You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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Today we are wrapping up our study of the book of Hebrews.
But before we do that, I want to tell you what's coming next.
In two weeks, we're going to start a summer series called Thanks for Asking.
It's a chance to look at questions about God and about faith
that we and many of our non-Christian friends ask.
Things like, why do bad things happen?
How can I follow a Jesus whose followers do so much evil?
Or is Jesus really the only way to God?
Questions like that and several others.
If you want to know what they are in the Narthex and the Guest Center this morning,
you can grab this little card.
It has a schedule of all the questions we'll talk about this summer.
You can grab a few of these if you'd like and invite a friend.
Maybe someone you've talked with some of these questions about
and you all have had discussions about your different perspectives.
And invite them to come be a part of these discussions
because that's what they will be.
It's not just sermons.
I'm not the only one who gets to talk.
We're actually, after each of our services,
going to gather in the connecting spaces
and have a time of discussion
where those who have questions get to speak
and make their own comments.
So I'm looking forward to that.
We want people to know this is a community
where those tough questions that we all wrestle with at some point
are welcomed for all of us.
You may be asking some of them right now.
I'd ask you to join me in praying for that time that we have this summer.
But before we get to that,
one more time in Hebrews together this morning
where we have enjoyed incredible visions of the greatness of Jesus, right?
And then there's this pattern that we've seen
throughout the written sermon of Hebrews
where there's rich theology, truth,
followed by a clear command, application for our lives.
Often it's been marked by the word, therefore, right?
This is true.
Therefore, this.
Such a Paul thing to do.
Hmm.
Anyway, God wants our behavior
to be consistent with our belief.
Let me look at several examples briefly
that will maybe help us review
what we've heard in Hebrews.
You can flip with me if you're in Hebrews 2, verse 1.
Jesus is greater than angels,
therefore,
pay much closer attention
to what we have heard about Jesus.
Chapter 3, verse 1.
Jesus is uniquely able to help us,
therefore,
consider Jesus
to hold fast our confidence and hope,
and don't harden your heart.
411.
There's a better rest still on offer,
therefore,
strive to enter Jesus' rest.
414 to 16.
We have a great high priest representing us before God,
therefore,
let us hold fast our confession
and draw near with confidence.
chapter 6, verse 1.
Drifting from God is dangerous.
We could actually fall away from God,
therefore,
let us not drift,
but go on to maturity in Christ.
1022 to 24.
Jesus is a great high priest
who brings us into God's very presence,
therefore,
let us draw near,
hold fast,
stir up.
12-1.
We're almost there.
We're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
as we run our race of faith,
therefore,
let us run with endurance.
in 1228,
just last week,
we read that everything in heaven and earth
will be shaken,
but God gives us a kingdom
that cannot be shaken,
therefore,
let us be grateful
and worship God.
You see that pattern all through the book.
You got the pattern down?
He's gonna tweak it a little bit in chapter 13.
It's gonna be played out now repeatedly,
over and over in this chapter,
but often in reverse order.
It's the same idea in chapter 13.
Let's listen to God's holy word
written for our good.
Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember those who are in prison
as though in prison with them,
and those who are mistreated
since you also are in the body.
Let marriage be held in honor among all,
and let the marriage bed be undefiled,
for God will judge the sexually immoral
and adulterous.
Keep your life free from the love of money
and be content with what you have,
for he has said,
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we can confidently say,
the Lord is my helper,
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life
and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings,
for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace,
not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent
have no right to eat.
For the bodies of those animals
whose blood is brought into the holy places
by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin
are burned outside the camp.
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate
in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp
and bear the reproach he endured.
For here we have no lasting city,
but we seek the city that is to come.
Through him then,
let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.
That is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
Pray for us,
for we are sure that we have a clear conscience
desiring to act honorably in all things.
I urge you the more earnestly to do this
in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Now may the God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
equip you with everything good that you may do his will,
working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
I appeal to you, brothers,
bear with my word of exhortation,
for I have written to you briefly.
You should know that our brother Timothy has been released,
with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.
Greet all your leaders and all the saints.
Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
Grace be with all of you.
Let's pray.
Father, there is so much here.
We ask for your help.
We want to have hearts and lives
and a church that is shaped by your word.
And there are so many other things that shape and form us,
our desires, our priorities, our behaviors.
Would you, by your spirit, shape us anew,
mold us into the image of Christ?
We ask in his name.
Amen.
I don't often have time for 12-point sermons,
but with the connect hour being canceled today,
just kidding,
but seriously,
I think this may be needful to consider up front.
Just having 12 things thrown at you can be,
it's easy to walk away with nothing.
God's going to give us a dozen directives for our lives.
He tells us how to live as his people,
and then he tells us why.
Often here in this chapter,
saying for,
he's telling us what to do
in light of what's true.
Okay?
He wants what we should long for,
consistency in our lives.
We want our lives to be like this, don't we?
That they would actually be shaped
by what we say we believe.
So we're going to see that pattern over and over.
My encouragement to you would be,
ask God to put one or two of these
on your heart specifically today.
That you might actually take one or two
and go back this afternoon and revisit them.
Consider them.
That you would pray that these would be areas
of growth and change in your life.
12 at once is a lot,
but where would God speak to you?
Pray for conviction,
for repentance,
for newness of life to come,
rather than just trying to fill in all the blanks.
I'll give you the blanks.
And would you also pray and long for us
as a family to be a community
that's deeply shaped in these ways?
Let's look at them briefly,
one at a time.
What to do in verse one?
Love one another.
The why is actually the least visible
in this first command of all of them
because it's right there in the word itself.
Fill Adelphia.
Love for brothers and sisters.
Love even when you have nothing else in common
because you share a father
and a brother and a spirit in common.
So you share everything.
So open up to share more with your grace group
than you might normally be inclined to.
Let your lives with one another
be increasingly intertwined
across generations
in spite of hurts,
through disappointments.
Never stop growing your love
in this family.
And next we're told,
not just right here,
but extend that love
to welcome strangers.
Philoxenia is the word.
Love of foreigners.
It's sometimes in the Bible
translated hospitality
like you see here.
That's what it means.
It's a welcome that goes far beyond
the traditional southern hospitality,
fancy, entertaining.
It goes to,
this is welcoming someone
who can't welcome you back.
And that can certainly involve your home.
I hope it does.
It also involves your church.
As you serve here,
even on Sunday,
sorry,
the entire room just looked that way.
What's so exciting?
Oh yes, it's raining.
It's funny when you're standing up here
and everybody's looking over there.
That's a lot of rain.
Glad we're in here.
Think of hospitality,
not just your home,
but your church.
You come here and you serve
and you welcome people,
some of whom you know,
some you might not.
It could look like deciding
during the greeting time
of the service
or right after the service
to make a beeline,
not for your best friends,
but for someone
you've never met before.
A face you don't recognize.
Showing hospitality,
not merely in the writing
on the front of the bulletin,
you're all welcome here,
but in action
so you actually feel
the truth of it.
It also involves your life
outside of here.
A life that moves towards
someone being left out
by others in the workplace,
in the school,
the neighborhood,
the city.
Why?
Why love neighbor this way?
Why the stranger?
For sometimes you entertain angels.
Not someone you already know,
of course.
You know they're not angels,
but an unfamiliar face
could be an angel.
Now you didn't see that coming
as the motivation,
did you?
There's a lot of motivations
for hospitality,
but there's a significant one.
What he's saying is
something powerful,
something sacred,
something life-changing
could happen
when you open your heart
to someone that you don't know,
but God does.
Specifically,
don't let our love stop there
with just any stranger,
but care for the mistreated.
It could be the prisoner,
perhaps the homeless,
maybe the relationally left out,
the friendless,
people suffering
in some tangible way.
Why care for them here?
It says,
since you also
are in the body,
since you too know
what it's like to suffer,
you could be in that very spot
yourself.
Help them know
that they're not alone.
When you think of that,
does a name or a face
come to mind
for you right now?
You may need a moment
to think about it.
You may not realize
in just the past year,
there have been
multiple people
regularly in this room
with us on Sundays
who have started regularly
to be in prison
or homeless
or repeatedly jobless.
multiple people.
It might take some effort,
some creativity
to care personally
for him or her,
but that's what it took
for Jesus
to move towards us, right?
We're not unfamiliar
with this kind of love.
Southwood,
are you expressing
the grace
that you've experienced?
He's saying,
love,
very unlikely
that you're overdoing it.
Verse 4,
keep marriage
sacred
in all of our hearts,
especially
in the lives
of those who are married.
Keep marriage
sacred
for God
will judge
specifically here
it says sexual
sin.
This is the reality
of God
as holy judge.
We've seen it over
and over
in Hebrews.
It's a big deal
in living
as his holy
people,
right?
And he
specifically highlights
two things.
Adultery
is sex
outside of the
covenant of marriage,
going outside
of the covenant
I've made
for sexual
fulfillment.
Immorality,
the word is
pornos,
you'll recognize
that,
brings someone
into a marriage
bed even
with your eyes
or your mind,
your body.
We must
take this
as seriously
as God
does.
And notice
just a minute
here what it
means to have
our lives
shaped by the
reality of the
gospel.
I don't know
if you've
thought about
this,
but we've
just been
told in
these first
four verses
radical
social justice
and radical
sexual purity.
Both of them.
And you might
be thinking,
but pastor,
I won't even
have a party
left in the
American political
system.
Hmm.
In the
second century,
someone wrote
a letter
to a guy
named
Diognetus
describing the
early Christians
who were a
bit out of
place,
homeless in a
way,
back then
too.
He said
this,
they live in
their own
countries as
though they
were only
passing through.
They play
their full
role as
citizens,
but labor
under all
the disabilities
of aliens.
Any country
can be their
homeland,
but for them
their homeland,
wherever it
may be,
is a foreign
country.
Sounds like
Hebrews,
doesn't it?
like others
they marry
and have
children,
but they
do not
expose
them.
They share
their meals,
but not
their wives.
They live
in the flesh,
but they are
not governed
by the
desires of
the flesh.
They pass
their days
upon earth,
but they are
citizens
of heaven.
I love
that line,
they share
their meals,
but not
their wives.
They're
passionate for
social justice,
passionate for
sexual purity.
You don't
have to
pick.
Biblically,
we're not
allowed to
ignore either
of those.
We have to
love them
both,
and so we
need to
pray,
God,
keep us
faithful to
you.
Shape us
by your
word,
not anything
else.
We've got
to keep
moving.
But if
you've already
picked one
of the first
four and
you think
you're done,
don't check
out just
yet.
We all
need to
learn contentment.
Don't miss
this one.
There's a
constant urging,
verse five,
keep our
lives free
from the
love of
money.
Be content.
Keep doing
that.
It's a battle
to fight.
It's the same
connection as
in 1 Timothy
6, where the
love of money
is a root of
all kinds of
evil, and
it's godliness
with contentment
that is enjoined
on all of us
instead.
You know,
contentment is
not one of the
marks of our
culture these
days, is it?
We always want
more.
We begin to
think we need
it.
We deserve
it.
So, why
here learn
contentment?
For, God
has said,
I will never
leave you
nor forsake
you.
You can be
content because
he's got you.
pro tip here,
often in the
Bible, the
why is also
the how.
This is both,
isn't it?
How is my
heart going to
become content?
Trusting God,
trusting his
promises.
This is what he
says to me.
It's actually,
it's weird in
English, it's hard
to translate,
but that never,
I will never
leave you nor
forsake you,
is actually a
translation of
five negative
particles in the
Greek.
I will never,
no, never,
never, never
leave you or
forsake you,
is what it
actually says.
That is the God
who is our
helper.
You think he
wants you to
know how much
he's committed
to that?
He is our
God, he's our
helper.
Don't fear, he
says.
No one can
hurt you.
Don't think that
you yourself are
going to get what
you need.
I know you, I
love you, I
provide for you,
God says.
If you're feeling
pressed on these
so far, I mean,
boy, those are
some real
challenging areas
right up front,
aren't they?
Our love, our
bodies, our
money.
We all live in
this world where
the assumption
is that we
have control,
we have
autonomous control
over our
money, our
bodies, our
time, but God
is calling us to
give that up for
him, to give that
up for our
neighbors, to serve
them rather than
our own control,
even our own
freedom.
It might cost you
financially to
welcome strangers.
Guess what?
God's got you.
It might cost you
some short-term
pleasure to follow
God's sexual
design.
Guess what?
God's got you.
And an eternal
party in a
kingdom that
cannot be shaken.
More pleasure
than you know.
The good life is
God-centered.
The good life is
obedient to God.
The good life is
following the design
of the good
designer.
Don't follow our
modern selfish
instincts.
Verse 7, follow
instead the
leaders.
Your spiritual
teachers, probably
especially here in
this verse, those
who have gone
before you, who've
shown you faith
that endures, you've
watched it.
They're now in the
cloud of witnesses
They're now in the
testifying to God's
faithfulness.
He won't let you
down.
Do you have
someone in mind
when you think
about that?
If you can get a
name or a face,
someone in your
life that walked
ahead of you,
taught the word
of God to you,
look how they
lived.
Imitate their
faith.
Why?
Jesus Christ is
the same.
Yesterday,
today,
and forever.
That, y'all, is a
reality to base your
life on, isn't it?
You can memorize
that verse.
Probably before you
leave this morning,
you'll have it
memorized.
It's a beautiful
reality.
It's perhaps even
more beautiful at
this point in the
book of Hebrews,
isn't it?
Because what does
it mean here?
It means that the
Jesus who was worth
it to the Old
Testament faithful,
who even when they
saw that they could
have all the
treasures of the
world, said Jesus
is more valuable.
And he was.
He was faithful to
them even when they
suffered dearly.
He was their high
priest who brought
our spiritual fathers
and mothers to God.
The one who shed his
blood for them so
that they could live
in the holy place,
who intercedes,
intercedes, praying
for them every day.
That very one will
never stop being and
doing all of those
things for you and
for me.
Remember, he has a
permanent priesthood
because he always lives
to make intercession
for us.
Amen?
He's not going to
stop for us.
Just as he's been
faithful to those
you've watched go
before you.
Would your
grandmother think
that you could live
a fulfilling life
without being attached
to your phone?
I know it's cheating,
but it's worth asking.
Would your mentor
urge you to share
the good news of
Jesus more or less?
Would your childhood
pastor say that
you'll not regret
more time with
Jesus?
What would they
tell you?
Verse 9,
stick with grace.
It gets a little
bit harder to
understand in this
section in the
middle of the
chapter, but what
he's saying is
don't wander after
strange teachings
with the hope that
you'll finally find
another level of
spirituality there.
Why?
Why don't do that?
It's actually good,
he says, to be fed
by God's word,
by the church
family that he
placed you in,
by the new covenant
truth of Jesus
who really is
sufficient for all
of life,
and by the way,
did you forget,
still the same
yesterday, today,
and forever.
Don't be drawn back
to something else,
to ritual.
Don't be drawn back
to legalism,
into these other
performance mentalities
that will seek to
control your
relationship with God.
nice, you want to
grow?
Jesus alone,
grace alone,
he's going to be
the same, you can
still count on him,
Jesus, even when it
involves suffering
with Jesus.
Verse 12,
Jesus suffered
outside the gate,
outside Jerusalem,
distant from God,
that's on the cross,
that's where he hung.
That's the why
this time.
Therefore,
verse 13,
let us go to him
outside the camp
and bear the reproach
that he endured,
even if it costs us
too, even if we
suffer, right?
Because we're not
living to fit in
and have success
in this world,
verse 14,
we're seeking a city
yet to come
with a celebration
fit for heaven
that far outweighs
whatever we give up
for Jesus here.
I mean,
these early Christians
were left
without social connection,
religiously distant
from their communities
perhaps.
Suffer with Jesus,
he says.
What might he be
calling you to
in that suffering?
Verse 15,
praise God.
what happens is
he turns to say,
let me tell you
about the sacrifices
that we do make
because I've just
told you we don't
have to go and do
all those sacrifices
that you had to do
in the past,
but we still live
lives of sacrifice.
It's not the animals
on the altar.
No,
it's a sacrifice
of praise,
the fruit of lips
that acknowledge
his name.
What's the why
for that?
Notice that verse 15
actually begins.
Through him,
Jesus,
then,
the why came earlier
because Jesus
is the one
through whom
we offer
our sacrifices.
He's the one
who made us holy,
so that's why
we praise God
with all we are
and all we have
because he's already
welcomed us
into his family,
into his presence,
into his perfection,
so praise him
and one more sacrifice,
verse 16,
share with others.
It's a reminder,
don't forget,
don't neglect,
tangible love
for neighbor,
sacrificial generosity
to those in need.
Why?
Such sacrifices
are pleasing
to God.
They reflect
his sacrificial generosity.
They bless people
that he loves
and blesses.
Two more directives,
both pertaining
to our church leaders.
It's the same word
as earlier,
but clearly
this time
pertaining
to current leaders.
Think of your elders
especially,
although alongside them,
grace group leaders,
deacons,
others.
What does he say?
Obey
your leaders.
Put yourself
willingly
under their
spiritual direction.
Why?
Because they're
better than you
and they get it right
all the time.
No.
Why?
Read what
the Bible says.
They are keeping
watch over your
souls
as those
who will have
to give
an account.
Elders,
this doesn't tell you
how well
you're doing
your work.
It tells you
how vital
doing your work
is.
Should cause
you to ask,
are you
shepherding
the people
under your care
as though
you will give
account to God
for their souls?
They are the sheep,
in other words,
that he bought
with the blood
of his son
so he wants
to know
if they are
being led
to the green
pastures
and the still
waters
of Jesus.
Southwood
fam,
that is not
easy work
in the best
of situations.
He's saying,
don't make it
harder.
Right?
It's kind of
a funny way
to put it.
You'll discourage
your leaders.
You'll damage
your own
spiritual growth
at the same
time.
Unless they're
violating God's
word and their
leadership of his
church,
obey them.
Even when they're
not doing as
great as they
should,
and especially
then there's
something you can
do,
you should pray
for your
leaders.
It's interesting,
isn't it?
This guy wrote
part of the
Bible,
but he
needed their
prayers too.
He asks
twice,
pray because
why we want
to be honorable
in everything.
In fact,
verse 19,
we want to be
restored to you
but what's he
saying?
We don't
control it.
We don't
control everything.
We're weak.
We need help.
We don't always
live consistent
with what we
believe and that
could really hurt
Jesus'
sheep so please
pray.
Pray for us.
Do you pray
for your
pastors and
your elders,
for your
grace group
leaders and
your teachers,
for your youth
and your
children's
leaders?
Please pray.
He graciously
asks them to
receive the
written sermon
humbly and
productively.
I'm not sure
that I often
write to you
briefly,
not known for
that,
but please
receive these
sermons
anyway as
coming not
from me but
as coming
from the
God of
all grace.
Lots of
things to
do.
If you
filled in all
the blanks,
you've got a
long list in
front of you
and I'm
sure we're
all exposed
somewhere.
If we're
going to live
in line with
the reality
Jesus has
brought us
into,
and there
are lots
of little
truths there
that direct
our behavior
as God's
people,
but the
writer closes
with one
that undergirds
all the rest
of them.
All the
smaller motivations
for living
these ways,
there are a
host of
different whys
in here,
right?
Hopefully you
wrote some
of them down.
There's judgment,
there's having
an eternal
perspective,
there's God's
faithfulness,
and so on.
How can we
really do even
one of these
things as we
ought to do
them?
Verse 20,
now may the
God of peace
who brought
again from the
dead our
Lord Jesus,
the great
shepherd of
the sheep,
by the blood
of the eternal
covenant,
listen,
this is a
glorious summary
of the theology
of Hebrews
as a whole,
right?
God who alone
knows how to
bring peace
in our
relationship
with him,
what did he
do?
He made
Jesus alive
again so
that Jesus
can care for
all of us
sheep covered
by his blood
that now
brings us
into a new
relationship
with God
that we
never could
have enjoyed
without Jesus.
He is that
powerful and
he's that
good and he
wants to do
something.
Verse 21,
equip you with
everything good
that you may
do his will
working in us
that which is
pleasing in his
sight through
Jesus Christ
to whom be
glory forever
and ever.
Amen.
That powerful
God is going
to keep
working in
us through
Jesus,
the one who
has already
made us
perfect and
is now
helping us
live the way
he's made
us to be
forever in
his great
grace.
It keeps
coming to
us.
That God
wants to
equip you.
Listen,
you're not on
your own
to get it
together.
You've got a
list of
twelve but
you're not
on your
own.
He wants
to equip
you with
everything good
for doing
his will.
All of
these directives
he's got
for your
life,
he's got
plenty of
grace to
equip you
for them.
Especially
working in
you what's
pleasing in
his sight.
There are
lots of
things that
are pleasing.
We know
especially here
that's faith.
Right?
Faith is
pleasing in
his sight.
Chapter 11
without faith
it is
impossible
to please
God.
Trust him.
Even when
you can't
see it,
that's what
Jesus wants
to work in
you by what
he's done
and what
he is doing.
He's wanting
to build
faith in
you.
So brothers
and sisters
there is
hope for
us actually
to live in
these ways
together.
To actually
reflect this
kind of
life and
it's not
because we've
finally gotten
enough wise
people in
here,
enough
skillful
people or
even enough
people who
are together
going to
put the
effort in
the blood
sweat and
tears to
make it
work.
That's not
our hope
is it?
Jesus is
greater than
all of those
things that we
might bring to
the table.
Think about it.
He has come
and shed his
blood to
cover our
sins.
He has sent
his spirit
to empower
us to run
by faith
with endurance
the race
he set
before us
and he
even now
stands before
the throne
of God
interceding
for us
praying
God's
blessing
upon us
pouring out
grace and
mercy to
help in our
time of need.
Do you think
there's a chance
now with
that kind
of savior?
Don't try to
live with God
any other way.
Jesus is the
great shepherd
shepherd of
the sheep.
He will
equip you
for where
he calls
you and
he will
see that
you always
live on
Mount Zion
in an
unshakable
kingdom
in the
very presence
of the
God of
glory and
grace.
He will
do it.
In fact
he set
this table
this morning
to remind
you that
he's with
you.
He doesn't
want us
trying to
do any
of those
things without
him.
He wants
you to know
that because
he is with
us we
are held
secure.
We are
safe.
Remember
when he
sat with
his disciples
they weren't
feeling very
safe or
confident that
night.
It was the
night Jesus
was going
to be
betrayed and
he told
them that.
And on
that very
night he
took bread
and he
broke it
and he
gave it
to them
and said
this is
my body
given for
you.
Do this
in remembrance
of me.
And the
same way
after supper
he took
the cup
and said
this cup
is the
new
covenant
in my
blood
shed for
many for
the forgiveness
of sins
drink from
it all
of you.
For as
often as
we eat
this bread
and drink
this cup
we proclaim
the Lord's
death
until he
comes.
In other
words
we don't
come to
eat with
Jesus once
we have
perfected
the list
of directives
we're supposed
to get
right and
we say
check and
we come
forward
to say
Jesus
here I
am
good enough
to be
here.
We come
to eat
with Jesus
because he
has perfected
us by
shedding his
blood once
and for
all for
our sins
and we
come then
to ask
for his
help in
living the
way that
he has
created us
to reflect
his image.
So if
you're a
baptized
member of
any church
that preaches
Jesus alone
as our
hope then
come and
eat with
us and
with him
this morning
as we are
going to
celebrate the
greatest
memorial
ever
in
remembrance
of him.
If that's
not you
this morning
perhaps you're
still trying
to decide
what you
think about
Jesus
where he
fits or
doesn't fit
in your
life
then we
would encourage
you not to
come to
these elements
to the bread
and the wine
but rather
to come
to Jesus
himself
to come
and observe
if you want
to ask us
to pray
with you
we'd love
that
or even
to stay
where you
are
but to
come to
Jesus
and ask
him
even if
you're
not sure
what you
think
about him
to show
you himself
and how
much
he loves
you.
We're
glad that
you're
here
and we
hope even
if you
don't take
these elements
that you'll
take a
moment
to reflect
on Jesus
and the
picture we
have of
him giving
himself
for us.
Let me
pray and
then we'll
come eat
together.
Jesus
thank you
that you
gave your
life for
us and
thank you
that you
knew how
much we
would need
reminders
that we
might not
forget and
start to
wander after
things that
seemed like
good ideas
to us
things that
seemed more
valuable to
us but
that we
might be
called back
to the
lover of
our souls
who gave
himself for
us.
So would
you use
these very
common
elements in
a very
special way
to build
our faith
to grow
our trust
in you
to help
us remember
we live
in the
holy place
before the
throne of
God because
our high
priest brings
us in.
Do your
work by your
spirit we ask
in Jesus
name.
Amen.
Our host
team members
are going to
come now
and they'll
usher you to
tables both
at the front
here and
at the back
as we celebrate
together what
Jesus has done
for us.
Amen.
A.C., Sarah,
and James,
this is the
body and blood
of your
savior.
You've been
here before a
few times and
he's given you
his body and
his blood and
the first time
was enough to
pay for your
sins and this
is because he
doesn't want you
to forget and
he doesn't want
you to think
you're ever
alone.
He's with you.
He loves you.
He wants you to
remember that and
celebrate him
today.
Take and eat.
Leonard,
Tripp,
Stephanie,
Kent,
the body and
blood of Jesus
which you've
taken before.
The first time
he gave it for
you was enough
for all of your
sins.
So why now?
Because he
doesn't want you
to forget how
much he loves
you.
He doesn't ever
want you to
think you're
alone in the
battle.
He wants you
to remember
him and his
life given
for you that
will never
ever fail you.
He loves you.
Take and eat
his body and
blood.
DJ,
Alex,
Angela,
this is the
body and
blood of
Jesus that
he gave for
us because
he loves us
so much.
He doesn't
ever want
us to
forget.
You know
when Jesus
died the
first time
that forgave
all your
sins,
didn't it?
When he
died on
the cross.
And so
this is
remembering
that and
remembering
that he
still loves
you and
he's never
going to
stop.
Isn't
that
awesome?
Take and
eat.
Remember
how much
Jesus
loves you.
Hey,
Jenna and
Chris and
Heather and
Luke and
Jessica,
Martha,
this is the
body and
blood of
Jesus.
He loves
you so much
that he
gave his
life for
you and
y'all know
that that
first time
he died
on the
cross was
enough for
all of
your sins
forever.
So why
are you here
now?
It's because
Jesus gives
himself to
you because
he doesn't
ever want
you to
forget how
much he
loves you.
He wants
you to
remember that
he gave
his life
for you.
He wants
you to
remember that
he's with
you today.
Wherever you
are and
whatever you're
dealing with,
you're not
alone.
His body and
blood given
for you.
Take and
eat.
Come on
over here,
Cooper.
See if we
can get the
Starks up here
with you
guys.
Cooper and
Kurt and
Katie and
Penelope and
Danielle and
Ben and
Landa.
God loves you
so much that
his son came
to die for
you to give
his life,
sorry,
to forgive
all of your
sins.
And he's
giving himself
to you today
to remind you
that he's with
you, that he
loves you and
he'll never
stop.
You're never
going to be on
your own apart
from him.
He's going
to be with
you forever.
His body and
blood.
Y'all, we do
this because we
have to remember
how much Jesus
loves us.
He never wants
us to forget
that, does he?
He died on the
cross for us
because he loves
us so much.
Y'all remember
that and tell
Jesus how much
you love him,
okay?
Take and eat
his body and
blood given
for you.
Amen.
Hey Todd,
Marty,
Lindsay and
David and
Kenley, how
are you?
The body and
blood of Jesus
is a reminder
for you this
morning of how
much he loves
you.
The first time
when he gave
his life for
your sins was
enough to pay
for all of
them forever.
But he gives
this to you now
because he
doesn't want
you to forget
how much he
loves you.
He doesn't
want you to
forget that
he's with
you so you're
never alone.
His body and
blood because
he loves you
so much and
he wants to
make you clean
forever to be
with him in
heaven.
Isn't that
awesome?
Yeah, Jesus
loves you.
Take and eat,
celebrate him.
Gloria and
Sandy, Rob
and Christian,
this is the
body and
blood of
Jesus.
He loves
you so much
that he gave
his life for
you to
pay for
all of
your sins
and that
was done
on the
cross,
wasn't it?
Once and
for all.
So why
here?
Why does
he give
himself to
you now?
It's not
to pay for
any more
sins.
He's got
that covered.
It's so
you'll remember
so that you'll
know that he
loves you,
so that you'll
never forget
that he's with
you and
strengthening you
for what he
calls you to
today and
this week.
He loves
you and he
gives himself
for you.
Take and eat,
celebrate his
love.
See if we
can get these
folks up here
with you.
Y'all,
this is the
body and blood
of Jesus
who loves
you so much
that he gave
his life for
you and that
he wants you
to remember
today how much
he loves you
and how real
it is that
he's with you
so you're
never alone.
His body and
blood given
because of his
great love.
Take, eat,
and celebrate
that.
See if we
can get
everybody else
up here.
Keep on
coming,
Jim and
Corey and
Lee.
Let's get
Steve in.
I don't want
to leave him
out.
This is the
body and
blood of
Jesus.
He loves
us so much
that he gave
himself for
us so that
we would be
with him
forever.
You're taking
this now not
because he
needs to give
his blood
again for
your sins.
It was
covered once
for all on
the cross.
You're taking
this now because
he doesn't want
you to forget
how much he
loves you because
he doesn't ever
want you to go
a moment where
you don't realize
he's with you so
you're not alone
so that you can
trust him and his
strength for you
today and this
week.
Take, eat,
celebrate his
great love for
you.
Amen.
Good to see you
guys.
Therefore, let
us be grateful
for receiving a
kingdom that
cannot be shaken.
You need a
kingdom that
cannot be shaken
and a king that
cannot be shaken.
This is his body
and his blood,
brother.
Amen.
Have you been
served?
I have.
Let's pray.
Amen.
Jesus, what a
glorious kingdom
you've given us.
What a great gift
that we've been
ushered into the
holy of holies,
never to be sent
away because we're
covered in your
blood.
Praise you.
Thank you.
Would you change
our lives because
of that?
Would that make us
different people?
Would we be as
eager to show
grace as we are
to receive it
this morning?
Might we be
eager to be the
kind of holy
people that you've
made us to be
where we want to
live the way God
made us to live,
not just to do
the things we
want to do?
Change our hearts,
change our lives.
Might we live
for your glory?
We ask it in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
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visit us online,