Acts 16:11-18 "Answering the Macedonian Call"

Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 16. Acts 16:11-18 today.

Last time we looked at the beginning of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.

Two or more years has passed since the first missionary journey, and Paul desired to return to all the cities he and Barnabas planted churches to see how they are doing.

Barnabas was determined to take John Mark, and Paul insisted that they don’t take Mark because he left prematurely on the first journey.

So, they went their separate ways… Barnabas and Mark to Cyprus… which is the last we see of Barnabas in Acts.

Paul and Silas head to Asia Minor… modern day Turkey.

Let’s pull up a Map of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.

As Paul returns to Lystra, he met a young disciple named Timothy who joins the missionary party, and becomes Paul’s beloved son in the faith.

How great is it that Paul… despite whatever happened between him and young John Mark… Paul continues to invest in young people.

Paul takes Timothy under his wing to disciple him in the faith. This is something I really like about Paul. Timothy, Titus…Paul had a passion to disciple the next generation.

So, Paul, Silas, and Timothy head west, and looked to go South to Asia (also modern day Turkey), but the Holy Spirit forbade them. So they looked to go North to Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

Sometimes God says, “No.” In the OT, David wanted to build a temple. It was a good and godly plan, but God said, ‘No… you’re not the guy.’

So, our missionaries proceeded west… passed through the region of Mysia… and arrived at Troas… a port city in Asia Minor.

This was not Paul’s plan. He planned to visit the churches on the first missions journey.

Instead they find themselves in Troas… stopped by God from going North or South… just passing by Mysia… waiting in Troas.

And, sometimes that’s that way it goes when you are led by the Spirit. You find yourself in places you don’t expect.

Paul doesn’t fight God… he goes with it. He doesn’t make his own plans, he waits on the Lord in Troas.

Then, in the wait… God moves. There comes a day when God reveals His next steps… His next plan. Which God did for Paul through a vision.

In VSS 9-10, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man pleading… begging for help.

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Ps 145:18

The Lord heard the cries of this Macedonian man who cried out “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Us… the cry of a nation.

This is known as “The Macedonian Call.”

Paul… now with fresh vision of God’s plan… immediately sets out to cross the Aegean Sea to preach the Gospel to the Macedonians.

Paul and his party are no doubt excited and motivated…as they have that “Aha” moment... now understanding God’s plan.

“Now we see God why you forbade us from going North or South. We had our eyes on a region, but you wanted a whole new continent!”

God’s plans are bigger than what we can imagine.

When God called me into ministry at age 36… it was not my plan to walk away from my career and go to Bible College in California…

I certainly never planned to take our family of 6 to the Philippines!

My plan was much smaller than Gods.

And, so today, as we pick up in V11… God’s plan now unfolds before Paul’s eyes… a plan much larger than revisiting the churches from the first missionary journey.

A plan that required being led by the Spirit, waiting on the Lord, trusting in the Lord, and taking steps of faith.

Our sermon title today is “Answering the Macedonian Call.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 16:11-12 “Therefore, sailing from Troas, we [“we”… remember Dr. Luke has now joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy… we] ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.”

Let’s pull that map up again… Find the red asterisk, and you’ve found the journey in VSS 11-12.

Paul, Silas and Timothy sail from Troas to the Island of Samothrace and sleep there for a night.

The next day they arrive at the port city of Neapolis, so the wind must have been at their backs, since this trip only took 2 days.

In Acts 20:6, they sail the opposite direction during the Third missionary journey… from Philippi to Troas, and it takes 5 days.

V11 is the first record of Christian Missionaries setting foot on European soil, and many historians credit Paul’s answering the Macedonian Call with the Gospel going to Europe and the Western World.

From Neapolis they travel 10 miles along what would become the Via Egnatia (the Roman Egnatian Road) to Philippi the foremost city.

Foremost… Gk. prōtŏs meaning “first in dignity or importance.” It was the chief city of this area.

Some note Luke took pride in describing this city and suggested he grew up and attended medical school in Philippi.

Philippi would be a ideal city for Paul, as he often planted churches in large cities. And, these cities would become hubs to then take the Gospel further out in their regions.

Philippi should should familiar. This is the city where Paul addressed his letter to the Philippians.

Today is an origin story of Paul’s first encounter with the people in Philippi.

We will see several origin stories during this Macedonian Call and Second Mission Trip… the Thessalonians, Corinthians, Ephesians…

Several cities and peoples where Paul plants churches and later addressed his Epistles.

We read in V12 that Philippi was “a colony”

Gk. kŏlōnia By def. “A corporation of Roman citizens settled in foreign parts and enjoying local self-government.” Another def. is “a city settlement of soldiers disbanded from the Roman Army.” Both are true.

Colonies started when Rome was still a Republic.

As they expanded their grip over the known world, a strategy for local control was planting hundreds of colonies.

Colonies typically started as strategic military outposts in conquered territories.

With the Roman Republic’s army being limited, they would plant a colony of about 300 Roman citizens and war veterans.

After Augustus, the number increased. Land was granted and taxes were lowered… as incentives to retired Roman legionaries… soldiers from a Legion.

In the first century (Rome now an Empire), colonies were dominated by Veterans… who were responsible for Romanization in the territory… by spreading the Latin language, Roman laws and customs.

To make the colony their “Rome away from Rome.”

I didn’t coin that phrase. I stole it from my Pastor who probably stole it from someone else. Pastors pride themselves in plagiarism.

Interesting that Paul would later write and remind the Philippians where their true citizenship lie… Phil 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...”

No doubt, as a Roman colony, Paul’s words would resonate in their hearts and minds.

As is should ours. Our first allegiance is to Christ… over our earthly citizenship.

And, so after several days of being in Philippi… waiting again to see what God will do… learning the culture… observing their ways… meeting and greeting people… just living life and getting acclimated…

After several days, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke… head out of the city probably to the Gangites River… about a mile and a half west of the city…

Acts 16:13 “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.”

If you recall from previous chapters, Paul’s typical M.O. was to go to first to the synagogue, BUT here in Philippi… like the city of Lystra in Acts 14, there was no synagogue!

And, as we previously discussed… according to Jewish interpretation of Num 14:27… 10 Jewish men were required for public worship. If there were not 10 Jewish men in a city… no synagogue was built.

But, 10 Jewish men “completed a Minyan.”

M.I.N.Y.A.N.... NOT “Minion”… like the little yellow guys.

I like this painting of a Minion Minyan. Get it? 10 Minions make a Minyan.

I like the tall Jew minion in the back looking away. There’s always one who doesn’t want to be in the picture.

Look at this next slide, and tell me he’s not related to the Jew I got my picture taken with at the Western Wall. He definitely didn’t want to be in the picture.

I get it though… there’s much to consider with photos. Is this a violation of Shabbat rules against working or creating during Sabbath? Is the picture a violation of the second commandment against carved images? Is it idolatry? Is it a holy day?

And, these consideration are for real… imagine living under the law.

One more minion pic… I’m having too much fun with this… The Jews at Texas A&M designed this flier with nine minions in the heart… “we need you to be the 10th and form a Minyan.”

Creative approach to encourage synagogue attendance.

Back in Acts… in Philippi… there was no Minyan… no synagogue, nor little yellow guys… so Paul’s party went to the river… as V13 states, “… where prayer was customarily made...”

Other translations say, “we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer...”

It seems there was a custom, when there was no synagogue, for Jews to gather by the river on Sabbath to pray. So, our missionaries supposed this would be the case, but they were wrong.

And, they could have got a little bent out of shape because...

Where’s the Macedonian man from the vision? Here they are in Philippi and there’s no synagogue. There no Jewish men at the river. There’s only women assembling… who men often disregarded at this time.

But, instead of packing up and leaving…

Look at what the missionaries do in V13, “we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.”

This was not a sermon, but a conversation. They don’t shun the women as worthless, but pay them respect…just as our Lord did with the Samaritan woman at the well.

And, when you put aside prejudice… and preconceived notions of how ministry must look… and get your flesh out of the way… it’s amazing what can happen when we let the Spirit move.

This day probably wasn’t what they had in mind, but maybe it’s what God intended all along.

Look what happens when they allow God to move… even through the natural… through the simple kindness of conversation…

Acts 16:14-15 “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.”

Lydia becomes the central character of salvation in these versus, but she wasn’t who Paul and his party initially spoke with.

She just overheard their conversation… You never know who is listening when you share the truth of the gospel.

And, if our missionaries would have had a rotten attitude, like many men of that day would have… about only women present at the river… we wouldn’t have read VSS 14-15, and they would have missed out on a huge asset to the early church… this blessed woman Lydia.

Lydia is a Greek name could mean “Beautiful or Royal one” or “bending, travailing.”

I have a puppy named “Lydia”… she makes me feel this way sometimes… travailing.

We named her after this Lydia in Acts 16. We take this as an honor, but in heaven I probably share this with THE Lydia.

Telling someone “I named my dog after you”… it’s a little awkward. I’ll just keep that to myself.

Lydia was a seller of purple.

She sold purple cloth… also called “Tyrian Purple” after Tyre in Lebanon… also called Royal or Imperial purple… as purple was a color of royalty. Royal blue was also well thought of.

But Purple was the most expensive die in the ancient world… and was restricted to royalty, senior officials, and priests.

In the movie “Ben Hur” Roman officials were often dressed in purple. Frank Thring played Pontius Pilate and wore purple.

Jack Hawkins played the Roman Praetor Quintus Arrius… and wore purple as well.

Purple was extracted from a gland in the Murex snail… which was a lot of work… it took many sea snails to have enough die for a garment.

Some say purple was so exquisite, ‘it was to die for.’

Sorry… I could’t resist. I’m entitled to one bad joke per quarter… it’s in our by-laws.

Lydia… being a seller of this rare die… was a woman of wealth, who could support the early church.

We see in V15, she invites the missionaries to her house… it’s a house large enough for the four of them plus her household to abide.

Must have been a sizable home.

Lydia was from the city Thyatira.

One of the seven cities in Asia, where churches in Rev 2-3, either commended or rebuked.

A region was once called “Lydia”… possible background into her name.

There was significant wool trade and dyeing industry in Thyatira… which sheds light on Lydia’s trade.

She was also said to ‘worship God.’

Meaning she believed in the God of Israel, like Cornelius in Acts 10…

A “God-fearer”, but not a full convert to Judaism.

Time and again when someone seeks God… He shows up. Last week I highlighted how God pursues us.

The Ethiopian eunuch… Cornelius… Lydia… all sought God… and He showed up.

Not by a pillar of cloud or fire… or through an angel… but God worked supernaturally in the natural through ordinary people.

He sent Phillip to the Ethiopian, Peter to Cornelius, and Paul to Lydia.

Be open to Him sending you… in this day.

V14 says, “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.”

A good verse supporting God’s sovereignty. There’s an interaction between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will.

John 6:44 portrays this nicely. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God initiates… but, we choose to accept or reject Him.

God opened Lydia’s heart, and she welcome Him in. She said, “Yes. I believe.”

And, she becomes the first convert to Christianity in Europe. A woman. A Gentile.

Neither of which were held in esteem by man in ancient times, but God valued both.

She will take her place with other prominent women of the early church… Priscilla in Acts 18, Phoebe in Rom 16, all the women in Jesus’ ministry.

Women played an important part in the early church… throughout the ages… and in our church today.

Resulting from God opening her heart, her belief is publically declared… we read in V15… “she and her household were baptized...”

The influence of a strong leader is amazing.

Cornelius was saved and his household followed. Now Lydia. At the end of this chapter… the Philippian jailer. And several more people in the Epistles.

And, then this seller of purple turns on her sales techniques to influence the men to stay at her home.

Truly an act of hospitality, but look at her methods.

She begged them with this statement…

“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”

What’s a guy supposed to do with that? She really puts them in a corner.

Ladies, cover your ears… I don’t want any men complaining to me later about their ladies getting bad ideas…

Christmas is right around the corner… I can see the ladies now. ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord… there’s this gift idea.’

If Paul and the guys didn’t stay at her home, what would that have said???

We don’t judge you to be faithful.

Wise sales technique by Lydia… and she gets her way.

V15 ends, “So she persuaded us.” Some versions say, “she prevailed upon us.”

Persuaded means “to force contrary to nature.”

And, this wording makes sense because… it was not customary for Jews to even enter the home of a Gentile.

Remember how Peter struggled entering Cornelius’ home in Acts 10:28?

But, Peter’s vision and the Jerusalem Council made it clear that these wall of division were no longer.

After this, we hear no more of Lydia. Look for her in heaven to hear the rest of her testimony.

Next, we observe another encounter of our missionaries on a different day while going to pray…

Acts 16:16-18 “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”

Wild encounters on the way to pray. Our missionaries encounter a young girl who was under multiple forms of bondage…

In the physical realm, she is a slave to cruel earthly masters who used her for profit.

In the spiritual realm, she is possessed… by def. “to hold.” She is held by a demon.

This demon… this evil spirit gave her the ability of divination.

Divination… Gk. poo´-thone Puthōn, , the root word for the Python snake.

The word looks back to Gk. mythology and the tale of the god Apollo who slew a monstrous Python serpent that plagued his mother, Leto.

The python came at Leto either per instruction from Zeus’ wife Hera, since Zeus was the father -or- because the Python was able to see into the future and knew Apollo would be it’s end.

Later Apollo worship was centered in the Greek city of Delphi… where Python was formerly worshipped.

As penance for his act, Apollo was instructed to preside over the Pythian Games.

The python became one of the symbols representing Apollo’s strength and power.

And, Apollo was believed to be embodied in a python. The original priestess at Delphi was said to be possessed by Apollo and able to predict the future.

This spirit of divination had a similar result in Acts 16. This young girl could predict the future… not by the false god Apollo, but through demonic influence.

And, her earthly masters took advantage of this fortune-telling ability and made much profit.

And, no doubt… like the man possessed and tortured by a legion of demons in Gadara… this young girl was tortured as well… for that is what demons do.

They are not friends to mankind, but seek to destroy all who are created in the image of God… saved and unsaved alike.

Believers may be oppressed by demons. But, only the unsaved may be possessed by demons…

Because once saved the Holy Spirit in-dwells a believer… "And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor 6:14) Rhetorical question. None.

Surely the Holy Spirit will not share His temple (your body according to 2 Cor 6:16) with demons!

And, 1 Jn 4:4 states, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Can believers be oppressed by demons? Yes. Possessed. No.

But, this young girl was possessed, and in V17 we see she follows Paul and the missionaries for days crying out, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

Now I am confused why God permitted this to go on for days. Why not just give Paul the release to exorcise the demon immediately?

I don’t understand… but, I do trust there was a reason that served a higher purpose.

Perhaps so more people could be aware of this interaction, so that when the miracle happened it had maximum impact and God would get the greatest glory.

In John 9, there was a man blind from birth, and in Jn 9:2-3, the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

Being that sin is the root cause of all suffering, the disciples had a theological conflict supposing that any physical disability therefore must be caused by sin.

Jesus corrects them, and gives them a glimpse of the mind of God. This condition was not caused by a specific sin, but this problem existed so God’s glory and grace could be on display amidst an impossible earthly situation.

And, I just wonder if something similar is happening here in Acts, where for many days the demon was permitted to continue in her and harass the disciples.

God is mysterious, but he is good.

In Isa 55:8-9, He declared, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

And, even amidst suffering, we must trust the anchor of God’s character. “God is love.” (1 Jn 4:8 & 16)

Rom 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

The “all things” in this verse may not necessarily be good. Being born blind is not good, but God even works through the bad for the believers good.

In Gen 50:20, Joseph echoed this as he told his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Joseph’s “all things” were of the most intense trials. Betrayal, slavery, character assassination, imprisonment, forgotten… all while innocent.

But, God worked through this and saved the nations through Joseph.

Sometimes… the “all things” in our lives may be a trial to ‘conform us to the image of His Son’ (Rom 8:29)… trials ‘transform us’ “making us more and more like him as we are changed into His glorious image.” (2 Cor 3:18)

The Holy Spirit leads us from justification through sanctification to glorification.

And, HOW He chooses to do this eternal work… may just involve temporal trials.

As painful as a trial is… it may just be the catalyst God uses to perfect us for all eternity.

Job seemed to understand this. After he lost his livelihood and his children, we read in Job 1:20-21, “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

It’s immensely difficult to come to that place of accepting God’s sovereignty… and to still praise His name despite loss.

Job models this well. He was not bitter towards God. Nor did He blame God. Instead, Job praised God in the midst of his despair.

For you and I, can we do the same? Can we trust in God’s plans and purposes and His goodness and His love? Even when we can’t see it… even when we don’t understand.

Our missionaries in Acts have been led to a city that was not their plan… they don’t find Jewish men… and now are harassed by a demon… yet they maintain a good attitude and follow the Spirit’s leading.

Well, mostly a good attitude… look at V18 again… after many days of this demon possessed girl ‘crying out’ literally ‘screaming’… “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

We read in V18, “But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”

I can’t say that I blame Paul…

I was at Lowe’s the other day, and the same worker came to me 3x asking if I needed help. I didn’t need help. I just needed space… to process. My wife saw straight through me when I thanked him and told him we were going to think about it. As we walked to another isle… she asked me, “Did you need a break?”

I did… the introvert in me needed a break.

This has nothing to do with demon possession. I just needed to vent. Thank you. I owe you $.05 for Psychiatric help.

But, for Paul, what made him so “greatly annoyed”? Other translations read, “Paul got so exasperated.” or “But Paul, being grieved...”

Paul and the guys are trying to pray… and for several days this demon possessed girl shouts after them.

It would be near impossible to pray under these circumstances… with someone shouting words over you.

I guess some could become flattered by these accolades, but Paul sees through the guise of the demon.

I wonder if there was something about the girls physical appearance that gave away her spiritual condition?

Was Paul annoyed about the heartbreaking evil that plagued this girl?

Now, the words themselves from the demon were not lies… they were true… Paul and the missionaries were “servants of the Most High God” and they did “proclaim… the way of salvation.”

That was true, but consider the source. The words came from a demon.

Knowledge of the truth is different than submitting to and following truth. James said, “Even the demons believe- and tremble” (Jam 2:19).

Many people believe in Jesus, but will never submit to Him as Lord. For they serve their flesh… their Lord is sin… lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life.

Also, demons can proclaim truth, but their truth typically omits details, and therefore is a lie:

For Ex- in the 2nd Temptation of Jesus (throw yourself off the pinnacle of the temple… appealing to Pride). Satan Quotes Psalm 91:11-12, but omits part of verse 11, and omits verse 13, which points to Satan's demise.

Or, the temptation of Eve in the Garden: Satan misquotes God, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” His craft plants a destructive seed that disrupts the trust and obedience Adam and Eve had toward God.

When Eve replies, she also misquotes God. How vital is it to know God’s word and commands… to not get ensnared by the Devil?

In Jesus’ temptation, Jesus accurately quotes and represents scripture… and avoids temptation. Eve fails and falls.

From this, someone said, “The wreckage of earth and a million billion graves attest that God is true and Satan is the liar.”

And, Paul… greatly annoyed recognizes the demonic source… and after several days… Paul reaches his breaking point.

Like Popeye… “That’s all I can stands. I can’t stands no more.”

And, in a moment he exorcises the demon proclaiming, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”

Some versions state, “And it came out at that very moment.” or “it came out of her at once.”

In Jesus’ name… Not in Paul’s name or by Paul’s might, but in Jesus’ name she was healed.

Peter said in Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Salvation, was exactly what this girl needed...

I wish we had more details about what happened to this girl. All we know is the demon departed her.

Scripture does not indicate that she was saved. And, I have grave concerns for her.

Because if one has been demon possessed, and is delivered… and then tries to clean up their life by natural means… self-help books… a positive lifestyle… New Age spirituality… Oprah Winfrey… whatever…

All these things will do is clean up your house, and get it in order for a season… but when that demon comes back around… they’re going to come right back in, and this time they’re bringing their cousins…

Jesus illustrated this in Matt 12:43-45 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

There is only one way to protect against this from happening… salvation in Jesus Christ.

Eph 4:30 instructs, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The context of that passage is wholesome and holy living, but don’t miss what that verse declares. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. They are a purchased possession… not subject to demon possession… no demon will break the seal of God.

We are the property of the Lord Most High.

But, for this girl… she leaves the scene… and we do not know her end. It’s a ‘to be continued story’… for when we get to heaven and find out if she’s there or not.

If you are here today and you don’t know Jesus Christ… don’t leave the scene with people wondering if your end is a ‘to be continued’ story.

Leave no room for doubt. Let your story have a clear and explicit end. Like Lydia… ‘she worshipped God.. The Lord opened her heart…’ And, she and her household demonstrated their faith through baptism.

Today can be the first day of the rest of your life… eternally.

Let’s Pray!

Next week… we pick up in V18, and see the response in Philippi to this girl being freed from demon possession. It causes quite the stir… Read ahead.

But, now, we are going to celebrate Communion… as we remember Jesus… all He did… all He is doing… and all He will do…

Communion Reading:

1 Cor 11:23-29 “...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Please distribute the elements...

Communion is a time for us to look three directions…

We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.

His new covenant. Salvation by faith and in grace.

Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.

And, looking inward to examine yourself…and take communion in a worthy manner.

Time to do business with God.

Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.

Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...

...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...

...accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.

Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and ask for forgiveness.

...then take communion. And, be sure to let us know. Salvation is something to celebrate!

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Be sure to join us after service as we break bread during our Fellowship lunch.