Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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,

Jesus tells us that part of disciple making is to invite people to be baptized.

But Jesus also said.

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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:

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)

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.

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

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 . . .

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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.