This Do In Remembrance of Me
Communion • Sermon • Submitted
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Pray for our hearts and minds to hear what God has for us today.
Today we will be celebrating Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” What does that mean to you?
Some times it's good to remember, too remember where we have come from and to remember where we are going. In a couple of weeks we will be remembering and celebrating 100 years since the original part of this church was built. Much has happened here and around the world during that time. So what has happened in those 100 years?
From the very beginning there was a felt need to have a church to worship in. In the beginning the people were gathering in the school to to worship God, but they wanted a church to worship in. So in July of 1920 William Rutherford gave the ground for the church to be built. In August basement was excavated and by June of 1921 the church building was completed. In the beginning pastors or missionaries as they were called traveled a circuit to hold services, sometimes staying a month at a time.
At the very beginning there was a baptismal service held in which 69 people were baptized with many joining the church. A good beginning. In 1931, ten years later a series of meetings were held in which 42 more joined the church and 32 were baptized in the river behind the church. Dale Howard headed extensive remodeling of the church in 1969-70 In the 1980's Mike Rethmeier, Scott Stenson and Rick Heldenbrand serviced as interns here under pastor Dennis Gordon. Some of you will remember them.
As the church continued to grow, more room was needed. Expansion plans were discussed a different times for 10-12 years and then in February of 1994 the first steps were taken, the goal to raise the estimated cost of $250,000 began. Nearly all of the funds were committed and plans were set in motion with the excavation of the new basement beginning in September of 1995. The first service in the new addition was held on April 28, 1996. In time for the 75th anniversary celebration.
So I have shared some things about the physical building of the church, but that is only a building, That is not the church, the church is the people. Over the years many lives have been impacted by the ministry of this church body. Many have been saved, many have been baptized, many have been sent out from this church. I could name some but I'm sure I would forget some, most all of us know some that have been sent out, even around the world serving our Lord.
Many funds have gone out to send them and support ministries around the world. We have partnered with the Pastor Johniver and the Philippine church and helped them build a feeding center that has now become an additional church there. Many have come to the Lord through that ministry.
Can you remember the significant things that have happened in your life? I've now been coming to this church for 60 years, now I can't remember that long ago but I can remember over 55 years ago, when God showed me personally my need to except Him as my personal Savior, that even though those around me had Jesus' light in them, I had to personally except him as my Lord and Savior.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Are we giving others that chance? Are we praying for those around us? That they might know the Savior like we do? Do we ask our heavenly father each morning to send us someone to share that story of what Jesus had done for us?
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Do we live each day in expectation of his return? Would we live each day differently if we knew that his return was going to be in just a couple of days? I think so, I know I would, there are things that I put off because I think I can do that later!
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
None of us know how long we have here on this earth. We are told in the Bible to number our days, to use them wisely.
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
We are told to be watchful as we don't know when the trumpet will sound and Jesus return and then we will celebrate with Jesus face to face the marriage supper, we no longer will be be doing it in remembrance but with him!
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Are we making every effort to make sure that those around us have the opportunity to go with us to that supper? Are we praying for them? Are we sharing with them what Jesus is doing in our lives, do we show an excitement in our lives of what Jesus is doing in and through us?
If we were put on trial for being a follower of Christ, would there be ample evidence to convict us? Do our words, our actions, the things we do, the places we spend our money be evidence that we are a true follower of Jesus? Would they have to dig deep to find evidence of that, or would there be no doubt?
What do people see in us on those bad days, we all have them, do they see an example of Christ or something else?
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Are we tapping into the power? >>>>Lets read that again.<<<< “ Far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” Are we trying to do this in our own strength or His strength?
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
We are called to be imitators of God. Do our lives imitate God? Do our actions and words reflect Him?
The Bible tells us that what is in our hearts flows out, is it something of God flowing out our not.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
What we put into our minds and heart is what fills it, are we diligent in filling them with God's word and His thoughts? How much time do we spend each day doing that?
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
Is it easier to share with others what God is showing us from his word or about what the government or sports or weather or what ever? What is on our minds and in our thoughts through out the day? We cannot share what we do not possess.
3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
God's word tells us to keep our minds stayed upon him. To remember the things he has done in us. Thus “do in remembrance of me”.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our minds must be transformed to be able to know what that “good and acceptable and perfect “ will of God is.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Do our lives reflect that hope? Do we possess it, it only comes with His filling us.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God’s Word is alive.
Do we read his word like a love letter,, or out of a sense of duty or I need to do that so I can check that off the list each day?
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Are His words sweet in our mouth, do we desire to read and meditate on them?
Do we spend time with him as a close friend anticipating and looking forward to it each day? I have to confess I don't always. How might that change our times with the lord if we met with him expecting to be filled, to receive something good or even great from him as we meet?
The lyrics to the song “Fill my Cup Lord” says it so well.
Like the woman at the well
I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy
And then I heard my Savior speaking
"Draw from My well that never shall run dry"
Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
There are millions in this world
Who are craving
The pleasures, earthly things of gold
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord
Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Pastor Dick just shared about the woman at the well told about in John 4. Like her, we need to share what we have witnessed. Though we may not have physically come face to face with Jesus, hopefully each of you have come face to face with Him in a spiritual sense. We need to do that daily so that as we go through our day we can be a witness to what He has done in our lives. She met Jesus and experienced His love for her, then she went back to the town where she was from shared what she had just witnessed and experienced.
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
When we share our story, what we have experienced with Jesus, it is our story, no one can refute what has happened to us. Are we telling that story to those around us, does our lives reflect it?
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
So often we can be mislead into thinking that it’s up to us to save someone, it’s not! Just as this woman did, she simply told her story and invited others to come and hear, the Holy Spirit is the one the brings each of us to Him. Do you remember when someone shared that story with you? You probably didn’t believe the first time you heard it. I didn’t, I had heard it over and over again for years before things clicked and I understood and acted upon it.
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
As we see here, the Samaritan woman simply shared what she had experienced and Jesus did the rest. Are we sharing with others what Jesus has done in us?
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
As this parable shows, the sower had no power over which seeds grew and which seeds didn’t, just like us, we have no control over what seeds that we share will take root and grow and which ones won’t, but our responsibility is to be like the sower and sow the seed, leaving the outcome up to Jesus.
As we come into our time of communion, let us take some time and allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. Open every door and allow Him into every room, that we might be clean and usable vessels for him.
I will ask the elders to come up to serve the communion. When you are ready you can come up and take of the bread and juice and return to your seats.
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.”
Pray for the bread and juice.
