IN THE DINING ROOM
Evening Worship
COMMUNION
April 2, 1978 Seven-thirty p.m.
PRELUDE OF SILENCE
Organ Prelude
“Bring Back the Springtime” Kurt Kaiser
Call to Praise
Hymn 166
“At Calvary” CALVARY
Prayer Pastor
Greeting our Guests/Opportunities for Service Pastor
Hymn 252
“Let Us Break Bread Together” BREAK BREAD
Offertory Hymn
“Jesus Paid It All” ALL TO CHRIST
Offertory Prayer
The Presentation of our Offerings
Offertory
“Unworthy” STANPHILL
Scripture LUKE 22:7-13
7. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover lamb must be killed. 8. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. 9. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10. And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entering into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? 12. And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover.
Journey to Dining Room for Observance of Lord’s Supper
#704 IN THE DINING ROOM
Communion
Orig. Date 4/2/1978
Series: Communion Lord’s Supper
Let Us Break Bread Together 252
Solo and Congregation: “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know”
There have been names that I have loved to hear.
But never has there been a name so dear
To this heart of mine, as the name divine.
The precious, precious name of Jesus.
Chorus:
Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely name.
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.
And some day I shall see Him face to face
To thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace,
Which He gave to me, when He made me free,
The blessed Son of God called Jesus.
Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 165
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Scripture: I John 4:7-11
7. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. 9. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Sharing of Testimonies
Chorus: “God is So Good.”
God is so good, God is so good,
God is so good, He’s so good to me.
Scripture: I Corinthians 10:16-17, 21; 11:27-29
10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17. For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 11:27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Hymn: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” 111
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Scripture I Corinthians 11:23-24
23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: This do in remembrance of me.
Prayer of Blessing
Sharing of Bread
Hymn: “Break Thou the Bread of Life” 178
Break thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me,
As thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth That saveth me;
Give me to eat and live With Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy Truth, For thou art love.
Scripture: Mark 14:22
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body,
Eating of the Bread
Scripture: I Corinthians 11:25-26
25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.
Prayer of Blessing
Sharing of the Cup
Hymn: “At the Cross” 157
Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I?
At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day.
Scripture: Matthew 26:27-28
27. And he took the up, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Drinking of the Cup
Scripture: John 13:34-35
34. A new commandment I give unto ye, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Hymn: “I Love Thee” 75
I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee my Lord:
I love Thee, my Saviour, I love Thee my God:
I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know;
But how much I love Thee my actions will show.
Our Master hath told us to follow His steps
To love one another, forgive and forget,
To reach out, to follow, are His chief commands,
If we’ll only let Him, He’ll touch through our hands.
Now let us as Christians show others our love
And follow the sample of our Lord above.
As His Holy Spirit works through us each day
We’ll praise Him, We’ll praise Him both now and for aye.
Scripture: Matthew 26:30
30. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Hymn: “Blest Be the Tie” 256
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
. . . Amen
SALVATION: WORD OR WONDER
#348 SALVATION: WORD OR WONDER
Scripture I John 4:7-21, NIV Orig. Date 11-19-1961
Rewr. Dates 3-1978, 4-25-1988
Passage: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Purpose: To call attention to the message of scripture as it relates to God’s purpose in the salvation experience.
Keywords: Christ, Saviour Grace Revival Series, Baptist Beliefs Salvation
Introduction
The concept of salvation generally understood today is woefully inadequate. It is assumed to be: goodness, lack of badness, church membership, a particular church membership, baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and, there are those ardent enthusiasts that it is just so much hokem.
Confusing there is. And understandable so. A major car manufacturer advertises the latest model of one of their lines as having been “Born. Again.” The witness of so-called Christians does not always keep the air-waves of communication open and clear.
Larry Flynt was for years a moral demi-god, and the word suddenly surfaced that Flynt had been converted. You may remember that he was born into the kingdom(?) on the wings of Ruth Carter Stapleton. Evidently, it was not the Holy Spirit’s doings, because Larry Flynt clearly gives evidence today that he is still a moral demi-god.
Eldridge Cleaver was another. He had a flair for drawing the attention of the media. His conversion was short-lived. After a couple of bounces in the world of the born-again, he was off on another tangent.
Thank God, there are legitimate happenings of people being saved. Salvation still works; and it is still a wonder. Charles Colson came out of Watergate, out of prison, and into the kingdom. The only splash we hear about him, is of some effort to reach back into some prison somewhere with the good news that “Jesus saves.” The salvation that is genuine is the salvation that sends people back to where they have been, and along, where they are going, giving evidence of God’s love along the way.
I. The Wonder of Salvation Begins with God. V10 “This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” NIV.
You see, Salvation begins, as all things that are of God must, with an uncomplicated offer.
An offer based on the integrity of God. Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give all?” My wife, and two young teenage daughters, went with me from New Iberia to Brookhaven, in response to an entrepreneurial advertisement. They were going to pay for our gas, give us a set of dishes, other things, but it all hinged on a name on a contract.
And though God can not compromise that offer of salvation, we may. It is compromised exceedingly through the irrational of unbelief. Its power is quelled when we renounce its moral uniqueness. Daniel Weiss spoke a word not to be forgotten (Christianity Today 3/10/78, p.69). “If God had meant for us to live in a world of moral uncertainty He would have given us ten suggestions rather than ten commandments.”
This uncomplicated offer addresses man’s most basic need. Erma Bombeck is cute and clever saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone; every once in awhile he needs a little gravy.” If we gave consideration to God that we give to “gravy” we would all be better off.
This salvation is the personification of grace. Our need is first of all spiritual. I Corinthians 2:4,5 “My teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words . . . but with the power of God’s spirit.” It is God initiating care undeserved. Not what we are owed, but offered. Not man’s worthwhileness, but God’s willingness. Man’s crown originates in Christ’s cross.
II. This Salvation Rests upon the Accomplishment of Jesus Christ. V14 “And we have seen and testify that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
The Old Testament concept of salvation was sometimes confused, but it was not without hope. Even Job addressed the subject. “For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and even after worms destroy this body, . . . I shall see God.” Job 19:25. David knew the subject well. “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein forever.” (Psalm 37:29)
Must I remind you that salvation is not moping around, waiting to die, so we can be happy. It is intended to grace this life also. TS host interviewed Madalyn Murray O'Hair (New Orleans). She remarked strongly against the church’s running gambling operations for profit. Woman called to respond. Seemed to offer witness of faith, then said, “My life would be zilch without my bingo.”
God grants enrichment of joy. Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
And we should not need reminding that it is an eternally lasting experience. Once we have faithed our way into the Kingdom, there is no unfaith that drags us out.
We have already concluded that God is the author of this salvation. He is likewise the sustainer/keeper. We have control at the outset. We do not have any option in the intermediary stages to renounce. We can misuse and abuse the gift. As material gifts can be rejected, others can be received but used in ways not intended.
We do need reminding that God responds to our carelessness in ways that amplify His sovereignty. 2 Timothy 1:14 “That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
III. The Wonder of This Salvation is that it is the Answer to the World’s Distresses. V11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Surely, we can comprehend the variances of love. We have different capacities to love. There are people, things in our lives of greater importance than others.
Evidently, then, God’s love is supreme. I John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.” With such verses, I don’t need to try to explain the Trinity. It was God in Christ on the cross. At Golgotha I can get the clearest view of love. Any unanswered dilemma of scripture needs no answer when we see the blood.
There we see love. Thus, from God’s love for us, there is the well-spring of our love for God, and concurrently, our love for others.
Take charge of your relationship: know who God is—Goal #1. Strangers do not become our best friends, but those whom we choose to get to know better do.
Goal #2—Love Him. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Any goal beyond these two (#3) is to make Him Lord. Not some teaching about Him. Not some surrender on my part. Open yourself to His lordliness.
Finally, because He loved, so must we. Our own. Our extended family. Others. (He decides.)
KNOWING I AM A CHRISTIAN
#591 KNOWING I AM A CHRISTIAN
Scripture I John 5:1-15 NIV Orig. 10-29-72
Rewr. 11-4-86
Passage: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God has overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. We have the assurance in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Purpose: To help my people examine their relationship with God to the point of having assurance of faith.
Keywords: Doubt Revival Faith Word of God
Introduction
Having a guest in our home last week was a happy privilege. I have had occasion to think of such times when I was guest in pastor/family homes. One always stands out from all the rest. I arrived at my appointment at the prescribed time. The pastor took me to his home to settle in before the service that night. Entering the house, my friend explained that the teenage daughter had consented to relinquish her room for the week. She would be elsewhere in the house. I don’t know what negotiations went on before my arrival, but there I was, settling into a room that was decidedly not my style. It was sufficiently comfortable, but the decorations were nauseating. I spent the week under the watchful gaze of Bobby Sherman and Mickey Something-or-Other. And having to enter the room through a curtain made from aluminum can pop-tops left me a little fractious. There were two people praying for that revival that week. Both praying that it would pass quickly: her and me.
I am not the pin-up type. I wouldn’t even make room for Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus. Sam Sneed maybe! Jan Stevenson certainly!
I do hold on to certain pictures occasionally. A brochure came in the mail awhile back. From an evangelist. It was so different I tucked it away for possible future consideration. The front contained a double picture of said evangelist. On the left side under a seedy looking individual was the following: Police Department, Houston, TX 71770. “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me.”
Opposite was a current picture of the same individual, shaven, hair combed, neatly dressed. Beneath this picture, Evangelist—“The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen could ever tell.”
A question emerges, Does Christ make a difference in a person’s life? If so, how can I know that I am a Christian?
I. First, We Must Certify How One Becomes a Christian. V13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” One becomes a Christian by casting doubt aside, and believing. V11 “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
So there must be some analysis of doubt. Is it the doubt of ignorance? How often do we hear someone respond to questions of faith? John says in V13 “These things (are) written, that you may know fully.” Paul expressed his belief clearly that he knew which he had believed. He likewise instructed Timothy to “study to show himself approved unto God.” If doubt exists, and it is the doubt of ignorance, heed God’s word. Take seriously the witness of Christian friends who certify faith.
Perhaps your doubt is only the doubt of inexperience. Akin to that causing Abraham distress when he was directed from Ur to some unnamed land afar off. Dealing with doubt was in the going. Or that bothering the spies. Two exceptions were Joshua and Caleb. The spies saw the land and the enemy. They saw a land worth keeping, and men worthy of such keeping, and they were afraid. Victory, and disposal of doubt awaited going forth in battle. Jesus stood one day at the door of your life and knocked, waiting to be invited in. He has been there before, as He is now, and faith awaits disposal of doubt and asking.
It may also be that the doubt is the doubt of strangeness. Let the story of Balaam alone be a sufficient warning. In Numbers 22 Balaam, who had a kind of faith in God, was tempted to curse Israel. His stubbornness before God brought him to the brink of death. An angel of God blocked his path, and his donkey sensed the danger before he did. Faith in the face of stubborn doubt may not be easy, but surrender to God is required.
II. One Has Assurance that He is a Christian by Taking Hold of the Word of God. V10b “He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given.” There are parallel verses from the pen of John. 1 John 5:13 “These things were written to those who believe that you may know that you have eternal life.” John 20:31 “…Written that you might come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that believing you might have life.”
So the Word is there, available to us all. We must grasp the rightness of its message for us. Listen in as Elizabeth speaks to Mary. Luke 1:45 “…You believed that God would do what He said. That is why He has given you this wonderful blessing.” (LB) Hear what God said in the parable of the seed, Luke 8:15. “The good soil represents honest good-hearted people. They listen to God’s words, and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also believe.” Do not be so quick to ignore a text of the early church, comparing Berea to Thessalonica. Acts 17:11 “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, or they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Jews as well as Gentiles.)
We are able to hold onto the Word of God because we trust the character of God. Luke 12:32 “Fear not little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” What kind of father uses gifts to control his children? Not a good one. Not for long. The Heavenly Father does not give to get or to goad or to gauge. He gives because he is genuine and generous and good. He invites us to be of one stock, with Him.
III. Before We Conclude, a Brief Word of Counsel. Don’t let the circumstance of your daily life nurture doubt. Psalm 63:1 “My soul thirsteth for thee. My flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” In poetry and song we equate sunshine with good fortune.
“O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away.
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.”
But we have seen those places marked by unending sunshine, where no clouds ever appear. It is a land through which course no streams, where no springs gurgle, and without tree or flower.
Assurance of faith is not determined by trouble-free life. It is determined by our desire to know and do the will of God. John 7:17 (Phillips) “If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know whether my teaching is from God, or whether I merely speak on my own authority.”
Conclusion
We mentioned pin-ups earlier. What do you see in the picture gallery of your own life? Can you visualize a before and an after in relationship to God? Can you identify a time when the picture changes? What do you see that is different now? How was it before Christ came? If He has not, why do you detain Him? Why do you leave the door closed on such a One?
V12 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”