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
THE STORM AT SEA
#822 THE STORM AT SEA
Scripture John 6:15-24 (Mark 6:34-52) NIV Orig. 2/12/1984
Rewr. 3/27/1990
Passage: John 6:15-24: 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Mark 6:34-52: 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Jesus Walks on the Water
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Purpose: Continuing the series from John, here depicting the events that took place following the feeding of the multitude.
Keywords: Bible Study Miracle Christ as Saviour
Timeline/Series: Series on John
Introduction
There is a story of a family with a small child visiting in the home of wealthy, and influential people. With the parents distracted, the child stuck his hand through the opening of a rare Chinese vase and then could not extract it. He began to cry, both out of fear for the stuck hand, and concern that he would be punished. His parents and the friends tried in every way to free the boy’s hand. The harder they tried, the louder were the cries from the lad.. boy’s hand was so hopelessly stuck. He had seen a penny in the bottom of the vase and had it clutched in a tightly balled fist. In his childish ignorance, he did not know that by releasing the penny his hand would have slipped free.
Helmut Thielicke has a sermon on prayer in which he refers to John 6:26 (20C/12/p234). “Ye seek me, ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat the loaves, and were filled.” He added, “He (Jesus) miraculously fed the multitude so that behind the event they might catch sight of the true Bread of Life; . . . But the significance of the event was lost on them. It was not ‘transparent’ to them. And so they overlooked this hand entirely, and only hungered after ‘the five barley loaves and two small fish.’ If they had caught sight of the Giver behind the gift, and the Saviour beyond the bread, then this experience would have really meant something to them, and it would have stayed with them all of their lives. . . . We might wander through waterless desert wastes, but God is with us. He can provide us with oases of fresh water. He can also surround us with his peace even when things are going to get worse—so that the thirst cannot do anything further to us. But this gift, which was extended to you in the hour of God’s miracle, you refused. When your cry for bread was answered, you did not say, ‘Glory to God alone!’ or ‘Praise be to God in the highest,’ but you only rubbed your hands across your well-filled stomach and murmured ‘Food!’ Then you rose up to play and forgot the whole thing.”
Too many of us are like the child mentioned earlier. We clutch selfishly the physical symbols of God’s gifts to us, ignoring the deeper meaning of the symbol behind the gift.
The Storm at Sea will address three things: (1) Christ alone at prayer; (2) The disciples at sea and afraid; (3) The multitude discounting the Saviour behind the symbol.
I. Jesus Alone at Prayer: A Sudden Change. V15 “When Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force, . . . he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”
It is where He and His disciples had been just a few hours earlier. They had discussed the mission: Luke 9:10. They shared tribute for John: Matthew 14:13. Jesus saw a glimmer of His own death.
With the coming of the multitude, Jesus went to them, taught them, fed them. God’s concern is for worldly needs. But His principle concern is that we see Jesus as the “bread of life.” V33 bread of God; V35 bread of life; V51 living bread.
Suddenly, it is as if a different spirit fills the place. Jesus sends the disciples ahead to Capernaum; Matthew and Mark say “constrained”; by force of will He compels them. The multitude is dismissed; “They” v15 see visions of regal splendor, thoughts of Judas Maccabeus. Were the disciples the ring-leaders? Christ had this great power: they were His chief workers. Jesus resorts to the Father. Was He tempted by the crown? Hebrews 4:15: “. . . In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
The prayer, the vision of the cross returns. The afternoon reveals His deity. Close of day, His humanity. Nothing would stay Him from His cross.
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Lord God?” Nought but prayer will bring us to that place of submission and surrender.
II. We Next Encounter the Disciples on the Boat, at Sea, and Afraid. V18 “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” We can safely assume somewhat of thoughts. They saw first hand the feeding. They heard and encouraged the talk of insurrection, not resurrection. Lithuania 4/1990.
They are sent on their way for Christ to recover His sense of mission. They were 4-5 miles from Capernaum. A storm swept in suddenly. By three a.m. had gone 25-30 stadia. “Stadia” provides our “stadium”—distance around a contained oval, or about 600 feet. Compute to 5,000 yards—2-1/2 to 3 miles.
They were confused—King or Messiah or what? Mark 6:48 “distressed”—vex, harass, toil. What they did not know was that Jesus knew their distress. Above 6:48. In the midst of this “storm” Christ appears. With four miles, probably a mile of shore. Dark, and wind disorient them. Some say Jesus was on the beach. If you don’t know a Jesus who can walk on water, you don’t know a Jesus who saves. The “stilling” of storm prior—Mark 4/Matthew 8.
They see Christ as an apparition or a ghost. Common belief of spirit visits. Welcoming them to abode of death. “Be of good cheer,” Matthew and Mark show confidence/courage. “Ego eimi”—“I am,” not “It is I.” Courage not in Jesus being thee. Rather in who Jesus was/is. “I am.” Moses: “I am hath sent thee” very similar in Hebrew to YHWH. Abraham: John 8:58 “Before Abraham was, I am.”
They welcome Jesus on board on His terms, not their own. Have we?
III. The Multitude Makes a Choice. V24 “When the people . . . saw that Jesus was not there, . . . they took shipping . . . and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus.”
Remember, this is the same crowd from the day before. They had eaten of loaves and fishes. They had been prepared to enthrone. They would have taken up arms against Romans if He had chosen to accept. A day later they have sought Him out. Many apparently left the scene. Some did not, or returned. They saw disciples leave alone. Knowing Capernaum to be center for His activities, (Matthew 4:13f) came there. Following is in synagogue 6:59.
A distinction must be made about those who heard Jesus. The twelve 6:67 “the twelve.” Many “disciples” 6:66 turned away, “went back as before Christ.” Counting on Christ as teacher, provider; not as Saviour. Don’t confuse yourself about one losing their salvation. Not at issue with these “disciples.” V24 “came . . . seeking.” V26 “seek me . . . because . . . you did eat . . . and were filled.”
There were, also, earnest and sincere seekers. They would heed the message. V40 “This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life.” Jesus, as the bread of life next.
Conclusion
A Texan named Kenneth Reedy went to Bahrain in early 1970 to take advantage of the oil boom. With the help of a local contractor he built an ice cream factory. A few years later, it went bankrupt. The contractor sued, and won. Reedy was forced to give up his passport until the $60,000 was paid. Without a passport, he can only find maintenance jobs. Nothing can help him until someone pays his debt, or the litigant withdraws the lien. It is human sin without Christ.
JESUS IS ALIVE
#741 JESUS IS ALIVE
Scripture Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5f; John 20:1f
Date 4/13/1979
Passage:
Matthew 28:6: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6: “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Luke 24:5f: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
John 20:1: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Timeline/Series: Easter
Introduction
If you, as a schoolboy, remember reading Cervantes’ story “Don Quixote,” you will recall that part of the fun of the book was in his strong imagination. He went out pretending to be a courageous knight. He fought windmills, satisfied that they were giants. He drove herds of sheep askew, believing them to be enemies of the kingdom.
Good sense and timing dictate that I should be to you, what I am. You do not need another pretender. I will speak about that which I best know, and my conscience leads me to believe that it is what you most need.
The gospel narrative wastes no words in dealing with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and no more worthy subject could be claimed for this occasion. Since we get caught up more in the crucifixion scene, I will claim the scene of resurrection for these moments.
While all of the gospels write about a single theme, they are not simple copies of each other. They emphasize different things out of the life of Jesus. They single out separate events that may speak more to what they want to say. Certain parts of the story are so important that each of these writers declares its integrity. This is the case of the resurrection.
- Matthew 28:6: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay
- Mark 16:6: “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
- Luke 24:5f: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
- John 20:1: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Then there were those to whom Jesus appeared: Mary Magdalene, John 20:16; the other women, Matthew 28:9; Emmaus disciples, Luke 24:13f; Disciples Mark, Luke, John, and Thomas, John 20:26f; seven at seaside, John 21:1.
I. This is So Important Because We Make So Much Over the Death of Jesus: Jesus Christ, Superstar; The Late Great Planet Earth, Hal Lindsey; Jesus of Nazareth.
Good Friday has more appeal. It may be for some of the same reason that Thomas felt it necessary to touch the living Jesus before he would believe. Without us Jesus couldn’t make it!!!?
We’ve done our bit for poor Jesus. More here than at the sunrise service.
The Turin Shroud as told in The Silent Witness. More a case for His death than for His life. Satisfies a human propensity for physical evidence.
II. Of Much Greater Importance is the Reality that Christ is Alive.
There will always be those who want to intellectualize faith to satisfy human ideals. 1978 Act of God, Charles Templeton—a novel of the discovery of Jesus’ body and the effort of the church to hide this from the public; a few years ago, The Passover Plot; liberal theologians—Bultmann stated “A historical fact which involves a resurrection from the dead is utterly impossible.”
III. The Early Believers did not Say that Jesus was Spiritually Alive, but that He was Resurrected from the Dead.
These are not all the same. Many Jews already believed in life after death. Jesus died, albeit horribly, for the sins of people such as we; but what is important is that death did not have power over Him, but rather He over death.
There are three very significant reasons why this bodily resurrection is so important.
- It establishes unquestionably, the verdict of Holy God, upon the life (obedience) of Jesus. Acts 3:26 “Unto you first God, having raised up His son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Romans 1:4 “And declare to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The disciples then and now, by the way, had to have absolute evidence that Jesus was not just another flash in the pan.
- It gave absolute credence to the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. Romans 8:11 “But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit.” II Peter 2:24 “Who in His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” I Corinthians 15:17 “If Christ has not been raised your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”
- There is a third reason. It means that death is a state of being enhanced through our faith in Jesus. Greek immortality was a state much better than cessation of being, but how much??? The resurrection proclaims that a Christ is alive, so, in Him, are we. There is total transformation of the whole person in a new and better life.
Conclusion
From an unknown source*:
“I saw the conquerors riding by, With cruel lips and faces wan.
Musing of kingdoms sacked and burned, There rode the Mongol, Genghis Khan;
And Alexander like a God, Who sought to weld the world in one;
And Caesar with his laurel wreath; And like a thing from Hell, the Hun;
And leading like a star the van, Heedless of outstretched arm and groan.
Inscrutable Napoleon went, Dreaming of empire and alone.
Then all they perished from the earth As fleeting shadows from a glass,
And conquering down the centuries Came Christ the swordless on an ass.”
Jesus came to die to live; to die for your sins and mine that we might live in Him.
John Michener captures somewhat of the essence of faith in The Source. Zadok the righteous (Abraham) hears El-Shaddai—“As long as you live old man, you will be free to ignore my commands. But in time I will grow impatient and will speak to others as I have spoken to Epher.”
The call of God had been to serve Him in the city. “My home is the desert,” Zadok said in self-justification, “and I was afraid to leave.”
“I waited,” El-Shaddai said, “because I knew that if you did not love your home in the desert you would not love me either. I am glad that you are now ready.”
*Harry Kemp
THE DEATH OF THE BAPTIST
#820 THE DEATH OF THE BAPTIST
Scripture Mark 6:17-29 NIV Orig. 1-29-84
Passage: For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Purpose: In continuing the study from Mark, to relate the death of the Baptist to Jesus’ ministry to His disciples.
Keywords: Biography John the Baptist Repentance
Series: Mark
Introduction
The first things that come to mind when we consider John the Baptist are that he was a solitary man, a little strange actually, living in the wilderness, wearing clothes made of animal hair. Additionally, we are told that he was the son of a priest named Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth, who was also of a priestly family. (Luke 1:5). In fact, his mother, Elizabeth, was a kinswoman of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:36), a cousin perhaps.
Because of his parents’ advanced age at the time of John’s birth, it is likely that neither of them survived to see him grow up. Tradition has it that he was taken in by one of the Essene groups, who are known to have taken in boys like John to bring them up in the strict legalism of their communities and the privations of the desert.
A look at John’s life: Luke 1:80 “So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.” So, as an orphan he was taken in by one of these Essene groups that inhabited the waste places of Judea, west of the Dead Sea. They were deeply religious Jews concerned about Messianic fulfillment. The movement was very strong about the time of Jesus. Into that kind of electric atmosphere, he was born. No variance from this belief was tolerated.
John was taught this legalistic expectation of the Messiah, that Elijah would precede him. Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their sons, and the hearts of the sons to their fathers, or else he will smite the earth with a curse.”
Would John, from such a background, be able to perceive of himself as Elijah? John 3:28 “You, yourselves, bear me witness (John 1:20f) that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’”
It is thus, then, that we encounter John preaching in the wilderness. He was preaching of the coming kingdom. He was declaring the need for repentance. Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight in the desert, a highway for our God.” It was to be a repentance, then, that resulted in a change of life: Make his paths straight, turn the hearts of the fathers. Baptism was never seen as the catalyst in such a conversion, it was seen as a symbol. John had learned this from the Essenes. John did not wish to baptize Jesus simply because it symbolized what he knew in Jesus not to be the case.
The link of Christ’s Ministry with that of John: Mark 1:7, 8 “And [John] preached saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus came from Nazareth to Bethany to give personal credence to John’s ministry. And to establish the Messianic link to his own ministry. But the Jews did not then or now understand that his anointing of God (Christ) was not as political leader for Israel. His purpose was that of Saviour.
John then acknowledges Jesus’ presence. John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” (Isaiah 53:7) Jesus began his ministry in Judea. John 4:1f seems to indicate that for a time Jesus and John had parallel ministries. At about the time that John was imprisoned, Jesus went to Galilee.
Finally, Jesus, acknowledging that His death is eminent, prepares His disciples. Mark 1:14-15 “Now after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God, and saying, the time is full, the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe.”
Thus, everywhere Jesus goes in Galilee, He goes preaching and healing, first for the sake of the people, then for the disciples to learn. Then, one disturbing day, He learns that John is dead. Not long before, John had sent his disciples to Jesus. “Are you the One?” Matthew 11. And the word was sent back, even to John, saying, “You have to act on what you see”: Faith was the key.
His death was caused as we have read it here. Herod Antipas had taken his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, who, by the way, was a niece to both. Philip was tetrarch of Ituraea, to which place Jesus often resorted. John rebuked Herod for his illegitimate marriage. Herodias arranged his death.
Jesus has taught His disciples that the same way John had preached repentance and the Kingdom of God, and as He likewise did, they were to do.
Closing
The church today is Jesus’ ministry to the world. First, it is the declaration of repentance and the Kingdom of God. Secondly, we are to administer that message.
IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
#136 IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
Scripture Mark 10:13-16 NIV Orig. 6-23-78
Rewr. 6-24-88
Passage: 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Purpose: Dedicated to the cause of the spiritual education of boys and girls through the church.
Keywords: Christ the Saviour Education Christian Education Heritage VBS
Introduction
A few years ago, late in the year, I was working with a young couple who were soon to be married. It happened to be one of those occasions where both participants were doing everything humanly possible to effect a sensitively done ceremony. And I was eager to help them.
They felt that this was the only way that they could look back upon their wedding day and rejoice in a day that had been commemorative to their faith in Christ as well as to their love.
Two days before the wedding, the newspapers told of another wedding. In fact, it was on the front page. The wedding thus described took place in New Roads, La. The bride/groom were dressed in the attire of witch/warlock. Their attendants were decked out as ghouls and southern belles.
The media would never have written up the wedding we were planning. They were all too eager to describe in full measure the frenetic energy of a society that has lost its way. It is this effort to expedite the abnormal that allows a sideshow to become acceptable, and the abnormal to become normal.
It is thus, with fear in our hearts, that we undertake a program of Christian education. If we do not teach others of Jesus, and His waiting arms, however will they learn? The paranormal, the abnormal, is the word the world passes on. Our word is spirit, and it is life. To that end, VBS is a vital part of our effort. We must teach our children, and all others whom we can, of Jesus, and of his waiting “arms” of blessing.
I. His Arms Speak First of Substance. V16 “And He took them up in His arms, put hands upon them and blessed them.” The substance here is seen in our Judeo-Christian heritage of family. One God: all living, all loving, working against the influence of Satan, who, by the way, is having a field day primarily on the back of religious organizers—TV entrepreneurs, denominational controversies, a New York preacher playing leapfrog with lies. If we don’t tell or show them what God is really like, who will? At Summer Theater in New Orleans, dissidents placarded Anita Bryant in the late 70’s: “Jesus may have died for sin, but not for mine.”
God has chosen to work through His church in accomplishment of His purpose. Satan is pleased to work through the ungodly. He takes greater pleasure in magnifying faithlessness of so-called believers. Did you notice the recent write up of dedication of the national headquarters of Atheists? Organized, they’re no threat. The threat is when we can’t muster interest in doing what we need. What have you invested in VBS? A lady in town called. She wanted her three daughters in VBS. She called back, “What can I do?” People ought to be standing in line to help. Are you?
Substance is also seen in our purpose. That purpose is to guide people in redemptive choices. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal was to make the point of the difference of life’s values, and difficulty of life’s choices. The pulse he came to eat was a cheap substitute. Your children, your neighbor’s children, are going to get wrapped up in something. Why not Jesus? The Greek for “took”—enagkalisamenos—means “folding in his arms.” If you’ve never “folded” a child in your arms, my heart bleeds for you.
The Kingdom of God is mentioned twice. It belongs to those who, like these children, are receptive. Jesus did not say it consisted of little children, he said it happens when those of simple spirit find true substance in Him. And it’s never been easy. Our forefathers tilled behind a hand forged plow, and unrelenting oxen, with blunderbuss for protection. They would have found it easy to live for Jesus in an air-conditioned home with a late model car, microwaves, and the like.
II. In This Light, His Arms Speak of Significance. V13 “And they brought young children to Him that He should touch them.” It is undoubtedly true that many parents have no interest in children coming to Jesus. In many instances, but not all, there is something we can do. Those who are grandparents, do you sacrifice your witness as an infringement?
To be truly redemptive, genuine parental responsibility must be proclaimed. It is never a problem to lead a child to faith whose parents are believers. It is a hundred times more difficult if one or both are not. The home must exercise responsibility. Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” 3 John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Some deny that the home can be what it once was, a vine-covered cottage down a quiet lane with happy, unthreatened children. But ours is a drug-sated, alcohol-scarred abused community of unconcern.
A father took a job in a distant city. He moved the family into a motel. Several weeks passed. A motel employee asked, “Little boy, don’t you have a home? I see you here all the time.” “Sure, we just haven’t found a house to put it in yet.” After we get settled, as believers, is when we need to do all we can to help other people to have a home to put in a house somewhere.
Let me try to define “home” for you. It is a place where individuality is happy to play second-fiddle to family. It is a place where neither children nor spouses have to play guessing games about love. It is a place where God’s Word and work are reverenced. It is a place where there are no distractions between the way one lives and what one says or teaches. The church, as an extended family, carries a correlation to the home.
III. His Arms Testify Ultimately of Salvation. V14b “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” I see this as a positive admonition of need. The three verses just prior stress the sanctity of the home. Jesus is instructing the parents to take the lead in their children’s well-being (paidua). The word means “earliest childhood.”
I am reading salvation into this, of course. The parent expresses faith in the bringing. The child discovers faith as what was brought. There is a parenthetical warning here. Yes, some bring their children. Some merely avoid standing in the way, at least by intent. Some, thoughtlessly, prevent them. The spirit of Jesus is clearly seen in response to these variant attitudes. V14 “When Jesus saw this, He was much indignant”—NIV. The King James reads “displeased.” My Greek dictionary doesn’t describe “indignant.” It refers to “anger.” In this instance He was angry with the disciples. Be reminded, He was angry because they stood in the way.
Conclusion
“Nobody Said It Was Easy” is a term that all of us have used, or have had used on us. The book of which it is the title happens to be a book on parenting. It isn’t easy at home, or at church, but it must be done, and you ought to help.
THE COMPONENTS OF GROWTH
#115 THE COMPONENTS OF GROWTH
Scripture Mark 4:1-20 NIV Orig. 12/11/83
Rewr. 8/19/86
Passage: Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[a]”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Purpose: Continuing a Prayer Meeting series form Mark, sharing with my people the need to commit oneself to the task of learning the Kingdom of God.
Introduction
Helen Keller once responded to a student’s question about the difficulty of blindness by responding that it was worse to “have eyes and not be able to see.” She merely wanted to shock the shortsighted into the realization that one must pursue for understanding, even of the Kingdom of God. The hearer must not only be aware of the words spoken, he must heed them with the intent to understand and believe.
There is a great host of people, to whom the gospel has been revealed, yet who choose not to believe. Opportunity may be extended. Obligation is clearly demanded. Open heartedness is the need of the hour. But all too often, opinion is allowed to cloud the mind and close the door of faith.
The issue addressed by Jesus in this parable is simply in determination of whether we hear Him or another. Matthew 13:15 (context) “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should turn again, and I should heal them.”
Isaiah 6:9-10 “9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.[a]
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
Mark 4:24 “And He said unto them, ‘Take heed what ye hear.’”
Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear.”
I. The First Component Is the Seed as the Hearing of Faith. V4 “. . . as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside . . . v5 other fell on the rocky ground . . . v7 and other fell among the thorns . . . and others fell into the good ground.”
Recall the occasion of this teaching, somewhere in Galilee with a large crowd, curious, concerned, confused, contentious. He was positioned to teach effectively (Mark 3:9). They saw also the fields, paths, sower, and birds.
As the parable revolves around seed, we must briefly examine it. No distinction is made in the quality of the seed. Farmers go to great length to compare seed types and their yields, using computer records and magazine recommendations. Here, the seed stands for “the word of the Kingdom.” Luke 8:12 “The seed is the word of God.” Mark 4:14 “The sower soweth the word.”
What we know is that in every instance the right seed is used. I Peter 1:23 “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.”
II. The Next Component Is the Soil: The Heart Seeking Fulfillment. V4f “. . . wayside . . . stony ground . . . among thorns . . . good ground.”
The wayside hearer has a hard, beaten, worn pathway. There is good seed, but no soil. Seeds roll before the wind, and are scavenged by birds. The seed does not even germinate.
The stony ground hearer has good seed, but the soil is poor. The seed did germinate, but no depth of earth existed to offer moisture. Without roots it wilted under a hot sun. This is the hearer who listens but does nothing with what he hears.
The thorny ground hearer has good seed and good soil, but competition for soil moisture and nourishment is acute. For instance, at an athletic contest there are ability and desire; victory often belongs not to ability but to desire. Player and coach communication are the key. How preoccupied are we at Bible study or worship or witness opportunities?
The good ground hearer has good seed and good soil. Growth begins quickly with singlemindedness.
III. The Final Component Is that the Sower Is God. V3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.” Jesus, in Matthew 13:18, calls this the “Parable of the Sower.” Note that there were no distinctions in the quality of the seed, nor in the intent of the sower. The singular difference is the soil. The sower, however, is not incidental. We perceive that he stands in the place of God. Little else is known. Mark says, “Listen! Behold!”
Other scriptural references to sowing are:
Ezekiel 28:25, “I gathered Israel from the people among whom they were scattered.”
Amos 9:15, “I will plant them upon their land and they shall no more be pulled up.”
Matthew 13:37, “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man.”
IV. Lessons
No farmer plants his seed minimally. Farmer Buddy Fairchild replanted with 80% growth. God will not do less than we. II Corinthians 9:6 “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he that sows bountifully will reap also bountifully.”
The responsibility for receptivity is our own. Keep the components clear, encourage children, influence others. The end result is judgment on what we do with what we have. I Corinthians 2:14, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.” Galatians 6:8, “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Conclusion
I remind you that the land we eagerly wait to plow and to plant in the spring owes us no bountiful crop; it owes us only the right to get out of it what we can and will. The schools of the parish owe no student an education; but he is owed the right to pursue the fullest of which he is capable. God’s creative genius does not owe the nations peace; He owes us the right to pursue peace and to show that we are worthy of it.