten baptized here, you've heard me tell this little joke. 00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:17.779 You should be very glad that Jesus came back to life because if he didn't, we'd have to leave you under that water. 00:25:17.979 --> 00:25:18.899 We couldn't bring you back out. 00:25:20.179 --> 00:25:24.079 I don't think we'd have a whole lot of baptism candidates after that. 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:26.659 But he did. He came back up. 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:32.440 And so, we can know that we can have life too. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:39.100 No matter how bad it gets, Jesus has resurrection power. 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:49.580 So that's why he said, until he comes again, we proclaim his death. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:52.500 We have a singular message. 00:25:52.500 --> 00:26:00.140 When we mix the message, it gets confusing for everybody. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:06.339 When we combine that message that Jesus gave us to proclaim, 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:12.160 and we add it to all the priorities that we have and the things that we'd like to talk about, 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.880 whether it's politics, 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:21.460 whether it's our own moral standards that we have for our life and expect everybody else to have too, 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:25.119 our expectations that we place on others. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:29.160 The Pharisees that Jesus constantly dealt with, those religious leaders, 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:31.819 back then, they were experts in all this. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:37.480 They added so many extra requirements to following God. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.579 Jesus had to sort through all that stuff. 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.660 He was constantly bumping into them. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:44.900 They're saying, well, you're not keeping all these laws. 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:48.519 And they're looking at Old Testament stuff that was meant for a certain time. 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:55.360 And they're saying, they're giving it the requirement of being able to be a child and follower of God 00:26:55.360 --> 00:27:01.460 only if you can meet all these requirements, tick all these boxes, check off all this list. 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:05.320 And Jesus said, no, that's not it. 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:08.320 Time and time again, he's bumping up against them. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:15.579 So we have to be so careful that the message we proclaim does not become muddled. 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:21.200 It doesn't become murky like those Pharisees did, like those religious leaders did. 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:24.079 And oftentimes the church still does. 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.279 Christians still do. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.659 Even outside of church. 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:34.920 We give off this idea by the way we treat other people, by the way we talk to other people, 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:38.380 that you're not good enough to be a Christian. 00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:43.259 You don't look, talk, smell, act, or think like a Christian. 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:46.540 And so you're probably not one of us. 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.240 That was not what Jesus proclaimed. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.600 That wasn't his message. 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:59.119 So we have to be careful that the message we are proclaiming is his death and resurrection. 00:27:59.439 --> 00:28:06.159 If you talk about Jesus' death and resurrection, then you tell the gospel, the good news of Jesus. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:08.119 Why did he have to die? 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.519 Because of our sin. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:14.279 Because we have all broken his laws and commandments time and time again. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.779 Even the best of us. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:18.559 Even those who think that we're better than everybody else. 00:28:18.719 --> 00:28:20.039 We are just as guilty. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:24.559 We put Jesus on the cross just like everybody else did. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:29.099 So if you talk about his death, then you talk about the reason for his death. 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.359 Which is our sin. 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:32.039 Yours and mine. 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.859 And then you can't leave it there. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:41.079 Because his death leads into that triumphant moment that proved he was God. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:43.619 And gave him the ability to forgive us all. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.819 To cleanse us all. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.980 And that was his resurrection. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.420 If the story had ended there. 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:50.539 Then ours would also end. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:53.039 But our story doesn't have to end. 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:54.400 Because Jesus didn't end. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.640 He came back to life. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.060 So if we died with him. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.100 Remember he died on the cross. 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:09.519 And he's saying he's got a life for us that only dead people qualify for. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:12.740 So if you die to your old self. 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:15.440 Then you also get to live with him. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:19.000 Then you also get the new life that he has for you. 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.700 And that life. 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.160 Based on his resurrection power. 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.859 Leads straight to heaven. 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:26.259 And along the way. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:28.519 You get to encounter his blessings. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.519 You get to encounter his goodness. 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.500 His grace. 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.319 His protection. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:37.099 All the care that he wants to provide for you as his child. 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:39.539 You get to encounter that. 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:42.240 But you got to die first. 00:29:43.179 --> 00:29:45.639 So he can give you a life with a new purpose. 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.879 What is that purpose? 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.700 It's proclaiming his death. 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.759 His resurrection. 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:52.039 Until he comes. 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.439 We'll end with this. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:55.419 This is what Paul ended with when he wrote this letter. 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:57.639 He said until he comes. 00:29:57.640 --> 00:30:00.500 Jesus said as long as you do this. 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:02.680 As long as you proclaim me. 00:30:03.040 --> 00:30:03.960 My death. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.820 My resurrection. 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:08.560 Until I come back. 00:30:08.800 --> 00:30:10.020 Keep doing it. 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.380 Until I come again. 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:14.320 Because his death conquered death. 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:16.140 He is coming back again. 00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.380 He's still alive. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.800 He came once. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.820 But there will be a second coming. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:22.259 Of Jesus Christ. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:25.120 And when that second coming happens. 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:26.600 We'll be caught up. 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:28.099 If we're still alive. 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.500 And we're walking around this earth. 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:31.439 Then we'll be caught up together with him. 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:33.000 The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians. 00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:34.039 In the clouds. 00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:35.599 To meet the Lord in the air. 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.879 And we will be forever be with the Lord. 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:41.339 If we've already died. 00:30:41.399 --> 00:30:42.419 And our time has passed. 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:44.039 Then we'll just go straight to heaven. 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:46.419 It says to be absent from this body. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.399 Means we're going to be present. 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.539 With the Lord. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.559 In heaven. 00:30:51.699 --> 00:30:52.599 So regardless. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.039 We get to be with Jesus. 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:58.779 But until his second coming. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.879 Until he comes again. 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:03.240 He has given us this task. 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:04.339 This purpose. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.639 This value. 00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:07.279 Of proclaiming. 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.519 His death. 00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.720 And resurrection. 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.559 So our takeaway this morning is this. 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.619 Do you proclaim his death and resurrection. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.879 Or. 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.500 Do you only benefit from it? 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:23.160 Would you honestly. 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.759 Truthfully. 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:27.900 Look inside your own heart right now. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:31.279 And ask yourself the question on the screen. 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.940 Do I benefit. 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:37.160 From Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.440 Or am I also. 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.160 A proclaimer of it. 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:47.480 Because that's what he called. 00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.600 That's the purpose. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:55.100 It was the greatest gift you'll ever receive. 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:57.400 He wants you to benefit from it. 00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.960 But that's only half. 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:02.000 The other side is. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.400 He's called you to proclaim it. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:07.400 So have you done that? 00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.780 Are you doing that? 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.860 Will you by God's grace. 00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.940 And with his help. 00:32:12.300 --> 00:32:13.519 Become a proclaimer. 00:32:14.040 --> 00:32:15.680 Of his death and resurrection. 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.500 Not just from the Lord's supper. 00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.940 That we're going to take in just a moment. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.820 We're going to eat the little bread. 00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.340 And we're going to drink the juice together. 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.960 But when we're outside these walls. 00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:28.660 Do we still proclaim it? 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:31.160 When we're in those moments. 00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:32.440 And we feel God moving. 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:34.600 Somebody came up to me on Wednesday night. 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.480 And talked about. 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.740 How they've always been shy. 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.799 And always been nervous. 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.779 And never confident about going out. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:42.120 And sharing Jesus with others. 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:45.100 And I challenged them on Wednesday night. 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.480 And here on worship Wednesdays. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.320 We sit over here. 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:49.120 Well actually they're doing play practice in here. 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.960 So for a little bit. 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:51.740 We're back in the fellowship hall. 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:53.500 On Wednesday night. 00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:55.400 After we finish with music in here. 00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:58.039 But we're doing practical training. 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.340 On how to share our faith. 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.160 How do we do that? 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:02.039 That's a hard thing to do. 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.680 How do we actually go and proclaim him? 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.799 You want to learn? 00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.599 Come on Wednesday night. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.379 We're talking about it. 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:06.680 Okay. 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:09.700 But somebody shared that testimony. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.659 That man God gave them two chances. 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.159 In the last week. 00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:14.680 To go share their faith. 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.759 And he gave them the boldness. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.819 And the courage to do it. 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:20.619 So if you want to proclaim God's name. 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.839 Proclaim his death and resurrection. 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:25.159 And ask him for help. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.319 Would you do that right now with me? 00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:27.220 Would you bow your heads? 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.299 Friends. 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:31.319 Maybe you heard him proclaimed right now. 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.940 Maybe you heard him proclaimed. 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:35.960 And you need to respond. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:41.079 We have seen people respond time and time again. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:44.140 To God calling them to be his child. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.680 God drawing them and saying. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.339 I want you. 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.259 Would you respond to me? 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:52.759 Not because of how you look. 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.599 How you act. 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.839 How great you are. 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.019 None of that. 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:01.400 But God just out of his love and kindness. 00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.379 Pricks your heart. 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.180 Pricks your mind. 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.099 And says. 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.619 I want you to be my child. 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:10.159 If that's happening for you this morning. 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.860 It's happened for Coulter. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.900 It's happened for Kennedy. 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:15.000 It's happened for a couple more. 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.739 They're going to be baptized in the coming weeks. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.879 So many. 00:34:18.299 --> 00:34:19.119 In our church. 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.759 I'm looking out. 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.699 So many. 00:34:20.819 --> 00:34:21.679 Just since I've been here. 00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:22.339 But so many. 00:34:22.459 --> 00:34:23.219 Even before that. 00:34:23.899 --> 00:34:24.799 So many of you. 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.279 You felt God's call. 00:34:26.339 --> 00:34:26.739 And you said. 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.099 Yes. 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.639 I place my faith in you. 00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.919 If that's happening for you. 00:34:29.979 --> 00:34:30.459 This morning. 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:30.899 Right now. 00:34:30.959 --> 00:34:31.759 Would you slip your hand up. 00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:32.459 And I'll pray for you. 00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:36.579 Just slip your hand up right now. 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:36.859 And say. 00:34:36.859 --> 00:34:37.239 God. 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:39.559 Might be calling me right now. 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.299 To respond to him. 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.319 Become his child. 00:34:43.459 --> 00:34:43.939 Thank you. 00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:45.919 How many of you would say. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:46.659 God might be. 00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:48.139 Calling me right now. 00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.059 To be his proclaimer. 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:50.680 To tell somebody. 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.860 I don't want to just benefit. 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.079 From his death and resurrection. 00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.360 I want to tell somebody else. 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.800 And proclaim him. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.260 To others. 00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.180 Would you slip your hand up. 00:34:59.220 --> 00:34:59.400 And say. 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.559 I'm praying about that right now. 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:01.539 Thank you. 00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.059 Thank you. 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:02.840 Thank you. 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.440 Thank you. 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:05.659 Thank you. 00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.440 You can put your hands down. 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:06.840 Thank you. 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:06.860 Thank you. 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:07.559 Listen. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.720 Right now. 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:13.280 Would you start asking God. 00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.000 To give you somebody. 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.740 To proclaim it to. 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.900 Maybe that's your one. 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:20.300 Maybe there's another face. 00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.099 Maybe there's somebody. 00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:22.420 That says. 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.139 I need. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.159 Your help. 00:35:25.220 --> 00:35:26.039 To proclaim. 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.740 Jesus Christ. 00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.099 To somebody else. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.760 His death. 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.680 His resurrection. 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.380 God. 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.240 You heard our prayer. 00:35:35.240 --> 00:35:36.200 You know our hearts. 00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.720 We've heard your word. 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.180 Speak to us. 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:39.740 Move us. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.340 Change us. 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.579 Make us more like you. 00:35:41.700 --> 00:35:42.360 The real you. 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:44.619 We'll give you the glory for it. 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.599 In Jesus name we pray. 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.179 Amen. 00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.079 Would you keep your seats. 00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:47.819 Just for a moment. 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.559 We're going to. 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.819 Give you a time. 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.659 Just to respond. 00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:51.699 And pray quietly. 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.099 Would you just go ahead. 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.099 And bow your heads. 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:55.539 Enter into a. 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.679 Spirit of prayer. 00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:57.319 In this moment. 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:59.099 Maybe you're praying for yourself. 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.179 Maybe somebody else. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.339 In just a moment. 00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:01.980 Our deacons. 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.819 Are going to come forward. 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.259 And we're going to. 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:05.480 Partake of the Lord's Supper. 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.039 We're going to do it. 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:06.619 A little bit differently. 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.259 This time. 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:10.060 But right here. 00:36:10.140 --> 00:36:10.720 In this moment. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.540 Let's have a time of prayer. 00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.280 And ask God. 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.680 Speak to us. 00:36:15.200 --> 00:36:16.740 About being a proclaimer for him.