Sermon Tone Analysis

/Miscellaneous Helps/

*Messages on the Lord’s Supper*

*/Title:/* Looking at the Lord’s Supper

*/Scripture Reading:/* Matthew 26:26 – 30

*Introduction*

On the night before his crucifixion, our Lord Jesus observed the Passover with his disciples in the upper room.

Following the departure of Judas Iscariot, he instituted the ordinance that we know as the Lord’s Supper.

This significant ordinance crystallizes the gist of the gospel.

It symbolizes the substitutionary and redemptive death of the Son of God.

With reverent awe let us look at this ordinance in several different ways as we prepare to participate in a worthy manner.

*I.

We should look backward.*

In deep meditation and in complete consecration, we should look backward to the atoning Christ whose body was slain and whose blood was shed for our redemption from sin (Heb.

9:22 – 26; 1 Peter 1:18 – 19; 1 John 1:7).

*II.

We should look upward.*

With an attitude of reverent submission, we should look upward to the Christ who has been exalted to a position of lordship over all things (Phil.

2:5 – 11).

The Christ who died on the cross now sits on the throne.

He has been appointed by God to occupy the throne of the heart of each of us.

He alone is worthy to have complete sovereignty over our will.

If we would properly partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper, we should earnestly seek to make him the Lord of our lives.

*III.

We should look inward.*

With the purest motives possible, we should look into our own hearts and request divine help to purge out every attitude or ambition that is contrary to the mind and spirit of our Lord.

In sincere repentance, with genuine love, and with deep gratitude, we should recall how Jesus Christ died that we might live.

He became poor that we might be rich.

He gave his all that we might have all of the grace and goodness of God.

*IV.

We should look forward.*

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor.

11:26).

Our Savior came first as a peasant.

He will come the second time as the Prince of God.

He came the first time in great humility.

He will come the second time in great glory and power.

He came the first time to occupy a cross.

He will come the second time to occupy a throne before which every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord of Lords.

*Conclusion*

We look backward, we look inward, we look upward, and we look forward in faith and love and gratitude and hope.

With all of our minds, hearts, and souls, let us concentrate on what our Lord did for us on the cross as we partake of the elements that symbolize the giving of his body and his life for our salvation.

*/Title:/* Why Did Jesus Die?

*/Text:/* “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” *(1 Cor.

11:26)*.

*Introduction*

The day that Christ was crucified was the darkest day the world has ever witnessed.

On that day humankind revolted against the love of God, refused to accept Christ as God’s Son, and slew him by nailing him to a cross.

In spite of the awfulness of humankind’s terrible sin of crucifying the Savior, the disciples came to understand that, in the death of their Lord, God had done his kindest work for humankind.

It would be appropriate for us to raise the question, “Why would the sinless, stainless, spotless Son of God have to die?

Why did he institute a meal in which the elements were given great symbolic significance with a design of perpetuating the memory of his death on the cross?”

To have the correct answer is to have the key to the Christian religion.

To understand Christ’s death is to discover the essence of Christianity.

To grasp the significance of his sacrificial death is to understand the heart of God’s revelation of his love and mercy.

*I.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to reveal the evil nature of sin.*

Not only in our age, but in every age, people have been inclined to minimize and excuse sin.

There are many who deny that there is any such thing as sin.

There are others who joke about sin and treat it lightly.

Others tolerate and coddle sin in their own hearts and lives.

Jesus died on the cross because of our sin.

Had humans not been sinners, it would not have been necessary for him to die.

If sin were not something terrible, dark, and destructive, Calvary would not have been necessary.

If there had been no dread malady in the heart that causes people to depart from God and live a life of waste and ruin, then Jesus Christ died as an unrealistic idealist.

It is the testimony of the Scripture that Christ died for our sins (1 Cor.

15:3; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

We should let the elements of the Lord’s Supper speak to us concerning the deadly, destructive, evil nature of our sin that required the death of Jesus Christ for our deliverance and forgiveness.

*II.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem and save us (Mark 10:45).*

      A.

/Jesus was the perfect substitute.

/He died to ransom us from sin (Mark 10:45).

B.

/He is the Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep./

C.

/The Sinless One assumed the burden of our sin and suffered in our place that we might obtain his perfect righteousness (1 Cor.

5:21)./

*III.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to enlist and inspire our service.*

A.

/Because Christ died for our sins, we should be inspired to die to sin and to devote our lives to a life of righteousness, both in relationship to God and in our conduct toward our fellow humans (1 Peter 2:24)./

B.

/Next to our salvation, the privilege of Service is the greatest gift of God to humankind (Phil.

1:29; Rom.

12:1)./

C.

/Gratitude for God’s unspeakable gifts, through the Savior who was willing to die and who triumphantly lives again, should cause us to dedicate ourselves in Service to him./

*Conclusion*

As we partake of the bread, which symbolizes Christ’s body, and the wine, which symbolizes his blood, let us dedicate our lives and bodies to the Savior.

*Themes for Wedding Ceremonies*

*/Title:/* In All Thy Ways

*/Text:/* Proverbs 3:5 – 6

*Introduction*

The words of the wise man are applicable for all persons in all seasons and under all circumstances.

At no time are his suggestions better than when a man and woman leave their separate ways of life and join together to begin a new way of life.

On this occasion we should trust in the Lord and recognize that marriage is part of his benevolent plan and purpose for us.

Marriage is more than a human arrangement; it is a divine provision for the welfare of the race and for the fulfillment and happiness of the individuals involved.

A wedding is a significant time for the couple involved, for their families, for their church, and for the community as a whole.

We come together to hear a young couple solemnly pledge before God and witnesses their firm and steadfast decision to assume not only the rights but the responsibilities that are associated with marriage.

The writer of Proverbs declares that if we will but recognize and acknowledge the Lord in all of our ways, he will make our paths straight and lead us in a manner that will help us achieve the happiness and success for which our hearts hunger.

Give him first place in your love and loyalty.

Give your companion a love and loyalty second only to your Lord.

Place your own wishes and well-being in a position subordinate to the will of God and to the happiness of your companion.

If each of you will determine to love God supremely and serve him steadfastly, if you will determine to give your companion the happiness that genuine love always wishes, you will discover that you are achieving both happiness and success as time goes by.

*The Ceremony*

If you, then, _____and _____, have freely and deliberately chosen each other as partners in this holy estate and know of no just cause why you should not be so united, in token thereof you will please join your right hands.