Now, we have two New Testament readings at the moment. The first is from 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy chapter 3 from verse 14 into chapter 4 and verse 5.
So 2 Timothy 3 verse 14 to chapter 4 verse 5.
But as for you, Paul writes to Timothy,
They will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,
discharge all the duties of your ministry.
So the place of preaching and teaching God's Word is being emphasized there.
And now we're going to read from Acts chapter 10.
So we're about to begin a series, Healthy Habits for a Church or Habits of a Healthy Church.
And the first thing that we're going to think about is preaching and teaching of God's Word and commitment to that.
And so in Acts chapter 10, we have one of the many examples of preaching of Jesus that we find in the book of Acts.
So Acts chapter 10 from verse 34 to verse 43.
Then Peter began to speak.
This is in Cornelius' house.
I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism,
but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel,
announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea,
beginning in Galilee, after the baptism that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power,
and how he went around doing good and healing all who are under the power of the devil,
because God was with him.
We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
They killed him by hanging him on a cross.
But God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen,
by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify
that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him,
that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
And we'll return to that passage in just a few moments.
But before we do that, we're going to sing together the hymn,
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor.
So we'll hear that and we can sing and we'll stand while we sing.
Thank you.
The first why question for us.
Why is it that we regularly, week by week, spend one hour between the morning and the evening listening to the Bible being read and preached?
Why is it that we devote time through the week to reading and teaching in small groups in different contexts regularly, week by week, month by month?
It's an important question because preaching is under pressure.
It's under pressure in part because of the media age.
It was that drive to find more effective forms of communication.
People are consuming and being discipled by different sources of information in ways like no other.
And so even within the church, you'll find many people asking, is preaching still relevant?
Perhaps because of that, there is even among preachers a loss of confidence.
Perhaps we've heard one time too many, it's not how people learn best.
Preaching won't attract people in.
Asking people to listen to two sermons is simply too much.
And so we have choices.
Churches have choices to make.
Do we cave in to that pressure?
Do we try and conform?
Change the way that we communicate?
Or do we commit ourselves for the long haul to preaching and teaching?
So our big goal today is to show, in the first instance, the central place that preaching and teaching had in the church from the beginning, by God's design.
So that hopefully we ourselves and we as a church will grow in our conviction about the importance of preaching.
But also at the same time, as we look at Acts chapter 10, we see an example of gospel preaching.
That we might learn some of the priorities, the emphases of the apostles and others for ourselves.
As we look to communicate the good news of Jesus with people around us.
So think of it, in a sense, like visiting the doctor for a health checkup.
If you ever find yourself doing that, when you do the BMI, you do the blood pressure, you check your heart.
This is the first part of our church spiritual health check.
Now, are we committed to hear God's word through preaching and teaching?
And this deliberately comes first, because if we get this wrong, eventually everything else will go wrong.
As I hope we will all be able to see.
So let's begin simply by recognizing the place of preaching and teaching in the book of Acts.
There's one verse to get us going.
Acts chapter 8 and verse 4.
If you don't have a Bible, I can read it for you.
So this is the church is facing persecution.
They're scattered.
And in 8 verse 4, those who've been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
So preaching is everywhere.
And remember, Jesus said to the disciples, you will be my witnesses and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
And so they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Jesus through preaching and teaching.
Just to give a sense, in case we miss it, about how ever-present preaching is.
Chapter 2, as Pentecost.
That's when the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples in power.
And the first thing that happens, Peter begins to preach.
Preaches to that huge crowd.
3,000 are converted.
And we find that this first church are devoted to the apostles' teaching.
So from the beginning, a church devoted to the word of God.
Then in chapters 3 to 5, we find the churches preaching, but preaching largely because of opposition.
They find themselves communicating the gospel before the Sanhedrin, who keep asking them questions and saying,
Will you please stop talking about Jesus?
And they refuse to stop.
So they preach in the context of opposition.
That grows.
So chapter 7, chapter 8, there is preaching in the context of persecution.
We have Stephen's sermon.
And he eventually is martyred at the end of that.
And you find Philip preaching to the Ethiopian.
And it's interesting as well.
So the apostles have been preaching.
But there, chapters 7 and 8, there's deacons in the church who are preaching.
And then we discover, as the church is scattered, everyday believers are preaching wherever they go as well.
And then in chapter 9, one of the crucial turning points in the book of Acts, Saul is converted.
We know him as Paul.
As he is converted, what does he do?
Begins preaching.
Chapters 10 and 11, and this is our context,
we find Peter preaching to the Gentiles.
So here, just as Jesus said, you'll be my witnesses,
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the ends of the earth.
We see it begin here.
And then chapters 13 to 21, we have Paul's three missionary journeys recorded.
And we find churches established through the preaching and teaching of God's Word.
So for those first 20 or so chapters,
you can hardly move, but there's preaching happening.
The church began, the church flourished,
as they committed themselves to preaching and teaching the Word of God about Jesus.
And they do it in different settings as well.
That's one of the really interesting things about the book of Acts.
So they'll preach in synagogues,
lecture halls in the public square.
They will preach and teach in houses.
We find Philip in the middle of the desert.
They're preaching in a chariot, teaching the Word of God.
We find them preaching to different audiences.
So sometimes that's to believers in homes.
Often that's before very hostile crowds.
Sometimes that's teaching that happens one to one.
As we've said, it's done by different people.
It's often by the apostles,
but also these deacons,
and also unnamed believers.
The church from bottom to top believed that their message,
their responsibility was to preach the gospel.
And so, you know,
as historians and church historians recognize
the way that the Christian church
ultimately transformed the Roman Empire,
how does it turn the world upside down?
It does it because they are totally committed
to preaching and teaching the Word of God
and living in response to it.
And so it's really important for us to see.
And it's amazing for us to think about how God worked.
And I think it's important for us to be encouraged.
So it was recognized by the Sanhedrin,
in Acts chapter 4,
that the people who are preaching are largely untrained.
And that's very striking in its day.
And bear in mind, too,
that these first apostles,
these first teachers of the gospel,
they only had the Old Testament,
and they wouldn't have had their own personal copies of it.
And they also had the apostles teaching about Jesus.
Bear in mind their context.
They are working in the Roman Empire.
We see how totally un-Christian and anti-Christian
much of society was,
whether that's Jewish leaders or the Roman establishment.
They are working, operating in a context
where Caesar is Lord is what you hear every day.
It's a culture that was wild.
A time of intense persecution.
But,
these first Christians,
they had the Spirit,
and they had the Word of God,
and they had the life-changing message of Jesus.
I love the way the guys in the Sanhedrin
recognize
the distinctive quality of Peter and John,
that although they were largely unschooled,
they were men who had been with Jesus.
Something about their life and their message.
Jesus spoke about that mustard seed
that would grow into a huge tree.
That's what we see happening
in the book of Acts,
as God's people are committed to God's Word,
and that tree continues to grow today,
wherever God's people are committed
to preaching and teaching God's Word.
And so, for our own encouragement,
it's good for us to remember,
we have the same Spirit
that these first Christians had.
We have the same good news.
We have the same Lord Jesus.
We have the same God
who loves to save sinners.
And so, in a day where we can feel weak
and marginalized,
where we wonder,
does preaching, teaching, proclamation
make any difference?
We're invited always to take heart
and to keep on going.
From an overview,
let's move directly to Acts chapter 10
and to think about preaching Christ
in the book of Acts.
There was lots of places,
lots of places we could go,
for examples of preaching
in the book of Acts.
And as you compare,
it's very interesting
to compare the different sermons
as they're recorded by Luke,
and you see certain key themes
emerge again and again.
And so, we're going to notice
some of those
coming here in Peter's sermon.
And hopefully, we can then think about,
how do I communicate the good news?
Are there any gaps?
Is there any help for me
in thinking about
how to communicate the gospel
as we read the book of Acts?
I hope there will be.
Just to remind ourselves,
the setting here
in Acts chapter 10
is that Cornelius,
who is a Gentile soldier,
has been told by an angel
to go and send
for a man called Peter
and to bring him
so that Peter can preach to him.
And so, here is Peter
in this soldier's house
about to preach
to his household.
Again, a reminder
of the different audiences,
different places
where preaching happened.
So, Luke records
a summary of the sermon,
and we can see six key elements
of gospel preaching
that we find in the book of Acts.
So, we'll notice them together.
First key element
that you will find
across loads of the sermons
is a recognition
and understanding
that Jesus fulfills
Old Testament scriptures.
How do we see it here?
Verse 34,
I now realize
how true it is
that God does not show favoritism,
but accepts from every nation
the one who fears him
and does what is right.
That's not something
that merges brand new
in the New Testament.
That's something
that's promised
all the way back
in Genesis 12
to Abraham.
One of your seed
will bring blessing
to the nations.
If you remember,
Martin Patterson
preached for us
on our mission Sunday
from Zechariah chapter 8,
and in verse 23,
we have that picture
of here's the one Jewish guy
and there's ten people
from different nations
grabbing onto his coat.
Why?
Because God is with you.
And there's that expectation
that in the new age,
God's kingdom of grace
is going to go wider.
Whether it's going to go global,
Jesus will be acknowledged
as Lord of all.
And so people from all nations
are called to repent
and to believe.
God does not show favoritism.
It's not just for a few.
This is good news for the nations.
Verse 36,
we can also see
Old Testament fulfillment.
You know the message
God sent to the people of Israel
announcing the good news of peace
through Jesus Christ
who is Lord of all.
Maybe that makes us think
of Isaiah chapter 9,
verses 6 and 7.
Let me read those famous words
that we often connect
with Christmas.
And actually words
that are mentioned
in the Hope Explored course as well.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government
will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
There's our word.
Of the greatness of his government
and peace,
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom
from that time on
and forever.
The promised Prince of Peace
is here,
therefore the way of peace
is open.
Peace,
as we discover
and as they declare
through the broken body
and the shed blood
of the Lord Jesus.
So what we remember today
as we share the Lord's Supper,
that our peace,
our reconciliation
comes through Jesus,
the Prince of Peace,
who lays down his life
so that our sins
could be forgiven,
so that we might be
reconciled to our God.
So this expectation
of peace
is fulfilled
in Jesus.
And so to read
the sermons
of the book of Acts
is to discover
that these first apostles,
they read the Old Testament
and they saw
the glory of Jesus.
They read the Old Testament
and they saw
the ministry of Jesus
being anticipated
in the pages
of Scripture.
Second key element
of gospel preaching
we find in the book of Acts,
an emphasis on
Jesus' unique
ministry.
Verse 37
and 38.
You know what's happened
throughout the province
of Judea,
how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit
and power
and how he went around
doing good
and healing all
who are under the power
of the devil
because God was with him.
He is anointed
as the king.
At his baptism
the Holy Spirit
came on him.
His ministry
was one marked
by power.
And it's significant
that Peter can say
to his listeners,
you know,
so perhaps some of them
had seen it firsthand,
but perhaps it's true
that the reputation,
the stories of Jesus
were spreading
far and wide
and he was known
for doing good.
His miracles,
his miracles
demonstrate
that Jesus
is none other
than mighty God.
Jesus does
unique things
to serve people,
to show compassion.
We thought about him
healing the blind
so that many people
were asking,
who is this?
And he's not just
doing good,
he's also driving out
evil spirits,
a reminder
that Jesus
is a spiritual king
and he's come
to wage
spiritual battle.
And that every time
Jesus drives out
a demon
it was an anticipation
of his kingdom coming,
of that promise
of a world
that would be free
of evil.
Every miracle
stands as a snapshot,
a trailer
to the great movie
of the kingdom
of God,
to the future hope
of a world
free of suffering,
free of sin,
free of evil
where Jesus
will reign
over all
and where we will
see
and celebrate
his glory.
So they focus
on Jesus'
unique ministry.
And then,
verse 39 and 40,
they focus,
Peter focuses
attention on
Jesus'
death
and resurrection.
He says,
they killed him
by hanging him
on a cross,
but God
raised him
from the dead
on the third day
and caused him
to be seen.
They killed him,
God raised him.
This isn't the first time
Peter is preached
in this way
in Acts chapter 2,
Pentecost sermon.
He can speak
directly to the leaders
and say,
now here was your plan,
your plan was wicked,
you put Jesus to death,
but it was God's plan.
You didn't derail
God's purpose
of salvation.
Think about the number
of times Jesus
predicted his own
suffering and death,
as we said this morning,
six times at least.
The cross was
God's way
of salvation.
And the apostles
clearly understood it
after
Jesus rose
from the dead.
They were confused
beforehand.
How can God's king
suffer and die?
But after,
they understood.
This acceptance
that was promised
in verse 35,
this peace
that is open
to all
in verse 36,
how will it come?
It will come
through the blood
of Jesus
being shed
for many.
But then there's
the focus too
on the resurrection.
And actually
when you look
at the emphasis
on all the gospel
sermons
in the book of Acts,
the emphasis
falls on
the fact
that God
raised Jesus
from the dead.
The miracle
of the resurrection
is the reason
to listen
and to believe
the good news.
That the resurrection
of Jesus
shows God's promise
fulfilled.
Psalm 16,
Jesus is the holy one
who is not abandoned
today.
Isaiah 53,
he was the suffering
servant who would see
the light of life
and be satisfied.
So the central
events of Easter,
the central events
of the Christian faith,
always stand central
to the preaching
of the gospel
that we find
in the book of Acts.
It should always
be central
to our communication
of the gospel message.
Another emphasis
you may have picked up
in verse 41,
and you see it often
in the sermons
in the book of Acts,
the apostles
are eyewitnesses
to Jesus.
Actually,
you see it in verse 39,
we are witnesses
of everything he did.
So they are witnesses
to his life
and to his miracles
and to his teaching.
Verse 40,
they are witnesses
to the fact
that he was raised
from the dead.
41,
he was not seen
by all the people,
but by witnesses
whom God had already chosen,
by us who ate
and drank with him
after he rose from the dead.
Why talk about eating
and drinking with Jesus?
They are eyewitnesses
to a real
and physical resurrection.
They've been chosen
by God
to see
the evidence
of this great reversal
and then to share
the reality
of Jesus' risen Lord
and the eternity
shaping significance.
The emphasis
from the apostles
is on them
as reliable eyewitnesses.
Luke,
in his introduction
to Luke Acts,
Luke chapter 1,
verses 1 to 4,
that's where the emphasis
falls on reliability,
on eyewitness history,
on it being
an orderly account.
It's not myth
or legend.
It's truth
and they stand
as eyewitnesses.
But they're not finished.
perhaps often
when we communicate
the gospel,
we stop
at the resurrection.
But they push us further.
The apostles often
push us further
and Peter does it here.
Verse 42,
Jesus is Lord
and judge.
He commanded us
to preach
to the people
and to testify
that he is the one
whom God appointed
as judge
of the living
and of the dead.
verse 38,
Jesus was anointed
as saviour.
Verse 42,
Jesus is appointed
as judge.
What Peter
reminds Cornelius
and his household
and reminds us
is that Jesus
today occupies
the place of honour
and power
and glory
and authority
in heaven.
that Jesus
in the future
will return
to judge
the living
and the dead.
This is Jesus
himself said
so often
in his parables,
those parables
that speak
of separation.
You know,
the parable
of the sheep
and the goats
as one example.
It gives
an urgency.
The apostles
could testify
that at his trial,
Jesus found himself
in the dock
unjustly,
falsely accused.
His enemies
said that he
had committed
blasphemy,
claiming to be
the Son of God.
But here,
Peter,
the apostle,
testifies that
Jesus will return
and he will return
in his exalted,
glorious position
as judge
and king.
And each one
of us
will stand
in his courtroom,
be in the dock
before him
as judge.
And so,
as Paul said
to Timothy,
because that's true,
there's an urgency
in our communication
of the gospel message
and there's a need
for people to hear.
Remember,
Paul said
something similar
in Acts chapter 17.
He spoke about
God setting a time
when he'll judge
all people
and he's given
proof of that
by raising Jesus
from the dead.
Jesus is God's
judge
and the proof
of that
was the resurrection.
One last element
of gospel preaching
we find in the book
of Acts
here in Acts
chapter 10
is calling people
to recognize
their need
to believe in Jesus.
Verse 43,
all the prophets
testify about him
that everyone
who believes
in him
receives forgiveness
of sins
through his name.
So,
in a sense,
we're back
to fulfillment
of scripture again.
Here we're invited
and especially
as we look forward
to sharing
the Lord's Supper
to recognize
that Jesus
brings in
the new covenant.
And what's the promise
in the book of Ezekiel
when the new covenant
comes,
there'll be forgiveness,
there'll be a new heart,
there'll be a new ability
for the people of God
to obey.
And that reality
is true
for all
who will believe
in Jesus.
And so,
in light
of the uniqueness
of Christ,
in light
of his identity,
his power,
his death
and resurrection,
Peter calls
on Cornelius
and Cornelius'
household
to faith,
to belief,
to trust
in the Lord
Jesus.
This week,
outside our
school gates,
some primary
fives have been
collecting
for Ukraine.
And the people
who were collecting,
let's just say
they were very
invested
in their task.
They didn't let
anybody off
the hook
very easily.
You know,
they knew
that Ukraine
needed help
and they guessed
that people
had money
and so the
buckets were
being shaken.
The request
was being
given
repeatedly.
And do you know
in a sense,
I think,
as a church,
we could do
with more of that.
Sometimes
we're content
with information
transfer.
forever.
But the
gospel
proclamation
calls for
decision,
calls people
to repent
and believe.
We want
lives to be
transformed
because we
believe that
this truth
matters
eternally.
So what
you see
from Acts
chapter 10
from Peter's
sermon
is six
of the
elements.
You can
go through
the book
of Acts.
It would be
very interesting
for you
if you had
time to go
through the
book of Acts
and to see
all those
sermons
and you'll
see those
elements.
But when we
think about
our own
desire to
share the
good news
of Jesus
with others,
perhaps some
things that
come out
for us.
One,
I think a
reminder that we
can trust the
New Testament
record.
that we can
invite others
to examine
it without
fear.
The
reliability of
the Word of
God, the
reliability of
the Gospels,
the account of
the resurrection,
they stand up
to examination
and we can
invite our
friends to
examine if
they are
curious, if
they are
even
skeptical.
We have
eyewitness
history and
that history
is reliable.
I think too
we are
reminded when
we look at
the preaching
in Acts
that we
focus on
the uniqueness
of Jesus.
He isn't
just one
among many,
he is
utterly
unique.
Unique in
his identity,
unique in
his powerful
ministry,
unique in
his death
and resurrection,
unique in
the fact that
he will
return as
King of
Kings and
Lord of
Lords and
he will
bring in
the world
we all
want.
one of
the things
that I
certainly
find
challenging
in
thinking
about
how do
we
share
the
gospel
is
this
reminder
from the
book of
Acts that
the future
is always
part of
the gospel
message.
And
indeed Paul
would say
to Timothy
that the
future
is part of
the motivation
for communicating
the gospel
message.
And maybe
one other
thing for us
to reflect
on is
how often
you find
when you
read through
the sermons
in the
book of
Acts,
whether they're
public or
whether they're
more private,
is that they
call for a
moment of
decision.
And isn't
that so often
perhaps the
hardest bit?
If we're
trying to
share something
of our
faith.
But it's
something that
people need
to hear.
Especially
when we live
in an age
where it's
like,
well that's
fine for
you but
that's
not really
my thing.
Because the
authority of
Jesus is
absolute,
because he
is Lord
and judge
over all,
everybody needs
to know
and to be
called to
respond.
What we'll
do just as
we close
is to go
back now
to 2nd
Timothy and
just think
very briefly
about three
reasons Paul
says why
we need
preaching
and teaching.
preaching.
So I
hope we
will have
this firmly
established in
our heads
that we
need
preaching
in the
context of
a spiritual
health check.
Maybe that
thing that we've
always done
and we've
never really
thought about
it.
We always
preach.
That we'd
understand its
importance.
three things
that Paul
says to
Timothy.
One,
the church
is a
community
that is
formed
by God's
word.
We're not
formed because
we share the
same culture,
because we
don't.
We're not
formed because
we share the
same lifestyle
or we share
the same
struggles or
we happen to
listen to the
same speaker.
That's not what
brings us
together.
We are
formed as we
live under
the word of
God.
Look at all
the words that
he mentions
about the
word of
God.
It's the
word of
God that
makes us
wise for
salvation.
It's the
word of
God that
teaches us.
It's the
word of
God that
rebukes and
corrects when
we are prone
to disobedience
and drift.
It's the
word of
God that
trains and
equips us.
Just as
every soldier
needs equipment,
every sports
person needs
equipment,
the equipment
we need to
live the
life of
faith is
the word
of God.
So we
are a
community
formed by
God's
word.
But
secondly,
the church
is a
community
in awe
of
God's
word.
So we
mentioned
this a
couple of
times.
Why is
Timothy to
preach?
What does
Paul say
to him?
In the
presence of
God and
of Christ
Jesus,
who will
judge the
living and
the dead,
and in
view of
his appearing
in his
kingdom,
I give
you this
charge,
preach the
word.
So because
Jesus is
judged,
because Jesus
is returning,
because Jesus
is establishing
his kingdom,
the church
is to
preach and
to be
committed to
preaching and
teaching.
Paul's
point is it's
crucial to
listen to and
obey the
word of God
if we are to
be justified,
if we are to
be ready,
if we are to
be part of
the kingdom
of God.
So we
preach and
teach with a
sense of
awe and
wonder.
Our God
and Father
and Christ
our Savior.
And finally,
Paul says to
Timothy,
the church
is a
community
holding
firmly
to God's
word.
Verse 3,
for the time
will come
when people
will not
put up
with sound
doctrine.
Verse 4,
they will
turn their
ears away
from the
truth and
turn aside
to myths.
The Bible's
always been
under attack.
Philosophers,
scientists,
artists,
governments,
the church
always faces
temptation,
or just
give people
what they
want to
hear.
Perhaps
leave the
hard bits,
soften some
of the
rough edges.
Why not
blend in
and give
a message
that culture
is going
to receive
better?
Paul knew
that temptation,
Timothy knew
that pressure,
but what
does Paul
say?
He says
to Timothy,
keep your
head.
Commit to
preaching and
teaching the
Bible in
our evangelism
and in
our
discipleship.
Just as we
close,
one question
perhaps to
help us
to reflect.
Since
this is
true,
how do
I,
how do
we approach
God's
word?
And maybe
especially
the preaching
of God's
word.
Let me
give you
three very
simple
T's
to take
away.
First,
we turn
up.
never
underestimate
the value
of long,
steady
character
formation
if we
commit
ourselves
to
sitting
under
the
preaching
of
God's
word.
But it
requires us,
doesn't it,
to tune in,
to be
engaged.
Perhaps
to think,
what is it
that helps
me to
listen and
learn the
best?
Some of
us,
it's
note
taking.
I'm
definitely
a note
taker.
I find
that really
helpful for
concentration
and
memorization.
But come
tuned in
to be
engaged,
ready to
hear and
to receive.
And the
third one,
take it
to heart.
Consider
the truth
of God's
word,
not for
others,
but for
me.
And
consider the
truth of
God's
word,
not just
for me,
but for
us.
as a
congregation.
Turn up,
tune in,
take it
to heart.
A healthy
church is
a church
that's
committed
to the
preaching
and teaching
of God's
word.
May that
always be
true of
us as a
local
church.
Let's
pray
together.
Lord,
we remember
the
apostles
declared
that salvation
is found
in no
one else,
for there
is no
other name
under heaven
given to
mankind by
which we
must be
saved.
Help
each one
of us
to believe
the gospel
and give
us courage
and confidence
and wisdom
and help
to proclaim
the gospel.
people.
We pray
that you
would protect
us individually
and as a
church from
a low
view of
your word
and a low
view of
preaching.
But rather
you would make
us a church
that is
committed
to preaching
and teaching
the Bible
as your
word,
your word
of revelation,
your word
that speaks
of your
salvation
by grace
through faith
in the
Lord Jesus.
Because our
world needs
to hear that
message more
than anything
else.
Please give
us that
conviction
and please
give us
opportunities
this week
to speak
and to
proclaim
the good
news of
Jesus.
Amen.
Now,
in just
a few
moments,
we will
be sharing
the Lord's
Supper
as the
people of
God
receiving
these
elements.
I want
to read
a verse
from 1
Corinthians
1,
verse 21.
It says,
and it's up
on our
screen,
For since
in the
wisdom
of God
the world
through its
wisdom
did not
know him,
God
was pleased
through the
foolishness
of what
was preached,
to save
those who
believe.
The Lord's
Supper was
a gift that
Jesus gave
to the
church,
and the
Lord's
Supper
preaches
the gospel
to us.
What
message
does the
Lord's
Supper
preach to
us?
Well,
it's a
visible reminder,
isn't it,
of the cross
of the
Lord Jesus,
that by
his wounds
we are
healed,
that in
his sacrifice
we know
forgiveness,
that the
Lord's
Supper
reminds us
that we
enter into
the new
covenant
by his
blood.
God's
plan for
you and
me to
have
fellowship
with him
now and
for eternity
rests in
Jesus shedding
his precious
blood.
receiving the
elements of
the Lord's
Supper also
reminds us
in a way
that we
need a
salvation
from outside
of ourselves.
It is a
gift of
grace that
we receive
by faith.
The
Lord's
Supper,
as we
share it
together,
also reminds
us that
God has
made us
a new
community,
a new
body,
He has
called us
together,
different
backgrounds,
different
experiences,
but all
one in
Christ
Jesus,
and we
share this
meal
together
for those
of us
who are
members of
God's
church,
those who
have faith
in the
Lord Jesus.
And so
this supper
that we
share is
for all
who have
put their
faith in
Jesus,
who are
members of
God's
church,
and who
know that
we have an
ongoing need
for His
grace.
And so
in just a
moment we'll
be directed
to collect
the bread
and the
wine,
and while
that's
happening,
we'll also
stand and
we will sing
the hymn
Come Behold
the Wondrous
Mystery to
help us
reflect on
the gospel.
So let's
stand and
let's sing
and folks
will be
directed to
collect the
elements at
the appropriate
time.
Amen.