Sermon Notes
Rhythms of the Church
Review
- “Generous Response”
- They actually lived what they believed and… what happened?
- vs. 43 1. Awe- People were astounded and a little afraid because it tapped into something…
- Not just something amazing, “wow”
- a “WOW” that causes a response; What does this mean for me?
- vs. 47b. 2. People saw the church being the church, and it was awe-some and when asked, what do I do? They believed and got saved
- Why?
- It was a RESPONSE.
- The disciples were responding to the resurrected Jesus and Spirit
- People were responding to the church.
- Guilt, Grace, Gratitude.
- Bring balance and not contradict but compliment the idea of “response” and the discipline of Devotion
“Devoted Communion”
Vs. 42 & 46 #1. Devotion: to continue to do something with intense effort; ’to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in.’
- Response vs. Devotion
- Marriage
- What got you there? Response to beauty, love, etc.
- What keeps you there, bare knuckle devotion… No.
- Keep her loving me vs. keep loving her.
“I am a doctor working at a little clinic. At about 8:15am on a Tuesday morning, an old man in his 80’s walked into my clinic to remove some stitches he received a few days before.
It was a very busy morning, and I asked him to please sit and wait. He told me he was in a rush, as he had a very important engagement at 9am he couldn’t miss. As he sat there, I couldn’t help noticing that he kept checking his watch. I decided to treat him since the doctor in charge was extremely busy, and I knew it would take at least an hour until he could see him.
I took off his bandages and saw that the wound was healing nicely. While I was gently pulling out the stitches, I asked him where he was off to that was more important than taking out stitches. Was it also with a doctor?
“No,” said the old man, “not a doctor. I am going to have breakfast with my wife, who is in the hospital.”
“Why was she hospitilized, if I may ask?”
“She’s been there for a few years now,” he answered. “she has Alzheimer’s and needs constant care.”
As I finished taking out the stitches, I asked the man if his wife would be worried if he were late to their breakfast.
“No,” he said quietly, “and she never will. She hasn’t recognized me in over five years.” I was astounded by this and just had to ask: “And you go to her every morning although she doesn’t know who you are?”
The man smiled, put his hand on mine and said: “She may not know who I am, but I know who she is, and I remember for both of us.” And he shook my hand, thanked me and left…
God loves for both of us…
- What’s the focus of your devotion?
- Tax collector & Pharisee
- This is where the energy of your devotion exists
vs. 42 What are they devoted to?
- Apostle’s teaching- Preaching
- Fellowship- Diversity and Creating Space for others
- Prayer
- the breaking of bread- What is it?
#2. Communion
What is communion? An association involving close mutual relations and involvement—‘close association, fellowship.’ Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament
Fellowship- Koinonia
SLIDE- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
Invitation not exclusion, no reason to proclaim something you don’t actually believe.
SLIDE- For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Feeding of the 5000
SLIDE- Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:15-21
In communion there is Provision
The road to Emmaus
SLIDE- When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:30-31
In communion there is understanding
Upper room
SLIDE- Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28
- In communion there is forgiveness (Drink vs. sprinkle, soul forgiveness)
- We come to the table, all who hunger and thirst…
- I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35
- We come to the table and we find understanding
- Our purpose, our meaning, the reason we were created…
- We come to the table because here
- there is forgiveness…
Conclusion
For some, there is a decision to made. You are here… You are not watching whales on National Geographic, you are in the ocean… the church. You have been presented with the awesome message of Jesus and it begs the question, “what does this mean for you?” Believe in the Lord Jesus’ life death and resurrection is for you, ask him to come into your life, Come to the table, partake in the bread, drink the cup, be forgiven… believe.
For some, a renewed devotion to come back to the Love of God
For all, we come to the table and find intimacy, connection, fellowship with our God and his people.
Sermon Slides
