SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Year of the Visitation : Knowing the Lord's Body
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
1 Cor 11:23 - For
this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I
received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf
of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is
my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the
same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the
new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do
this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26 For every time you
eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death
until he comes again.
27 So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily,
that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the
Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread
and drinking from the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup
unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking
God's judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick
and some have even died.
31 But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged
in this way. 32 But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we
will not be condemned with the world. 33 So, dear brothers and sisters,
when you gather for the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are
really hungry, eat at home so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves
when you meet together. NLT
I. Today is Communion Sunday.
1. A New Carefulness in Communion.
2. A New Schedule for Communion. After agreement with the leadership we
are going to now have communion once a quarter as a church. This is a
change from once a month. These times will be approached with a great
respect and care. There will be topical teaching on the Lord’s Table.
3. Offering for the Needy will be taken. After these services, we will
have an offering taken up for the poor. We will use this money to help
families that are in need.
II. Today’s Topic is, “Knowing the Lord’s Body”.
1. The age of health food stores and produce. In our culture today there
is a heightened awareness of eating right, getting your rest and in
general, taking care of yourself. It has almost become a religion in some
circles.
Paul says in verse 29 … if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily,
not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's
judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and
some have even died.
2. Paul relates some of our sickness and premature death to Christians not
truly understanding how the body of Christ functions. So let’s look at
that a little today.
III. Taking Being a Part of the Body Seriously.
1. "She bound the scarlet line in the window." Joshua 2:21
Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies, whom
she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel. Her faith was
simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie the scarlet line in the
window was a very trivial act in itself, but she dared not run the risk of
omitting it. Details are always important.
2. Debates in the
arena of today. Is church important? Does it matter if you are a member of
a local church? Do I have any responsibilities to other believers?
1 Cor 6:14-15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?
1 Cor 12:15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of
the body,"
1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Acts 9:4 "Saul, Saul , why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who
are You, Lord?"Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
IV. Examine
Yourself
1. The Revelation
from the Word. If Jesus has made it so that I am a part of you and you are
a part of me, then I must be careful.
a. How I think about you, talk about you, so to that I take some
responsibility to be caring toward you. It is a blood flow that is laid
out in…
Eph 4:16-17 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself
in love.
2. The Motivation
for this is to do the detail of loving Christ by respecting his word in
every area and sacrifice in my new life in Christ.
a. I must have the same care for the body of Christ that I should have for
my own health.
b. I should remember that if I do not, I will become a sick member of the
body not a healthy one.
3. Activation of
this Truth. In the light of this bible teaching and self examination I
must move out and “do my share” from this point on.
a. Take being a part of the body and of this body seriously.
b. Declare war on any independent lifestyle if it conflicts with the word
of God.
c. Know your body, know yourself. If you lose your life you will find your
life.
Let’s gather
around the Lords Table today. As members of one another and of Christ.
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