Passing the Test

Pericope: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 11: 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. Sermon Title: Passing The Test!

Point 1. Recognize the manner of the meal. Vs 23, 24, 25 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread. 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ”25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Point 2. Communion reveals who Jesus is. Vs 26 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Point 3. Communion reveals who you are! Vs 28 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Lamentations 3:40 40Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Matthew 7: 5 Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

2 Cor 13: 5 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

 Point 4. Sometimes you have to retake the test. Vs 31 31If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

Responsive Reading:

1 Corinthians 11:23-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

LEADER 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

LEADER  25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

 LEADER 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

LEADER  29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. LEADER 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.

32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

LEADER 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—

34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Wisdom in the Wait

Pericope: Luke 8: 51-56 - 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Sermon Text: Luke 8: 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

Sermon Title: Wisdom in the Wait

Introduction:  The worst thing you can do when you are waiting on Jesus is make rash impulsive decisions…irrational decisions are usually bad decisions.  HALT

Point 1:  Ridiculed while you wait.  Vs. 52-53 - Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

Point 2: Don’t receive what people say. Vs. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”

Point 3:  Jesus can resurrect whatever dies in the wait.  Vs 54b; 55 -… and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Point 4:  Rejoice because you waited.  vs. 56a Her parents were astonished…

Wait for It

Pericope: Luke 8: 40-42, 49 40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Sermon Text:Luke 8: 49 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Sermon Title:Wait For It

Point 1. You aren’t the only one waiting. Vs 40 40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him [waiting on him NIV], for they were all expecting him.

Point 2. You have to separate yourself from the others. Vs 41, 42 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

Humble yourself. Break the routine when you come to church to worship/get Jesus attention. Then you will realize you are next in line.

Point 3. You really are next in-line! Vs 43 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.

.  Vs 44 ESV 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. MSG She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”

When you see somebody else jump in front of you while you wait you can do one of three things

1.Get Jealous (there is no sign in the text of Jairus getting jealous)

2. Get over it (Jairus actions shows us he got over it)

3. Get back in line.(Jairus actions showed he got back in line)

Point 4. The worst can happen when you wait. Vs 49 While Jesus was still speaking,someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Point 5. You have to have faithwhile you wait. Vs 50 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Point 6. Expect a victory while you wait.Psalm 27: 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Worth Waiting For

Sermon: Worth Waiting For!

Sermon Text: Luke 6: 6-11 - 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Point 1: A Waiting House - Vs. 6-7: 6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.

Matthew 9:17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.").

Point 2: A Waiting Withered Man vs. 8 - . 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.”

Point 3: Jesus is Worth Waiting For - Luke 6:10RSV - 10And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.

Matthew 12:13 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

Joel 2:25- 25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you.

Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Parent Trap

Genesis 4:1-2, 25 – 26 - Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Sermon text:  Genesis 4: 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”

Sermon title:  The Parent Trap

Point 1: The absence of Adam. Genesis 3:6(c) - … who was with her…

1.       Adam didn’t teach what he was taught – Vs. 4:1 - Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 

2.       Equal worth. Vs. 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 

3.       Lessons learned vs. 26b - …At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Point 2:  The manner of Moses.  Exodus 2:1a; 2b Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2b…and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.

Exodus 1: 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”. 

Vs. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.  Egypt was becoming too brown and then vs. 10a Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply..

1.  Protect them. – vs. 2:3 - 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket [ark] made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 

2.  Build strong family ties.  Vs. 2:4 - 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him

3.  Name him – vs. 2: 10 …She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” 

Point 3:  The errors of David.  2 Sam 13:1 -  Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. 

1.  Ignored wrong vs. 13:21 - 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 

2.  Released seed of rebellion vs. 13:32b …this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.   Wrong grows…

3.  The community is affected. 15:2-3 - 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 

Point 4:  The passion of Lois 2 Tim 1:5  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

1.  Feed Timothy’s faith – vs. 5a 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith

2.  Established a generational seed – vs. 5b…, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 

3.  Created a fire for God – vs. 66 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 

Point 5:  The preciseness of Mary and Joseph.  Luke 2:52 - 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

1.  Mary and Joseph were intentional – vs. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

2.  Mary and Joseph knew where to find Jesus – vs. 46 -After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

3.  Mary and Joseph had a plan – vs. 51  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them…

What do you do With the Pieces?

Pericope:  Matthew 26:26–30 - 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Sermon Text: Matthew 26: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples,

Sermon Title: What Do You Do With The Pieces?

Deuteronomy 28:67 - In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see.

Matthew 26:17–19, 26a - 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it…

Point 1: Pieces multiply John 6:12a - 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples,

Point 2:  Pieces can’t be wasted.  John 6:12b - “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”

1 Cor. 10:13 - He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Point 3:  Pieces can be difficult.  John 6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

Vs. 56, 61, 66, 67 - 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

Vs. 67-68 - 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Point 4:  Pieces do reconnect.  1 Cor. 11:24-25 - 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Cor. 3:4 - 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

1 Cor 11:28-30 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Life Application:

1.   Try never to miss communion it your opportunity to get your pieces reconnected.

2.  Reconnecting with other LifeChangers – clear the air…bury the hatchet…forgive

3.  Examine your pieces and bring them to Jesus – be purposeful about it.