Unashamed Of the message of the gospel Romans 1:16-17

Today we will be reflecting on the gospel by participating in the Lord’s Supper. After the worship songs, I will invite the deacons to come and we will give thanks over the bread and juice which represents the body and blood of Christ. Then they will take the trays to four different stations in the sanctuary.

Once there, I will invite each of you to go to one of the stations take the juice and bread. You do not have to be a member of this church to participate. The deacons will direct you by rows to avoid congestion at the stations.

You are invited to go in groups / family groups or with friends. Ask someone to go with you. Or you can go by yourself if you prefer.

When you get to the station, take a moment to pray yourselves or ask the deacon to pray for you.

Then take the bread and juice and return to your seat.

For those watching, you can prepare your own elements and participate as well.

I’ll repeat these instructions when it is time.

PRAISE SONGS

Pastor ascends to the pulpit.

Deacons come and prepare the elements.

While the deacons come and prepare, pastor continues.

Deacons, uncover the elements, then stand in front row facing pastor.

Jesus told us of the importance of remembering what He has done for us.

(ESV) Matthew 26 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.”

So we are to participate in the Lord’s Supper – unashamed. Worshipping. Remembering what He has done for us. The bread, a symbol of His body that was tortured for us both before the cross and on the cross. The juice, a symbol of His blood that was shed as payment for our sins.

I invite each of you to examine yourself. If you have trusted Jesus as Savior and you are seeking to walk with Him, I invite you to participate with us in the Lord’s Supper. You do not have to be a member of this church to participate.

Pastor descends and hands the trays to the four deacons who will be at the stations (Mike M, David, Dewayne, Mike S.).

(Be sure to have a microphone)

Charlie would you pray and give thanks for the bread as a symbol of Jesus’ broken body.

Then Bob T would you pray and give thanks for the juice as a symbol of Jesus’ blood shed for us.

Charlie / Bob T pray and return to their seats.

Then assigned deacons go to their stations: Wayne and Dewayne front right (as entering the sanctuary)

David front left

Mike S middle left

Mike M middle right.

Deacons assigned to stations will take the elements with their families at the station.

When all have participated, Deacons at the stations return the plates to the front and take their seats.

Jerry and Reed move to front and back. Usher by rows when pastoral instructions are complete. When finished ushering go to one of the stations with their family to participate and then return to their seats

I invite each of you who desire to take the Lord’s Supper to go to one of the stations and take the juice and bread. The elements are stacked in the cups.

You are invited to go in family groups or with groups of friends. If you are single, ask someone to go with you if you like. Or you can go by yourself if you prefer. The deacons will release you by rows to avoid congestion at the stations.

You may choose any of the available stations. When you get to the station, take a moment to pray yourselves or ask the deacon to pray for you. After the prayer, eat the bread and drink the juice at the station. Then return to your seat.

Instrumental music begins

Lord’s Supper complete

Special Music.

Message

Today we have celebrated our unique privilege. Christ has died for our sins. The God of the universe left heaven. He took on the punishment for our sin. Let us remember it. May our entire lives we shaped by it.

Yet we are often ashamed to share it.

We are active politically. Unashamed to declare allegiance to a party. To a person. To an activity. To a sporting team. To many different things.

Yet we are timid spiritually. We declare that we don’t want to be hyper aggressive. Afraid to turn people away from the truth. But we only feel this way about the gospel. In other parts of our lives, we are bold.

If we had the cure for COVID and could make it available immediately to everyone without cost, wouldn’t we do it? So why are we afraid to communicate the cure for the worst disease possible. The disease that leads to death. Sin. The cure is the message of the gospel of Christ.

We have the truth. We need to embrace it and share it.

Paul got it. He writes.

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

I. Unashamed of the message: The gospel

A. The message of the Good News Rom 1:16a

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

1. Good news

2. Glory in the gospel - thrilled with it

3. Are we ashamed because we have not experienced the gospel ourselves

B. The spoken message of Christ 1 Cor 1:18, 23

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … 23 but we preach Christ crucified,

C. A senseless message to the world 1 Cor 1:22-23

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

1. Jew – want a powerful sign / want political dominance

a) The gospel is not primarily political – it is the opposite

2. Greek – academic brilliance / magnificent oratory

a) God’s wisdom is not measured by human understanding

3. Yet the gospel has power to both groups – it is the power of God to penetrate the opposition

II. Unashamed of the message: Power of God

A. The message changes lives Rom 1:16b

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 … for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

1. Saved from sin and its effects

2. Saves from the dominance of sin

3. Ultimately will save from the presence of sin

4. This message has impact to change

B. No other Christian response substitutes 1 Cor 1:18, 23

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … 23 but we preach Christ crucified,

1. Give to the poor and you have rich people with emptiness and hopelessness and will die without God

2. Minister to the sick and you have healthy people who are empty and hopeless and will die without God

3. Give the gospel and lives will change now and forever

4. it is power - not the polish of the messenger - wisdom of the preacher - power in itself

III. Unashamed of the message: For everyone by faith

A. Salvation for the Religious Rom 1:16b

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 … for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

B. Salvation for the nonreligious Rom 1:16b

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 … for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

C. Salvation through a choice by faith

(NKJV) Romans 1 16 … for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

1. Example Nicodemus / Paul

D. The only way for salvation John 14:6; 1 Tim 2:5; Acts 4:12

1. No other way

(NKJV) John 14 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2. One mediator

(NKJV) 1 Timothy 2 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

3. One name for salvation

(NKJV) 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.”

IV. Unashamed of the message: A righteousness from (not with) God

A. God’s righteousness available Rom 1:17a

(NKJV) Romans 1 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

1. Righteousness given by God

B. God’s righteousness means life Rom 1:17b

(NKJV) Romans 1 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

1. The righteous by faith shall live

2. These made righteous by faith, these will live

C. God’s righteousness by faith in Him Rom 1:17c

(NKJV) Romans 1 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

1. A choice

2. Begins by faith and ends in faith

3. Willingness to be transformed - believe that He can and will - put yourself in the place to experience it

4. Paul saved / preached

Proof by a changed life