Team Ministry (Philippians 1:1)

“Setting out on a Missionary Journey!”

Captivated by Christ: An expositional sermon series on Paul's Letter to the Church in Philippi

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

April 11, 2010

This morning we are starting a new sermon series called, “Captivated by Christ.” In the months to come, we are going to walk verse by verse through Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, the first church in Europe in the region of Macedonia.

As a teacher, I hope to inform your mind and excite you to study God’s Word on a daily basis. As a preacher, I prayerfully anticipate the Holy Spirit will transform your life and cause you to take the next step in your spiritual journey! As a pastor, it is my spiritual ambition that we will be captivated by the amazing grace and extravagant love of Jesus Christ as a faith-community and set out together on God’s missionary journey!

Before I teach our Scriptures lesson, let me briefly give you the historical context of Philippians. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison [gesture to stage set]. Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting a trial by Caesar; the outcome of which he knew could lead to his death. Paul would eventually be martyred in the year 67 AD and he received his prize!

Paul wrote this letter in the year 61 AD to the Church in Philippi on the occasion of their helping Paul by sending Epaphroditus to him with a financial gift.

On that visit, Epaphroditus gave Paul an update on the state of the church he planted on his 2^nd missionary journey in 49 AD. This is a letter of friendship to his faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Philippi to both thank them for their faithful partnership in the Gospel, but to also deal with some of the issues that he learned about their fellowship from Epaphroditus.

The Apostle Paul is the great missionary, called by God, to extend the reach of the good news beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles (people of non Jewish heritage). Recorded in the Book of Acts, found in the New Testament, are Paul’s three missionary journeys and his journey to the Roman imprisonment found in Acts 13-28.

Right now we are going to watch a DVD of Acts 16; this is a word for word reenactment where we will experience Paul calling Timothy to join him on the second missionary journey, we will see the vision of God leading Paul to Macedonia, and then the remainder of the chapter focuses on Paul’s activities in Philippi in 49-50 AD when he establishes the first church in Europe. Show Acts 16 DVD clip (9 minute DVD clip).

We now have a basic historical context that allows us to enter into the text of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Our Scripture lesson for this morning is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians 1:1-2, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” [pray]

These first two verses fit the standard form of address and greeting of an ancient letter of friendship, but there is nothing standard about the word choices of Paul. You see, a standard letter of his time could have succinctly stated: ‘Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the Philippians, Greetings.’

Because Paul is the great apostolic missionary of the early church, Paul is teaching and modeling with every word he uses. He is mentoring the followers of Jesus Christ so that they in turn will engage God’s missionary call on their lives. In short, God is using Paul’s words to prepare each of us to embark on His missionary journey for our own lives! We each are called to share the good news wherever we are—in the workplace, in the schools, on the sporting teams, in the neighborhood or at home.

As we walk through these 2 verses I want to draw out to points that will equip you to answer God’s call wherever you find yourself. The first point: IN GOD'S MISSIONARY JOURNEY WE NEED...A TEAM APPROACH!

The Bible is very clear that we are better together in Christ Jesus! A key strategy to having a successful ministry in the work place or schools is to find out who you can partner with. Find out who the other Christians are and then start meeting for prayer together. Start simple by building alliances and forming prayer teams. Don’t GO alone! Jesus always has his disciples around and Paul always had partners in the missionary work.

Good leaders do not make a go at the mission by themselves and successful missionary work (local and global) takes partnership!!

To have a team approach, we each need to have a BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO I AM IN JESUS CHRIST!

Philippians 1:1a states who is sending the letter, “Paul and Timothy, servants [douloi] of Christ Jesus..."

Paul mentors us in three 3 significant ways:

1. He shares the title block and teaches us to multiply ourselves by mentoring! Timothy is his trusted companion and apprentice; not the co-writer of this letter. In fact, in Acts 16 we see that Paul invites Timothy to come along with him to Philippi. Timothy is Paul’s apprentice and later in this letter Paul speaks of sending Timothy to Philippi in his place. You will find later in the New Testament two letters that Paul writes to Timothy near his death; final words of the master missionary to the already seasoned missionary and pastor Timothy. We must invite partners to walk with us in ministry!

2. Paul does not use the accustomed title of “Apostle of Jesus Christ” as he does in his more formal letters teaching us that we do not always have to lean on our titles and positions to have influence. There are times to utilize that God given authority, but Paul is teaching us a valuable lesson: love is a leader’s greatest influencing attribute! Paul was very close to the brothers and sisters in Christ and he is relating to them as a friend. He is not lording His education, position, and calling over them. Rather he is influencing them through friendship. He is thanking them for their fellowship (partnership) and encouraging them to stay the course!

3. If those 2 teaching lessons are not enough, let’s look at how Paul does identify himself and Timothy to the Philippians—“douloi of Christ Jesus.” That is the Greek word for slaves (Plural), often translated into servant in most modern translations. Paul chooses a word that demonstrates humility to the Greek culture, but rich theological meaning to the brethren. Let me explain.

- To be a slave is to be the absolute possession of our master! Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6:19c-20a, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price." This is a fantastic mind-blowing truth! It is gospel! We must understand that when we accept what God has done for us in Jesus Christ that we truly are no longer our own; we are bought at a price and become the children of God—sons and daughters of the King. In reality, to be the slave of Christ is to be royalty; it is the way to true freedom! What an amazing irony that we must lose ourselves to find ourselves!

- To be a slave is to have absolute obedience and allegiance to your master! Paul declares in Ephesians 4:1-3, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

I love this reality that Paul is so clearly teaching in his letter to the Ephesians that he ever so slightly directs our attention to with the word douloi…the implications of being the slave of Jesus Christ is that we must live up to our master’s commandments. This impacts our character, our attitude, our actions, our words, our unity with one another! We must forgive, reconcile, and be unified because we are not our own; we are the master’s!

That brings us to the next point…In this Team approach, we need A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THE CHURCH IS IN JESUS CHRIST!

Paul first introduces himself and Timothy, he continues in verse 1 by addressing the letter to its intended recipients, "To all [pas] the saints [hagiois] in Christ Jesus at Philippi..." (Philippians 1:1b).

Paul could have simply wrote to the Philippians or the church in Philippi, but rather he does what he does in so many of his letters, he teaches us who we are as the church in Christ Jesus—we are the “hagiois in Christ Jesus.” If we are to come together on this missionary journey that God is calling us to then we must start seeing one another as God sees us—we are the consecrated ones, the set apart ones, the holy ones in Christ Jesus.

Our title as saints is not merited by us performing a certain amount of miracles; rather we are saints by the miracle of God’s justification by faith! The miracle is in the indescribable gift that God has lavished upon us so that we may be called the children of God!

When we accept by faith that God sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, then we are bought at a price by His blood. Our sin in that moment is forgiven because Jesus Christ paid the price for our atonement; the cost was not cheap; it was His life-the sacrifice of the Son of God! Our sin put upon the Cross and God placed the right standing of Jesus Christ (the Righteous One!) upon each of us.

In the Old Testament book of priestly law, Leviticus 11:44a, God speaks these words to His chosen people, "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy."

God is holy and He has made a way for humanity to be holy as He is holy. The Old Covenant (the Law between man and God) was fulfilled in Christ Jesus through His death and resurrection, and God has now made His Church the chosen people through His Holy Spirit!

What a scandal that God should bestow upon us, sinners, His holiness so that we may be called the holy ones! This is only possible because of Jesus Christ! “Worthy is the Lamb!”

The Apostle Peter declares this truth in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

This is our missionary journey! We have been set apart as God’s chosen people for the mission of God!

We are the God’s treasured possession for the ministry of reconciliation! We are to declare the praises of the God who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light! We are the Church because we are in Christ Jesus! This is what Christ has done for us!

There is one more point that we must get if we are to have a team approach in God’s mission. We need A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE ALL FUNCTION TOGETHER!

Paul finishes the addressing of this letter in verse 1 by adding this clause, "...together with the overseers [episkopois] and deacons [diakonois]” Philippians 1:1c.

The Greek word pas which is translated all, entire, or whole is significant. Our translation states, “to all the saints”, but it could be translated, ‘to the whole/entire body of set apart ones in Christ Jesus.’ We are one body! Paul then continues by stating, “together with…”

In the only reference of these leaders in the entire letter, Paul greets the overseers (some versions translate this word bishop, it is the Greek word we get Episcopal) and deacons (this is the Greek word we get Deacon and it means servant).

He could have said, all the saints under the overseers and deacons, but he doesn’t. He says, all the saints together with! They are all one entire body!

Let me show you a very important teaching about church structure and leadership that is the basis of my understanding for my calling and for those gifted and called by God to be leaders of His church. Ephesians 4:11-13 teaches, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

I could go on for hours about this section of Scripture, but let me just point out one thing. God gave these Spirit-filled leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) to prepare the set apart ones of God (His Church) to do the good works of ministry by teaching, serving, decision-making, modeling, and equipping so that the one body would be built up until we all reach unity, have maturity, and attain the fullness of Christ!

This is the true radical teaching of the church that has been lost in so many church structures. We are each called to do our part as members of the body; we each are the body and the body needs each of us! The overseers (episkipois) and deacons (diakonois) are not being emphasized as being over the entire body because they are parts of the entire body.

To bring this home to FBC, I am no more important than you and you are no more important than me.

Your gifting and my gifting are both essential and key to us being effective in the mission of God! We need one another and if one of us leaves, then the entire body is affected! We are the priesthood, not me alone, but us together! We are the chosen ones, not me alone, but us together!

An excellent summary of this body metaphor is captured in 1 Corinthians 12. Here is a sample. Paul states, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27).

We are one body! How then should we act? Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

If we do not have love for one another manifested in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, then we will never get there my friends! We will be impotent in God’s missionary journey if we don’t learn who we are and how then we should function! It is not about me or even about you, it is about us together!

Let’s look at verse 2 and our last teaching point. Did you get anything out of that first verse? Amazing stuff! But all that we have learned so far is impossible to put into effect separate from God or when we are depending on ourselves and our own wisdom or power.

[I ended the sermon here on Sunday; I will cover verse 2 next week]

The Light of the Empty Tomb!

Easter Service 2010

"The Light of the Empty Tomb!"

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

April 4, 2010

[Drama of Matthew 28:1-8 (NIV)]

He is Risen! Are you living in the light of the empty tomb? [Pause]

Let's walk through the Scripture lesson this morning and learn how we can live in the light of the empty tomb.

Please open up your Bibles to the Scripture lesson which you just saw dramatized for you, the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-8. That's the first book in the New Testament about 2/3 the way through the Bible. As well, please pull out your sermon notes and follow along with me. There are some fill-ins on the sermon notes to encourage you to take notes and interact with the teaching.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE EXPERIENCE GOD!

Our Scripture lesson begins in verse 1, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb."

If we return to the end of Matthew 27:59-61, we see that these two same women were watching Jesus' dead body being placed in the tomb.

The historic account records, "Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."

It was on Good Friday that Jesus Christ was crucified alongside of two criminals. He died and was placed in a tomb. We are now in the 3rd day since that barbaric scene where the Son of God's blood was emptied from His beaten and broken body.

What now? All of the hope and expectations placed upon Jesus of Nazareth being the promised Messiah--the Christ--were seemingly shattered! His followers were at a loss! Had they misunderstood? Had they placed their faith and loyalty in the wrong camp? What now?

There were two women both named Mary, who in the midst of darkness of the predawn Easter morning set out on a journey of faith! All the evidence seemed to indicate that all was loss, but their faith in Jesus Christ was greater than the tangible evidence of their circumstances!

As Paul exhorts the followers of Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "We live by faith, not by sight."

The two Mary's set out on a journey to visit the tomb of their dead Lord in the darkness of the early morning and arrived at dawn of the first day; they arrived at first light. They set out in faith and received sight! That is so true of us in our experiences with God. [Pause]

So often it is when we are walking and groping in the darkness of life's journey, when all of our circumstances seem to point against the evidence of God, that we experience the presence of God and He meets our deepest needs!

So many of our personal stories of God's grace in our lives is of times in our life when all seemed to be without hope! It's amazing how God makes Himself known to us at time such as these!

That was true for me and I thank God for how He reached into my life and pulled me from the depths of my pride and ambition, addiction to self and self gratification.

Our Scripture lesson continues in verses 2-3, "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow."

When the messenger of God rolled back the stone that was sealed in front of the tomb, it caused a violent earthquake! God literally moved the entire landscape in order to show the first two witnesses of the Resurrection the mighty power of God. God not only has the power over the earth, but also over life and death!

Throughout the Scriptures, we see that when God manifests His presence to people that there is an image of perfection, radiance, and brilliant light.

For example, in the Revelation of John 1:14 we read, "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire."

Friends, this is the reality of God--God is light! He is the One who directs our steps and captures us in His glory when all seems darkest. He is radiant and holy!

The Apostle John in 1 John 1:5b-7 teaches us this deep truth about God, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

God is capable of dealing with all of our obstacles in this life (inside of ourselves and out)--our doubt, our circumstances, and our sins and rebellion against His goodness in our life. Living in the light of the empty tomb so often starts with a journey in darkness that ends with the light of a personal experience with God. God shows us that He can shake the landscape in our lives, roll back the stone, and shine His light into our lives! He lights the way with His presence and that leads to fellowship with not only God, but with one another! Forgiveness & Reconciliation are possible!

Our hope for this life and the next is in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, who went to the Cross on that Good Friday so that for all time, through His shed blood, we may have forgiveness of sin and a personal relationship with God. That brings us to our second point.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST!

The biblical narrative continues in verses 4, "The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." Isn't it ironic that the Roman guards assigned to guard the dead man became like a dead man while the one they guarded was already alive!

The story continues in verses 5-6, "The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

The messenger of God was reassuring to these two eye witnesses of the Resurrection! There is a key phrase and it's found in verse 6, "just as he said." The angel reminds the two women that none of this is unplanned or reactionary. God knew, from the beginning, that Jesus Christ would have to suffer the betrayal of Maundy Thursday, the scattering of the faithful, and the brutality of the Cross on Good Friday.

Can you hear the angel asking the women, 'Have you forgotten the word of Jesus Christ?'

In the Gospel of Matthew, there are numerous places where Jesus Christ proclaimed the reality of His death and resurrection to His followers.

In Matthew 16:21, Jesus prophesied, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Jesus knew what was to come, yet He resolutely and confidently set his face to Jerusalem and to the Cross! It was the only way, for you and me!

In Matthew 26:32, Jesus directly informed His followers, "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Jesus knew the plan did not end at the Cross! That is where the price was paid; as Jesus proclaimed from the Cross, "It is finished", but for you and me, that is where it all began! The Promise of the Resurrection is the Victory of the Cross! All the promises of God have now been answered 'Yes' in Jesus Christ! It is finished! The New Covenant between God and humanity has been sealed forever!

The Apostle Paul declared this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:20a, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ."

It's as if the angel is standing before them proclaiming the faithfulness of God--the LORD always honors His word! Always: past, present, and future!

Have you forgotten the promises of God to you through Jesus Christ? [Pause] Have you gone your own way and sought satisfaction in the counterfeit promises of this world? [Pause]

Whatever brought you to church this morning, let me declare to you this truth: God has called you here today to hear the promises of God for your life! He desires you, more than any of us can conceive, to be reconciled to Him through you (each of us!) receiving the gift of faith. This gift of faith transforms your life through the renewing of your mind and this gift of faith changes everything about your past, present, and future! Jesus came to set us free!

Jesus makes this promise to us in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

This is the promise of God through Jesus Christ when we surrender our life to God's Lordship and follow His commandments in our life. That moves us into the final point of this morning's message.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE OBEY WHAT GOD TELLS US!

We know that we know the truths of Jesus Christ when we put them into action in our daily lives! We must become a disciple (a follower) of the Risen Lord by obeying His commandments. We must live out our faith! This is what it ultimately means to live in the light of the empty tomb!

It is not enough to claim to be a Christian because our nation or community has a Christian heritage or because our parents were Christian.

It is not enough to go to church or where a cross around our neck or have one up above our bed. This is not magic nor superstition. The death of Jesus Christ followed by His Resurrection three days later is the power of God to reach the lost of this world; that is you and me! His body was broken and His blood was shed so that we may be washed clean and stand before the Living God acceptable in His sight because Jesus cleansed us through His righteousness; through His blood! Jesus' defeat of death is God's manifested power to give us eternal life! Death has been defeated! This is good news!

The narrative of that first Easter morning continues in verses 7-8, "Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

It is a blessing to me that the first two commissioned preachers of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ were women! In a culture that devalued women, God selected two outcast women who had faith enough to start their journey at night and walk by faith!

God can use you no matter what status you have in this life! Whether you have an education or not; whether you feel qualified or not, God can and will call you if you are available! Are you available?

God knows who is available, not by our perfection, but by the desire of our heart to know Him, to trust Him, and to obey His teachings.

This angel gave these two women a mission; a call to action! And they responded! What is our call to action as followers of Jesus Christ?

Recorded in the Gospel of John 13:34-35, on the night that our Lord was to be betrayed, Jesus Christ gave this command, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Our missionary call starts right here today with the way we love one another! The way we come together as a church family, as a larger community who has put our trust in Jesus Christ.

When we know Jesus Christ in our hearts; when we apply that which we know is true; when we forgive, reconcile, let go of the grudges, and truly learn to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in our workplace, in the schools, on the roads, in our relationships and in our churches, then we are living in the light of the empty tomb!

Our journey, like these two women is one from darkness into the light. From doubt and the disappointment of this life to the victory of a divine experience and the joy of a personal relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ!

What happens when we set out in this new life of obedience?

Verse 8 shows the women are hurrying or running away in obedience to God's command! The next verse, verse 9, answers this question describing the two Mary's having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, "Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."

If you want to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ then you need to set out on this faith journey. Even if there is great darkness in your life, set out in faith and I promise you God will meet you where you are and make His presence known to you! That is the assurance of God. He desires to be found!

God wants you to experience His love and His forgiveness and that is why He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world—so that the world could see His fullness; so that you and I could catch a glimpse of His brilliance!

The Holy Spirit teaches us from 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Don't allow any obstacle in your life; including imperfect understanding of God prevent you from making a decision to accept this great gift of forgiveness of sins made possible through the Victory of the Cross!

God has promised us that if we walk by faith in this life, then we will see Him face to face in eternal life! This faith journey leads to the Radiance and Glory of God!

Jesus has risen from the dead and God will do the same for you. The Easter miracle is the promise of life eternal for all who believe that God walked amongst us, went to the Cross for our sins, and then rose that first Easter morning.

Right now, we are going to respond to this message by declaring our faith together through the partaking of the Lord's Supper, known as communion. Communion is not about your church membership; it is about your personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. You are invited to join us if you love Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I am going to lead us in a prayer that I ask every single person today to personally join me in praying. Pray along with me in your hearts.

Sinner's Prayer

AMEN. If you prayed that prayer with me and sincerely believed it in your heart, then you are invited to celebrate with us by partaking of this sacred ordinance of the church.

As the ushers come forward to serve you both the bread and the cup, I ask that you take this as a personal time of reflection. After the elements are served, the elders will read the Words of Institution over the bread and cup and we will partake together as a sign of our unity; we are bound together in our common faith and our common baptism.

Ushers please come forward and serve the saints.

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"A Meal to Remember" Maundy Thursday Service

Maundy Thursday Service 2010

"A Meal to Remember"

First Baptist Church Family Life Center

New Castle, Indiana

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

April 1, 2010

· Ken will welcome people and invite them into sacred space & open in prayer

· Opening Songs (Ken and team lead us in Wonderful, Merciful Savior and The Wonderful Cross; then the Choir performs "How Beautiful")

Welcome to this very special night that we call Maundy Thursday. This is the night that Jesus Christ washed his disciples feet and showed them the true heart of a leader; the heart of servant!

This is the night that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper. This is the night that Jesus Christ was betrayed into the hands of sinful man and was led out of the Garden of Gethsemane like a sheep to be slaughtered.

Tonight, we are centering our worship around the Lord's Table toward which we will approach later in the service when we enter into sacred time as we join with the generations of Jesus followers that have come before us and commemorate this sacred ordinance of the church we call communion.

Matthew 26:26-29 narrates Jesus' words at the Last Supper, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.'"

[pick up bread] What does it mean when Jesus Christ took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and then gave it to his disciples saying 'Take and eat; this is my body?

The Bible declares that we were bought at a price and that price was the broken body of Jesus Christ! Jesus paid the price for us to have freedom and life eternal! Eternal Life for us is only possible because of the broken body of Jesus Christ.

From traditional images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side. But do we realize the depth and extent of the wounds that were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear.

And before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body.

The beating so horrific that His face was most likely deformed beyond recognition with a crown of thorns cutting deeply into His scalp.

Why such a great cost? What are we forgiven from?

The Bible declares, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus was beaten, brutalized, scorned and rejected, spat upon and humiliated, He was crucified with his body was twisted and scared, beaten and flogged so that we could be forgiven from our sins and the sin that corrupts every member of the human race as the consequence of our rebellion! Jesus gave up His body as the indescribable gift from God so that we may have eternal life!

When we partake of the bread, we are remembering the great cost of our salvation--the broken body of Jesus Christ. Freedom is not free! We were bought at a price!

[pick up cup] What does it mean when Jesus Christ took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'?

Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet. Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long and driven into his broken body.

The nails were driven into His wrists tearing tendons and piercing arteries and veins so that Jesus had to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breath. All the while His blood poured out.

Then both of His feet were nailed together forcing Him to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the focus and courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Can you imagine this kind of suffering? I for one cannot!

A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. Jesus Christ had no more blood to bleed out; He gave all that He had; every drop!

The human adult body contains about 1.5 gallons of blood and Jesus poured all 1.5 gallons of his blood; He had three nails hammered into his body; a crown of thorns on his head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into his chest.

Every ounce of blood was poured out so that your sins and mine could be "washed" away. Every sin--past, present, and future--has been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ! He died for you and me to have right standing with God and be able to have eternal life through faith!

Through faith in who Jesus Christ is as the Son of God and what He did for us on the Cross of Calvary, we are washed clean...as white as snow...we are now righteous as He is righteous.

This is not a temporary cleansing that can be undone; this is a permanent covenant sealed by the blood of the Son of God between God and humanity. Not because we are worthy, but because of He who shed His blood for us! He is worthy! Worthy is the Lamb of God!

When we partake of the cup, we are remembering the life source of the Son of God that was spent so that we can have life; we are remembering that God is faithful for all of eternity and through faith nothing in this life can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

And every time we partake of the bread, the broken body of Christ, and drink of the cup, the shed blood of our Jesus, we proclaim the Lord's sacrificial death for our sins until the day of His return.

That will be the glorious day when Jesus drinks this covenant meal with us anew in the Kingdom of God; the Father's kingdom. That is when we will see Jesus Christ face to face and we will be glorified as He is glorified!

As we prepare our hearts to partake of this sacred ordinance of the church of Jesus Christ, let's not do so lightly. We do not want you to rush forward or feel like you have to wait in line to get the elements; rather, we invite you into sacred time where all that exists is God and He is inviting you into His presence to commune. We invite you to stay a while and rest; to talk with God and connect with His higher thoughts for your life; we invite you to take time to listen to the Holy Spirit and hear God's good word for you. Maybe He is inviting you to recommit to Him and get right in your relationship. Possibly, you need to spend time in confession and repentance prior to partaking.

If you have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ then God is inviting you to spend time with Him and to remember the covenant that He has established with you through the broken body and shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. This is a meal of remembrance and this is a meal of recommitment!

This is a time to remember when you first asked Jesus Christ in your life; of your baptism; and of all the memories you share of God's personal presence in your life. This is a time of personal intimacy with the God who made you.

If you do not yet know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then tonight is the night to stop playing church and to start your new life with God through what Jesus did for you on the Cross. Communion is only for those who have asked God to be their personal Lord and Savior through Jesus Christ. I am going to have a prayer and give each of us a chance to make that decision.

We will have three communion tables up front so that when you are ready you can move toward the Lord's Table. An elder will offer you a plate with bread on it; you are invited to take a piece of bread. Then, you will be directed to the cup. Please dip your piece of bread in the cup so that it absorbs the juice, then partake. Once you have partaken you are invited to return to your seat or pray at up front where you can continue to reflect, remember, and praise God.

After we spend time partaking and reflecting, Pastor Ken and his team will return to close in songs of celebration. We are in sacred space and sacred time! Let us pray.

Prayer (first time decision & sacred space)

· Response with the people getting up and walking forward to communion tables (3 tables up front (one in the center, one to the left, and one to the right) with an elder behind each table serving the elements one person a time. When he serves the bread stating, "the body of Christ broken for you" and when he serves the cup, "the blood of Jesus shed for you" or some variation.)

· During response time having contemplative songs playing creating a sacred space for people to partake of the Lord's Supper (Ken created a CD with this music so all can participate in communion response).

· Closing songs (Ken and team lead us with "Amazing Love (You are My King)")