Sermons About Communion
Conflict And Community: Can You See Jesus When He Comes?
Into the post-crucifixion confusion and questions of the disciples, the risen Jesus appears to two disciples and brings the joy and blessings of the New Covenant to them through the Word and the Sacrament. Jesus shows that the whole Bible speaks of and points to him in his role as the Savior, and we (and the disciples) see that Jesus is most clearly revealed through the elements of the Lord Supper.
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An Easter Encounter
The story of the encounter of Jesus Christ with two travelers on the Emmaus road is not just another story of an appearance of Jesus Christ after He rose from the dead. Rather, it is a real life story pointing to how the risen Lord Jesus Christ continues to encounter people traveling along life’s highway.
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A Meal for the Wounded
In the Lord's Supper, the "love feast," Jesus paid our bride price to have us as his own people, that we might be with God forever.
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Maundy Thursday 2009
- On the night Jesus was betrayed, before He went out to the Mount of Olives to pray, He shared one last meal with His best friends, His disciples. He knew that one of them was ultimately going to betray Him, but He also knew that His disciples were going to need encouragement to endure Jesus' trial and crucifixion. - So He says encouraging words to them trying to address their fears and strengthen them to faithfulness. - I'm sure they didn't fully understand the Gospel even though Jesus has been explaining and even more importantly displaying it for the past three years. - But you know what? Honestly, the gospel is not that easy of a thing to define. - At its worst and most incorrect definition, it is the thing that makes me better than all of those people going to hell. - At its most minimal, it is forgiveness and being given the right to go to heaven. - So what is the Gospel? - Without completely defining it at this moment (I do have a sermon to preach you know), the Gospel is about what we can be in Christ, it is about what He has made us and it is about what He will make us - So, what we are going to see in these few moments is Jesus praying and explaining one more time what the Gospel is. The cool thing? While He is explaining the Gospel, He takes time to pray…for us. From John 17 "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. - Jesus is praying and while He does He asks that God would glorify Him which means that after 3 years of Jesus being denied the glory He deserves, He is finally going to receive it. But Jesus doesn't ask for this glory for His own sake. He asks for it so that He might return that glory to the Father. - And how is Jesus going to return that glory to His Father? He intends to give the Father glory by exercising the authority that is uniquely His. You see, Jesus has authority over - All flesh meaning every living being. Every single human being on this planet is under the authority of Jesus whether or not they know it or admit it. - Jesus' authority is to such an extent that Jesus gives eternal life to everyone that the Father has given Him. - In case the disciples didn't understand what that meant, Jesus explains what eternal life is. He says… - Eternal life is knowing the one true God and Jesus the Savior that the one true God has sent to deliver salvation. - Jesus explains how everything He did while He was here on earth glorified the Father because Jesus accomplished the work that the Father had for Him. - You can see why Jesus is a worthy Savior because in that statement He makes it clear that He never wavered or disobeyed the Father – something we can never claim. - Since we can't claim that, we have no other choice but in every moment of our life to admit our complete and utter dependence on Jesus Christ. - But, Jesus asks once again that the Father glorify Him in the presence of His Father with the glory that Jesus had before time. - Jesus is asking that God the Father to restore things to how they were originally when God the Father and Jesus Christ shared glory perfectly prior to creation and prior to the entrance of sin into this world. - You know when you read this, it has this otherwordly feeling. You get a sense and a picture of Jesus' life with God the Father prior to any of us. Jesus longs for that return of fellowship. - Well, interestingly enough, we do play a part in that returning of glory to Jesus as Jesus prayed for us that night as well. After praying for His disciples He prays… "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." - Jesus prays for us. Jesus prays for you. On the night before He dies, you are His concern. You as an individual. - He prays that we will be one. He prays that we will have a unity like the one Jesus and His Father have and that unity will shine a light to the world telling them of Jesus. - Jesus prays that God the Father would give us a share of the glory that He has given Jesus. Try to fathom that for a minute. Jesus has the power to eternally save which is more than enough but in addition, He also shares the glory that He has with the Father with you and this is what Jesus shares with you. - If you ever wonder sometimes why your life is so full of trials, no that you are experiencing the glory of Christ as He achieved glory by suffering as well. - These things are not mere possibilities – what Jesus prays for happens. It is accomplished. His prayers are within the will of God and are not tainted with ill motive or selfish ambition. Jesus has prayed that we will share in His glory so you will and you do share in His glory. - But in addition, Jesus prays that you will be with Him in Heaven to witness this glory. But notice how He says it. Jesus DESIRES for you to be there. Jesus longs to be with all of us, His children. - You need to remember this. When you sin or better yet let me make it specific… - When you silently curse someone you love - When you silently curse someone who is different than you are - When you very loudly shame another person and take pride in it - When you neglect your responsibilities as a parent - When you neglect your responsibilities as a child or husband or a wife - When you neglect your responsibility as a member of this church - Whatever the sin is that guilts you, you need to remember, Jesus desires to be with you. Jesus desires to restore us and forgive us. - Jesus concludes His prayer by asking His righteous Father this. He says, "The world doesn't know me, but I know you. That is the hope for this world. Jesus knows the Father and He knows the love of the Father. - You know folks, this is the essence of the Gospel: the Gospel is about what we can be in Christ, it is about what He has made us and it is about what He will make us - What can we be in Christ? We can be a unified body of believers proclaiming the glories of Jesus Christ - What have we been made in Christ? We have been made those who are called to share in His glory and share in the love of the Father. - What will He make us? He will make us co-heirs receiving all of these things in perfect relationship in Heaven. - We do not and will not ever deserve these things, but that's what makes it the Gospel right? Let's pray. The Giving of the Lord's Supper Luke 22:14-20 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Benediction: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13
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The King and I.. and you... and us
Palm Sunday means that Jesus is the true King, no matter how well that is understood
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Remembering Holy Week
Leaders and Elders of Locust Lane Chapel share in meditations on the days leading up to the death of Jesus Christ.
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