The Bread and the Cup: A Celebration of Grace

Scripture Focus- Mark 14:22-26

 

We gather as the Body of Christ, to behold Jesus, the Lamb of God.

We believe according to God's Word, that God has commanded the church to observe two ordinances, given by Jesus, baptism by immersion, and the Lord's Supper.

Baptism is the first step of obedience following salvation, to be observed one time in a believer's life, and is symbolic of our identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, our commitment to serve Him with our lives, and our commitment to His body, the church.

The Lord's Supper is to be celebrated periodically until Jesus returns. It is a life giving message of the grace of God, His unmerited favor, given to sinners like us as a gift.

- We celebrate grace as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus.

It is a look back as we remember. . .

We remember the Gospel.

We remember the all sufficient sacrifice for sinners.

We remember the all powerful resurrection of the Savior.

- We celebrate grace as we walk in the forgiveness of Jesus.

Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.

Examine yourself to see if you are walkin in purity.

Examine yourself to see if you are living a life of faith.

Are you growing in the grace of God and walking in His forgiveness?

- We celebrate grace as we proclaim the death, resurrection and coming return of Jesus.

It is a proclamation of the grace of God.

It is a proclamation of the love of God.

It is a proclamation of the power of God.

It is a proclamation of the coming return of Jesus.

As we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we coming to the table in unity with the Lord, and with one another.

A Living Apologetic: Blessing in Suffering

Scripture Focus- I Peter 3:8-18

A life lived in humble submission to the Lord of glory is the key to loving life and seeing good days. Don't cling to the world, but set your hope on eternity, and on God. Suffering is an opportunity to receive spiritual blessings. To be blessed is to be privileged, or honored.

Suffering for doing right is part of God's plan.

3 instructions on how to be a blessing in times of suffering:

1. Guard your speech. vv9-10

2. Do what is good. v11

3. Seek to please the Lord. v12

You were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

"God has plans- not problems- for our lives." Corrie Ten Boom

God Is Spirit

Scripture Focus- John 4:24

What do you think about when you think about God?

A.W. Tozer wrote, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Jesus said, God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

• God is spirit and is a living being. 

Psalm 84:2 I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord, my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

God as a living being has intellect, emotions, and a will. 

The living God relates to and makes Himself known to the living.

• God is spirit and must be believed in by faith.

I Timothy 1:17 the King, eternal, immortal, invisible.

He has revealed Himself through Creation.

He has revealed Himself through the written Word.

He has revealed Himself through the Living Word Jesus. 

• God is spirit and is self existent.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God

This puts life in perspective- I see that my value is in God and nothing more. 

• God is spirit and is not limited by material substance.

Psalm 145:3 Yahweh is great and is highly praised, His greatness is unsearchable.

He is infinite in respect to time, space, and being.

He always was, and will always be, with no beginning or end. 

Yet He acts in the context of time. You can trust Him now, and you can trust Him with your eternity.

• God is spirit and is unchanging.

Psalm 102:24-27 Your years continue through all generations. Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

His promises do not change, His promises are sure, and you can trust Him.

The unchanging God keeps us.

Respond to God with a sense of holy reverence.

Respond to To God with a sense of submission. 

A Living Apologetic: Unity In Love

Scripture Focus- I Peter 3:8

This verse concludes the previous section, and leading into a new section regarding our testimony for God through the end of Chapter 3.

A Living Apologetic: Unity In Love v8
A Living Apologetic: Blessing In Suffering vv9-14
A Living Apologetic: A Defense With Truth vv15-22

Apologia is a Greek word meaning to speak in defense of a position. An apologist is one who speaks in defense of a position. Apologetics is the discipline of defending the faith systematically.

Unity in love is powerful apologetic.
Blessing in suffering is a powerful apologetic.
Defending the faith with truth is a powerful apologetic.

The church is too often known for her divisions and disagreements. Our enemy's primary tactic is to divide and conquer. A great deal of damage has been done by this.

Unity= oneness

The root of unity in the church is our relationship with God.

The power of unity is the Spirit who indwells every believer.

The fruit of unity among believers is the fellowship with enjoyment.

Three expressions of unity among believers:

1. Unity is expressed in agreement.

Like minded= of one mind, the same mind, to think the same thing.

Not unanimity- everyone agreeing on 100% of everything
Not uniformity- everyone in lockstep looking like clones

This is unity based on truth, common agreement regarding the Word of God.

It is unity in diversity of gifts and ministries. I Corinthians 12:4-7

Unity compels everyone to do their part and work together.

Unity causes the family of God to agree even after they have disagreed.

2. Unity is expressed in affection.

Sympathetic= to feel the same thing. This is not feeling sorry for someone else, but sharing in their feelings.

We belong to the same family, and what happens to someone in our family affects the rest of the family.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

We are all subject to similar troubles in life.

Jesus set the example of sympathy and affection for others.

Christian sympathy is quiet and intense.

3. Unity is expressed in action.

Compassionate= to feel to the core of your being, and be compelled to help another.

Jesus didn't just feel compassion, He was moved to act on it. Matthew 9:35-38

If we love God and love others, this will be expressed in action. 

How can we put into action? Be willing to connect with others. The way we do that in the Cross Lanes Baptist family is through Bible Fellowship. It is a great opportunity to get involved in the lives of others so you can know and be known, so you can minister and be ministered to.

John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

May God grant us unity in love, that is a powerful apologetic for our faith!