Means of Grace
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MEANS OF GRACE
MEANS OF GRACE
Expanded Outline:
MEANS OF GRACE
Please join me the Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Please turn to page 48 in your Worship Booklet and join me In the Prayer to the Holy Spirit,
It was a cold winter day, snow was covering the ground, as a nine-year-old little boy made his way in the YMCA in downtown Muncie, Indiana. He was going to learn to swim, and he was scared to death. He had never been in more water than a bath tub, and like most nine year old’s, he avoided the tub as much as possible. Now, he was here to learn to swim. His little frame was trembling, as he easied himself into the water for the first time. He felt the water move up his feet, then his legs, and finally his chest. At nine, the four foot of water came up almost to his chin.
The instructor said, “Today we are going to learn to kick our legs,” and the little lad thought, there is no way I am going to kick my legs. I want out. But, after some promping, he wrapped his tiny fingers around the rim of the pool, and began to kick. After a few minutes of kicking and floating, he began to relax. This was not going to be so bad. After the kicking exercise, the instructor was distracted.
As the boy stood in the water, an older boy, an able swimmer, dived in and grapped his legs and drug him under water. The boy, fighting, fearful, and desperate, disappeared under the water. The water closed around like a grave. The older boy pulled him, under water to the deep end of the pool, and left him there. The instructor dove in and pulled the limp body of the little boy to the edge of the pool. The boy grew to be a man who is still fearful of water. So when he at age twelve asked to Baptized, it was a big step. He walked into the water of a pond near Muncie, he was trembling as he stood between two men, they bent him backward, and the water closed around him like a grave, but this time, he came up and was greeted by the smiling faces of the men, his pastor and another church leader.
I know this is true, because I was that nine-year-old boy.
This talk is Means of Grace and my name is Terry Cavanaugh.
Even though I was scared, I realized that I needed to experience this moment, this sacred moment in my life.
As Christians, we celebrate sacraments, or sacred moments where Christ is re-presented, or becomes present to us in a new way.
As Christians, we celebrate sacraments, or sacred moments where Christ is re-presented, or becomes present to us in a new way.
A. Sacraments are sacred moments that Jesus gave us by clear instruction and example in the scripture. Sacraments involve our physical senses our touch, our sight, and our smell, coming together in outward and visible signs; in addition, they involve our spiritual senses through an inward and spiritual work of grace.
B. The number of sacraments celebrated within the church varies according to the teaching of the particular tradition or denomination.
1. Most Christians recognize two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
a) In Jesus said,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Jesus tells us that part of disciple making is to invite people to be baptized.
But Jesus also said.
, Jesus said file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
So Not only did Jesus instruct us to perform baptisms, but also to share in what we call Holy Communion. This meal of bread and wine is also called the Eucharist, and the Lord’s Supper. Why you ask do we call it by different names. Well, the word Eucharist, come form the Greek word for thanksgiving or eucharistō. So the focus in on giving thanks. Holy Communion focuses on fact that this meal forms us as a community. And the name Lord’s Supper reminds us that this christian community that meal is really a family meal. We are just one big family.
In the Sacraments you feel the grace.
2. Some churches consider other rites or practices to be sacraments as well. Since the Council of Trent (1545—63), the Roman Catholic Church has celebrated seven sacraments, In addition to baptism and the Lord's Supper, these include: penance, marriage, holy orders (ordination), confirmation, and healing (also known as extreme unction, the last rites, or anointing of the sick or dying).
b) Jesus said to his disciples, "This [bread] is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" (). "Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you'" ().
b) Jesus said to his disciples, "This [bread] is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" (). "Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you'" ().
2. Some churches consider other rites or practices to be sacraments as well. Since the Council of Trent (1545—63), the Roman Catholic Church has celebrated seven sacraments, In addition to baptism and the Lord's Supper, these include: penance, marriage, holy orders (ordination), confirmation, and healing (also known as extreme unction, the last rites, or anointing of the sick or dying).
C. Christians must have an attitude of love and humility toward the different practices of various traditions.
John Wesley said, "We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike."
We may disagree on important matters like sacraments. However, we can still find the foundation for our fellowship with one another and treat one another with genuine respect—as members of the body of Christ. Jesus told us:
Amplified Bible Chapter 13
34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.
Il. The two sacraments are observed by most Christians (15 minutes)
Il. The two sacraments are observed by most Christians (15 minutes)
A. Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual work of grace.
Just like my wedding ring is a sign that I am married. The ring it self does not make me married, the commitment I have made makes me married, the ring is a reminder of the commitment.
If I take off the ring, I am still married. If someone else puts on this ring, that alone would make them married to my wife Ginny. The ring is still a symbol and a sign, but the commitment is what makes the marriage.
Jesus understood this, that is why he came to be baptized.
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Jesus was an example to us. He did not need baptism, but he did it to show us the sign and symbol.
1. Baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (; Mark 1:911; ).
The modes of baptism include:
2. John the baptizer made it clear, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming. . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (; parallel passages: ; ; , ).
3. Jesus entrusted the ministry of baptism to his disciples (). At Pentecost, the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire gave birth to the church (). The promise of baptism "is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him" ().
4, Christian baptism marks our new identity in Christ.
a) Baptism marks each person as a member of the body of Christ.
b) The congregation echoes God's acceptance by promising its support for the newly baptized person on his/her spiritual journey.
5. In the history of the Christian church, baptism has been experienced in different modes and at different ages, depending on the denominational understanding.
The modes of baptism include:
a) Immersion (put under the water is an image of being buried with Christ and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
Rom. 6:34
b) Pouring (where large bodies of water were not available)—another form of anointing; see and . Third-century Christian art shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus.
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b) Pouring (where large bodies of water were not available)—another form of anointing; see and . Third-century Christian art shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus.
b) Pouring (where large bodies of water were not available)—another form of anointing; see and . Third-century Christian art shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus.
c) Sprinkling (washing by sprinkling with sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean . . . "
The age for baptism varies among Christian traditions:
The age for baptism varies among Christian traditions:
d) When adults are baptized, we celebrate both God's love and justifying grace together in one act. God's offer of a relationship is accepted; the person is cleansed and incorporated into Christ's body.
e) In the baptism of infants and children, congregations celebrate God's unconditional love and promise for children's lives.
(1) Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" ().
(2) Through the commitment of parents or guardians and the congregation, God's love is made real, and the action begun in the baptism of children comes to completion in confirmation.
If you forget all this just remember: In the Sacraments you feel the grace.
B. Holy Communion
1. Read
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
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.”
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
1. Read .
3. Jesus Instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples, and he commanded them to continue sharing the bread and cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him (
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
3. Jesus Instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples, and he commanded them to continue sharing the bread and cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him (),
),
5. Since the time of the earliest Christians, disciples have shared in this sacramental meal that reminds us of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
5, Since the time of the earliest Christians, disciples have shared in this sacramental meal that re-presents the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to all who come to receive in faith (; ; ).
6. When we come to the Lord's Table, we come to the banquet table of God.
a) We experience the inward and spiritual grace conveyed to us through these outward and visible elements of bread and juice/wine.
a) We experience the inward and spiritual grace conveyed to us through these outward and visible elements of bread and juice/wine.
b) At this table all are welcome and all are fed.
c) At this table we can catch a glimpse of the way God intends for the world to be—with all of God's children sharing the bread of life and the cup of salvation together in a spirit of gratitude and love for God and for one another.
c) At this table we can catch a glimpse of the way God intends for the world to be—with all of God's children sharing the bread of life and the cup of salvation together in a spirit of gratitude and love for God and for one another.
Remember this: In the Sacraments you feel the grace.
TAKE THE BREAK NOW.
In addition to the sacraments (however your congregation defines sacraments), there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments,
[After the break begin with these words or something similar to mark the transition in the talk,] Before the break we considered the two sacraments that most Christians agree are means of grace, in other words, ways that God meets our deepest human needs. While every sacrament Is a sacred moment, we cannot call every sacred moment a sacrament.
111. In addition to the sacraments (however your congregation defines sacraments), there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments, (10 minutes)
111. In addition to the sacraments (however your congregation defines sacraments), there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments, (10 minutes)
Some sacred moments come as a surprise. God may come to us in an infinite variety of ways, such as through the birth of a child, the beauty of a sunset, or a timely visit from a Christian friend. Each means of grace connects us to the living God and provides the grace we need.
Other sacred moments can come by divine appointment. God has given the church special ways to remember and experience Jesus Christ. These sacred moments within the life of the church are called rites, ordinances, and ceremonies—for example, worship, morning and evening prayer, giving money to the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned.
In the sacred moment of confirmation, the church celebrates the spiritual growth and conscious choice of the confirmand. Confirmation marks the confirmand's decision to accept the relationship offered by God—begun in baptism and affirmed now in a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ—and the commitment to take responsibility for living as a disciple.
3. Various Christian traditions view confirmation differently.
2. Confirmation signals a transition to a new level of personal responsibility for one's own faith. Just as a bar mitzvah for Jews marks the transition from childhood to young adulthood, confirmation marks the transition from spiritual childhood to the personal acceptance of responsibility for living as a disciple of Jesus Christ ().
2. Confirmation signals a transition to a new level of personal responsibility for one's own faith. Just as a bar mitzvah for Jews marks the transition from childhood to young adulthood, confirmation marks the transition from spiritual childhood to the personal acceptance of responsibility for living as a disciple of Jesus Christ ().
3. Various Christian traditions view confirmation differently.
a) [n traditions that practice infant baptism—United Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics—confirmation is understood as the time when the young person accepts for him/herself the gift of salvation.
b) For Baptists, the Church of Christ, and others within the Anabaptist tradition, the Individual's profession of faith, confirmation, and baptism happen at often the same time.
D. Baptism, Call, Membership, and Ordination
1. In the PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS talk, you learned that in baptism, every Christian is called to a life of ministry.
a) Every Christian has spiritual gifts that equip him or her for ministry
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Eph. 4:11-13
b) Every Christian has a calling and a ministry that are essential to the health and well-being of the body of Christ.
c) Every Christian has a spiritual gift, and every gift is needed.
2. Every Christian is called to be a disciple and a member of the body of Christ, the church.
3. However, not every Christian is called to ordination.
4. The church can celebrate and confirm a person's call to ministry in a variety of ways,
a) Anointing with oil
b) Services of installation
c) Laying on of hands and blessing
d) Consecration
5. Ordination is the sacred moment when the church marks the transition of those called to pastoral leadership or some other form of specialized ministry within the body of Christ. (See ; -.22; 28:19; John ; ; and Acts 6:16).
a) Ordination affirms and challenges those called by God to use their unique gift(s) to equip others for ministry (),
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image013.gif
#7:
The stole worn by ordained persons symbolizes the yoke of Christ.
a) Ordination affirms and challenges those called by God to use their unique gift(s) to equip others for ministry (),
b) Ordination confirms those called to be set apart for the specialized ministry of preaching and teaching the Word; administering the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and caring for the worship, order, and nurture of the church,
E. Marriage and singleness—The grace of God empowers us to live a loving and productive life, both in our singleness and, for some, in marriage,
2. Persons called to singleness can experience abundant grace and joy.
1. Every Christian is called to a life of ministry, and every Christian is called to meaningful and loving relationships.
a) We are all members of the body of Christ.
b) We all find our true selves as we share our lives with one another in the Christian community.
2. Persons called to singleness can experience abundant grace and joy.
a) The single person can find in Christ all that is needed for complete holiness and happiness.
b) Every Christian is called to live his/her life in covenant relationship to God and to other Christians.
3. Persons called to marriage can also experience abundant grace and joy.
a) Christian marriage joins two lives in the presence of God ().
b) Christian marriage is characterized by mutuality, love, and the intimate knowledge that comes from a shared life ().
c) God intends for marriage to be a means of grace for the children, the extended families, and the whole society. Each spouse is to represent Christ to his or her mate, family, and community,
d) Henri Nouwen wrote, "Marriage is not a lifelong attraction of two individuals to each other, but a ca.ll for two people to witness together to God's love." 1
IV. Sacred moments are divine appointments with God,
IV. Sacred moments are divine appointments with God,
A, Sacred moments can be found in the daily practices that help connect us to God.
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif
1. Prayer
Prayer means living each moment with our hearts open to God.
b) Prayer means living each moment with our hearts open to God.
2. Searching the scripture—spending time each day reading the Bible, hearing it expounded, meditating on it, and applying its truths to daily life. (
[Call attention to the 72-Hour Prayer Vigil chart and to pages in the Worship Booklet for additional help with prayer and medltation.]
See
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2. Searching the scripture—spending time each day reading the Bible, hearing it expounded, meditating on it, and applying its truths to daily life. (See 2 Tim, 3:16-17;
3. Worship
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image015.jpg119:103-105; ; John 8231-32.)
3. Worship
a) "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!"' (Ps.
5. Fasting is a means of grace that connects us to God.
4. Finding spiritual friends and participating actively in the body of Christfile:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image016.jpg
a) Jesus invested time with his disciples. Mutual accountability in a small group is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship (; ).
b) Regular participation in the Christian community is an essential means of grace. It provides spiritual nurture and support ().
5. Fasting is a means of grace that connects us to God.
c) Fasting can include refraining from activities that hinder our relationship with God. We can fast from television, from complaining, or from any activity that keeps us from God.
b) The spiritual practice of fasting should be learned from a pastor or spiritual director.
c) Fasting can include refraining from activities that hinder our relationship with God. We can fast from television, from complaining, or from any activity that keeps us from God.
6. Generosity
Before he gave himself for us on the cross, Christ took the most humble role of a servant to teach his disciples the importance of serving others with humility and grace.
b) Before he gave himself for us on the cross, Christ took the most humble role of a servant to teach his disciples the importance of serving others with humility and grace ().
c) Jesus had much to say about giving money. The way a person spends his/her money reveals his/her heart
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I heard a preacher say, “On our debit card, should say our name/Jesus Christ. And then every time when go to spend, it should be “Alright Jesus. You and me we’re spending a little bit of your money right now.”
B. Sacred moments occur in the shared experiences of confession, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliadon. These means of grace restore us to physical and spiritual health, true freedom, and Christian community.
.
c) Jesus had much to say about giving money. The way a person spends his/her money reveals his/her heart (; ).
B. Sacred moments occur in the shared experiences of confession, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliadon. These means of grace restore us to physical and spiritual health, true freedom, and Christian community.
2. All of us need healing and wholeness of some sort: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, or relational. God wants to make us whole (; ).
1. The Greek word for healing in the Gospels Is the same word used for salvation: sozo (; ).
2. All of us need healing and wholeness of some sort: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, or relational. God wants to make us whole (; ).
3. Healing played an essential role in the ministry of Jesus and the disciples .
4. Confession and forgiveness clearly relate to spiritual healing within the body of Christ. "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (),
5. The ministry of healing belongs to the church and should not be left to just a few people who make it a show of their own power and glory rather than allowing healing to serve as an expression of God's love, power, and glory (),
6. In every authentic healing ministry, Jesus Christ is clearly present and acknowledged as the healer. In fact, Christ re-presented is the only authentic and authoritative means of grace for the forgiveness of sin, physical healing, or inner spiritual healing and human wholeness ().
7. Reconciliation is the restoration of a relationship; this is the will of God and the mission of God in the world ().
but
But not every broken relationship can be restored, you know why because it is one sinful broken person trying to bond with another sinful broken person. Sometimes, the brokeness is to great to be healed. However, we should strive and work to restore the relationship.
V. We are called to open ourselves to God's amazing grace in an infinite variety of ways.
A. In human relationships—in situations like the birth of a child, the return of a loved one, the surprise of a random act of kindness.
B. in nature—the beauty of a flower or a sunset, the grandeur of a mountain peak or the mystery of a valley stream, the birth of a kitten, the playfulness of a newborn colt.
VI. Conclusion
VI. Conclusion
To make room for the new life in Christ, something old has to die.
1.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
makes clear that God prunes away the dead branches and the unproductive parts of our life in order make us more fruitful and productive.
1. makes clear that God prunes away the dead branches and the unproductive parts of our life in order make us more fruitful and productive.
makes clear that God prunes away the dead branches and the unproductive parts of our life in order make us more fruitful and productive.
2. Now we will move to the chapel/sanctuary for a special service of Holy Communion— to share in this sacramental meal where the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be re-presented to us.
3. Just like the first disciples, we go to the Lord's Table with all our human weakness and brokenness.
and Remember, In the Sacraments you feel the grace.
Please go in silence and sit with your table group.
De Colores!
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Abbreviated Outline: MEANS OF GRACE
Lead the Prayer to the Holy Spirit:
Please turn to page 48 In your Worship Booklet and join me in the Prayer to the Holy Splrlt
Inu•oduction (1—2 minutes)
My name isfile:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image024.gif, and the dtle of this talk is MEANS OF GRACE.
I. The means of grace are sacred moments where Christ is re-presented, or becomes present to us anew. (5 minutes)
I. The means of grace are sacred moments where Christ is re-presented, or becomes present to us anew. (5 minutes)
A. Sacraments are sacred moments that Jesus gave to us by clear instruction and example in the scripture.
B. The number of sacraments celebrated within the church varies according to the teaching of the particular tradition or denomination.
C. Christians must have an attitude of love and humility toward the different practices of various traditions.
IL The two sacraments observed by most Christians (15 minutes)
IL The two sacraments observed by most Christians (15 minutes)
A. Baptism
[Option 2.' Remove the pitcher and bowl from the gift box]
1. Baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (; ; Luke 321-22).
2. John the baptizer made it clear, "I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (; parallel passages: Matt, 3:11; ; , ).
3. Jesus entrusted the ministry of baptism to his disciples ().
4. Christian baptism marks our new identity in Christ.
5. In the history of the Christian church, baptism has been experienced in different modes and at different ages. The modes of baptism include:
a) Immersion (put under the file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image026.jpg being buried with Christ and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:34).
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image028.jpg
b) Pouring (where large bodies of water were not file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image030.jpg is another form of anointing; see and . Third-century Christian art shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus.
c) Sprinkling (washing by sprinkling water)—"l will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean" (). "You were washed. . . . ' ().
The age for baptism varies among Christian traditions:
d) In the baptism of adults, we celebrate God's love and justifying grace together in one act. God's offer of a relationship is accepted, and the person being baptized is cleansed and incorporated into Christ's body.
e) In the baptism of infants and children, we celebrate God's unconditional love and promise for their lives.
B. Holy Communion
[Option 2: Remove from the gift box the symbols you have selected, such as a loaf of bread and cluster of grapes, or a cup and a plate]
1. Read 1:23-26.
2. Various Christian traditions refer to this sacrament by different names, including: Holy Communion, the Lor.d's Table, the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist (which means "grateful"), the Divine Liturgy (Eastern Orthodox), or the Mass (Roman file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image032.jpgCatholic and some Lutherans).
3. Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples. He commanded them to continue sharing the bread and the cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him ().
4. In the first supper after the Resurrection, Jesus shared a meal with the travelers on the road to Emmaus—and their eyes were opened ().
5. Since the time of the earliest Christians, disciples have shared in this sacramental meal where the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is re-presented to all who come to receive in faith (; ; ).
6. When we come to the Lord's Table, we come to the banquet table of God.
TAKE THE BREAK NOW.
[Part 2 of this talk should be 15 to 20 minutes.]
[After the break, begin with these words or something similar to mark the transition In the talk.]
Before the break we considered the two sacraments that most Christians agree are means of grace, While it is true that every sacrament is a sacred moment, we cannot call every sacred moment a sacrament.
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.gif
78 The Walk to Emmaus Talk Outlines
Ill. In addition to the sacraments (however your congegation defines sacraments), there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments, (10 minutes)
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image034.jpgSome sacred moments come as a surprise,
B. Other sacred moments can come by divine appointment.
C. In the sacred moment of confirmation, the church celebrates the spiritual growth and conscious choice of the confirmand. Confirmation marks the decision to accept the relationship offered by God—begun in baptism, affirmed now in a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ—and signals an individual's commitment to take responsibility for living the life of a disciple.
[Option 2: Remove the kneeling cushion, pillow, or confirmation book]
D. Baptism, Call, Membership, and Ordination
1. In the PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS talk, you learned that in baptism, every Christian is called to a life of ministry.
2. Every Christian is called to be a disciple and a member of the body of Christ.
3. However, not every Christian is called to ordination.
4. The church can celebrate and confirm a person's call to ministry in a variety of ways.
5. Ordination is the sacred moment when a congregation marks the transition of those called to pastoral leadership or some other form of specialized ministry within the body of Christ.
E. Marriage and Singleness
The grace of God empowers us to live a loving and productive life, both in our single nes and, for some, fn marriage. [Option 2: Remove the ring from the gift box.]
1. Every Christian is called to a life of ministry, and every Christian is called to meaningful and loving relationships.
2. Persons called to singleness can experience abundant grace and joy.
3. Persons called to marriage can also experience abundant grace and joy.
IV. Sacred moments that are divine appointments with God
IV. Sacred moments that are divine appointments with God
file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image036.jpgSacred moments may be found in the daily practices that help connect us to God.
1. Prayer
2. Searching the scripture
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3. Worship
4. Finding spiritual friends and participating actively in the body of Christ
5. Fasting
6. Generosity
B. Sacred moments occur in the shared experiences of confession, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliadon. These means of grace restore us to physical health, spiritual health, true freedom, and Christian community. [Option 2 Remove the bottle of healing oil and the handcuffs or rope from the gift box]
1. The Greek word for healing in the Gospels is the same word used for salvation: sozo (; ).
2. All of us need healing and wholeness of some sort: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, or relational. God wants to make us whole (; ).
3. Healing formed an essential part of the ministry of Jesus and the disciples (Matt. file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image040.jpgLuke 9:1-6; ).
4. Confession and forgiveness clearly relate to spiritual healing within the body of Christ,
5. The ministry of healing belongs to the church and should not be left to just a few people.
6. In every authentic healing ministry, Jesus Christ is clearly present and acknowledged as the healer.
7. Reconciliation is the restoration of a relationship; this is the will of God and the mission of God in the world ().
V. We are called to open ourselves to God's amazing grace in an infinite variety of ways.
A. In human relationships—in situations like the birth of a child, the return of a loved one, a random act of kindness.
B. In nature—the beauty of a flower or a sunset, the grandeur of a mountain peak or the mystery of a valley stream, the birth of a kitten, the playfulness of a newborn colt.
VI. Conclusion
VI. Conclusion
To make room for the new life in Christ, something old has to die.
1. makes clear that God prunes away the dead branches and the unproductive parts of our life to make us more fruitful and productive.
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80 The Walk to Emmaus Talk Outlines
2. We will now move to the chapel/sanctuary for a special service of Holy Communion— to share in this sacramental meal that re-presents the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to us.
3. file:///C:/Users/TERRYC~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image043.jpgJust like the first disciples, we go to the Lord's Table with all our human weakness and brokenness.
Please go in silence and sit with your table group. The assistants will direct us.
De Colores!
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