Divine Deliverance – The Pronouncement • 04.17.22
Nick Lees   -   April 18, 2022

Divine Deliverance – The Pronouncement

Rejoicing in God’s authoritative announcement through Jesus’ resurrection

  1. God declared that Jesus’ work was sufficient
  2. God’s pronouncement leads to your calling

 

Divine Deliverance – The Pronouncement

Good morning church family! Welcome to anyone who is visiting us today. We’re thankful you’re worshiping the Lord with us on Resurrection Sunday. For those who are new, my name is Nick Lees and I serve as the senior pastor at Harvest. I have the privilege of opening up God’s Word with you this morning.

Dismiss 4th & 5th graders

Ushers + Bibles (If you don’t have a Bible at home, please keep that one as a gift from us to you. And if it’s in rough shape, we can easily exchange it after the service for a fresh copy. We want everyone to have access to the Word of God.)

Today, we celebrate the culmination of the divine deliverance plan. The tomb is empty! Jesus Christ, crucified on Friday, has conquered sin and death by rising from the dead on Sunday. He’s not here… HE IS RISEN! I’d like to share with you a promise and a question from Jesus. This is found in the Gospel of John.

John 11:25–26 (ESV)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 

This was the question Jesus posed to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, shortly after Lazarus’ death. You see, Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were personal friends of Jesus. And during Jesus’ ministry, his friend Lazarus died. John 11 recounts the full details of this story, but I want to draw your attention to the outcome of this encounter.

The interaction ends with Jesus miraculously raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus’ point was that he was greater than death. He is the resurrection and the life! The promise for those who have faith in Jesus, is that death is not the end. It is merely the transition from this life to eternal life. Jesus’ statement and question still ring loudly today – “Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” That’s really the question you have to wrestle with on Easter Sunday. Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and are you willing to follow him?

For those of you who have been a part of our church throughout this year, you know that we’ve been going through a verse-by-verse study of the book of Judges. And that study has frequently been full of spiritual darkness and hardships as men and women do what is right in their own eyes. We’ve seen the destructive cycle that Israel repeated when it turned away from God and tried to go its own way. It’s been a powerful warning to us of the destruction that comes from pursuing our own ways instead of God’s ways.

And yet, in the midst of all that darkness, there has been the brilliant light of a Divine Deliverer who is faithfully at work. There have been hints of God’s plan to rescue and redeem a people for himself, even as they seem to be bent on their own destruction. In fact, as we learned this week, through our Holy Week devotional, God has always had a “divine deliverance” plan that he is working out.

If you didn’t get to read through the devotional, I’d highly recommend it, but I’m also going to give you quick recap of it now. The content of this devotional has been building in anticipation towards our services today!

As we saw, God’s divine deliverance plan began with God himself.

  • Person: God
    • Day 1 (Palm Sunday) reminds us of the reality and personhood of God. He is holy, triune, and relational. He is our Creator. There is no one like him and to be in his presence requires absolute, perfect holiness!
  • Plan: Relationship
    • Day 2 (Monday) gives a high-level overview of God’s plan to create a people for himself and be in relationship with those people. From Old to New Testament, the message of Scripture is consistent. God has created us and desires to be in relationship with us.
  • Problem: Sin
    • Unfortunately, as we saw on Day 3 (Tues), the first humans, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against God and go their own way. Their rebellion or sin has become the norm for the entire human race throughout history. You can crack open the history books or simply look around you at the wars, unrighteous rulers, and everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. The curse of sin is our daily reality.
  • Problem: Enemy
    • We also were reminded of the enemy, Satan, who opposes the work of God and against whom we fight a spiritual battle. He is actively seeking to keep men and women from believing in Jesus and from living in a way that pleases God.
  • Promise: Deliverer
    • Thankfully, from the very moment that Adam & Eve sinned in the Garden, God promised a deliverer. This promised deliverer is spoken of throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Many of us are likely familiar with the angel visiting Mary declaring to her that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to Jesus, who would save his people from their sins.
  • Provision: Lamb
    • Day 6 (Fri) revealed Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament longings (he was the Promised Messiah they had been waiting for) and the perfect sacrificial lamb/High Priest/righteous King. As the Son of God, he alone could live a perfect, sinless life and go to the cross in our place. He took the wrath of God that was meant for our sins and, in fulfillment of the divine redemption plan, died in our place.
  • Pronouncement: Victory
    • Yesterday and today, we celebrate what God says about Jesus’ finished work and its effect on a believer’s life. Jesus didn’t stay dead in the tomb. He rose from the grave.

Listen to the testimony of the Gospel writers, men who would later give their lives for what they stated and believed.

Matthew 28:5–7 (ESV)

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Mark 16:6–7 (ESV)

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

Luke 24:5–7 (ESV)

5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

John 20:11–15a (ESV)

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

All four of these accounts declare… He’s not here, HE IS RISEN! And his resurrection is an incredible pronouncement from God. And that is what we’re going to rejoice in today!

Today we get rejoice in the incredible pronouncement that God has made through Jesus’ resurrection and its implications for our identity in Christ.

Pronouncement – a formal or authoritative announcement or declaration. (COED)

Rejoicing in God’s authoritative announcement through Jesus’ resurrection

God is the highest authority there is, therefore when he makes a pronouncement, it is so. So how does that apply to the resurrection of Jesus? Well, in Jesus’ resurrection…

  1. God declared that Jesus’ work was sufficient (enough/adequate)

As Easton’s Bible Dictionary puts it:

The resurrection is a public testimony of Christ’s release from his undertaking as surety (ransom), and an evidence of the Father’s acceptance of his work of redemption. It is a victory over death and the grave for all his followers. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

In years past we have discussed the evidence for the resurrection, this Easter we are starting from the position that the resurrection is a historical fact and reality. And it is a reality that has tremendous implications for your identity TODAY. When Jesus walked out of that tomb on Easter morning, God the Father was authoritatively declaring that his Son’s sacrifice on the Cross was sufficient. But sufficient for what? That’s what we have the joy of discussing this morning.

  1. Sufficient for your salvation (I am forgiven)

Jesus’ death on the cross is what is known as a substitutionary death. He died in your place. He paid the penalty for your sins. He bore the wrath of God that was meant for you. Don’t take my word on this, listen to the testimony of God’s word:

Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV)

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

God’s word declares that we are all dead in our sins outside of faith in Christ. That is the consistent testimony of Scripture. We are not born into this world inherently good people who just need a little help to get to heaven. No, we are born dead in our trespasses. But through faith in Christ, God has made a way for us to be saved from our spiritual deadness and made alive, spiritually alive. This is made possible through Jesus’ death on the cross in your place. Listen to another passage about this from Romans:

Romans 5:8–11 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

What does it say? While we were pretty good people? No, while we were still sinners… Christ died for us. And it is his death in our place that rescues us from the wrath of God that our sinned earned us. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection takes us from being enemies with God to being his people. This is a miracle of salvation that occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. And when a man or a woman has faith in Jesus, they are reconciled to God – meaning there is no longer any hostility between God and that person. They are brought together in peace.

Consider what you just heard. Through faith in Jesus Christ, the one who died in your place and took the wrath of God meant for you, you are forgiven! If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you can say with confidence this morning, “I AM FORGIVEN!” Write that down next to this bullet point. This is a reality of the resurrection. God himself has declared it for all who have faith in Christ! Not only that but Jesus’ work is sufficient…

  1. Sufficient for your justification (I have peace with God)

This is a big word! It already came up in Romans 5:9:

Romans 5:9 (ESV)

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

To be justified means to be declared righteous. It’s the understanding that through faith in Jesus, God now looks at you and says, “INNOCENT. RIGHTEOUS.” You are no longer defined by your sin but by your relationship with Christ. You have received his righteousness. And the result is that you have peace with God. Write “I have peace with God” next to this bullet point. As this verse told us, there was a high price for your justification or peace with God. It required the blood of the Son of God to be shed. The righteous dying for the unrighteous. Listen to how Paul speaks about this to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:21–22 (ESV)

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

What incredible truths to read and remember this morning! Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and have peace with God. You are no longer his enemy but his ally. More than that, actually! A third reality is that Jesus’ finished work is…

  1. Sufficient for your adoption (I am a child of God)

When Jesus finished his redemptive work on Easter Sunday, the divine deliverance plan of God provided a way for sinful men and women to be adopted into the family of God. God’s word speaks of this in the letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

God’s pronouncement, declared before time began but revealed in the wake of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, was to adopt men and women for himself through Jesus Christ. This is an incredible act of God’s grace. Though we were rebels, not living for him or pursuing him, he chose us and came after us. He sent his Son to make a way for us to be adopted into his family. Jesus Christ willingly entered his creation and laid down his life to bring us into the family of God. This is a mind-boggling reality for all who believe in Jesus. None of us deserve such grace, yet we are thankful to receive it. Write down “I am a child of God” next to this bullet point. And with this privilege of adoption comes an incredible promise and hope of eternal life. You see, Jesus’ finished work was also…

  1. Sufficient for eternal life (I have the hope of heaven)

Those whose sins are forgiven, who have been declared righteous and are at peace with God, who have been adopted as sons/daughters of God have the hope of dwelling with God forever. This is known as eternal life. Again, the Scriptures testify to this reality:

1 Peter 1:3–5 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The Apostle Peter rejoices in the reality of God’s mercy as demonstrated in the new life and living hope that Christians have through Jesus’ resurrection. He speaks of our inheritance that is kept in heaven and cannot be lost and will be ours one day. This salvation that leads to eternal life will be fully revealed when Jesus comes again in glory. The Apostle John also wrote about eternal life:

1 John 5:11–13 (ESV)

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

John makes it clear that this hope of eternal life is for those who believe in the name of the Son of God. Faith in Jesus Christ is the guarantee of this hope! Conversely, there is also the frank teaching that rejection of Jesus Christ means there is no hope for eternal life. This also is confirmed in other places of Scripture. In what is perhaps the most well-known passage of Scripture, we read:

John 3:16–18 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Too often we stop at verse 17 without reading verse 18. There is a rawness to the Bible. God deals authentically with our human condition. Outside of faith in Christ, we all stand condemned. Salvation and eternal life have nothing to do with one person being better than another. It is all an act of grace and mercy of God. Faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work, the very work we rejoice in this morning, is the way to eternal life.

If you’re here today and you know that you’ve never dealt honestly with your rebellion against God, then I wonder how you respond to what you’ve heard today from God’s Word. These are some incredible promises of forgiveness, peace with your Creator, adoption into his family, and the hope of life forever with him. Why would you throw all of that away simply to do whatever is right in your own eyes? *Long pause*

I can tell you this, every Christian who is here this morning, has been in your shoes. We have pursued what is right in our own eyes and tasted of the bad fruit it produced. We’re here today, professing faith in Jesus, not because we’re so great, but solely because God was merciful to us and opened our eyes to our need for him. There is a better way to live. The way you were designed to live. In faith and obedience to God. He has gone to great lengths to call you to himself. Will you respond in faith in Jesus today? *Pause* If so, or even if you have additional questions, I’d love to talk with you after the service. Or you can fill out a connect card and ask for a follow-up call this week.

I want you to write: “I have the hope of heaven” next to this bullet point. Consider the significance of that statement. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, you have the hope of being in the presence of the Creator – the giver of every good gift, the one who wipes away every tear from your eye – in whose presence there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Eternity with God means no more mourning, crying, nor pain or death anymore! What a glorious promise! Can I get a HALLELUJAH for these realities this Easter morning!?! Gods’ people ought to be praising him! *Pause*

But we’re not done yet! There are still more reasons to rejoice in God’s authoritative announcement. Not only are all these things true about your identity in Christ, let’s talk about how…

  1. God’s pronouncement leads to your calling

Because of what Christ has done, your identity has been transformed. And as a result of your new identity, God has a particular calling on your life. You have a divinely given purpose for your life. Let’s talk about God’s calling on your life. First, you are…

  1. Called to holiness (Living out my new identity)

As we already heard, through Jesus’ transforming work, we are no longer the same. We are forgiven and redeemed. Which means, we must put off the old ways of living, the ways that were defined by sin.

 

Colossians 3:5 (ESV)

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

These old ways are not appropriate for us as children of God! Instead, we are told that we must set our aims higher:

1 Peter 1:14–16 (ESV)

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

God’s standard for us is holiness. Forsaking sin and temptation in pursuit of righteousness. One of the ways the Bible talks about this process is, as we already heard, putting off the old ways and then putting on the new ways:

Colossians 3:12–13 (ESV)

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Putting off/on brings to mind getting changed out of clothing. I put off the old and put on the new. I’m simply living out my new identity as a forgiven, justified child of God.

This language implies that we have choices to make each day about how we will live. Will you choose today to live in light of your calling to holiness or will you choose to go back to the ways of sin? I love how the perfect example of the attributes listed here in Colossians 3:12-13 is Jesus Christ. We can look to him as we seek to live it out in our own lives! Write “Living out my new identity” next to this bullet point. *Pause* Not only are we called to holiness, we are also…

  1. Called to good works (God has a purpose for me)

When Jesus rescues you from your sin, he is making it possible for you to live out your purpose on earth. Consider your calling in light of Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:4–10 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Write “God has a purpose for me” next to this bullet. When he saves you, he gives you a mission. Your life has a purpose and meaning. You are to walk in obedience to him, doing the good works that he has prepared for you. These good works include the next calling… you are called…

  1. Called to live as a witness (I am an ambassador)

God calls you to open your mouth to share the incredible things he has done for you. He wants you to proclaim his excellencies and to live in such a way that others take note. “How can you have such hope in the face of trials/suffering? How are you so patient when they treat you like that? Why do you seem to be so joyful?” Again, consider the words of Scripture on this matter:

1 Peter 2:9–12 (ESV)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

 

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Write “I am an ambassador” next to the bullet. Your mission, in large part, is to live out your identity! As  you live in light of all that God has done in and through you, you cannot help but proclaim his excellencies. Your life should be full of praising God. You should desire to help others have the same hope that you now have. And when people inevitably ask you why you’re so different, that opens up the avenue for the call…

  1. Called to make disciples (I must help others know and follow Jesus)

 

As you participate in the good works God has designed for you, which includes sharing the good news of God and salvation in Christ, then you will have the opportunity to help others know and follow Jesus. After all, this is the mission that Jesus gave his disciples:

 

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 you involved in the work of making disciples? Who are you helping to know and follow Jesus? This is the primary mission that God has given to you as a Christian. Write “I must help others know and follow Jesus” next to the bullet.

What a joy it is to help a neighbor, a family member, a friend, a co-worker to know Jesus and learn to follow him! There is no greater joy than to know that God is allowing you to be used in an eternally significant way in someone else’s life. These are the kinds of efforts that last for all eternity. You will never regret spending time making a disciple of Christ. This Easter, let’s rejoice in our calling and prayerfully recommit to it for the rest of the year! Which leads me to our final calling to consider today… God’s pronouncement leads to your calling to…

  1. Called to steadfast, abounding work (I can stand firm in my calling because God is at work through me)

 

Do not grow weary of doing good! *Pause*

Galatians 6:9–10 (ESV)

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Paul, as he reflected on the reality of the resurrection with the Corinthians, wrote the following:

1 Corinthians 15:56–58 (ESV)

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

*Pause*

Write: “I can stand firm in my calling because God is at work through me.” The knowledge that God is doing a mighty work is what empowers us to keep pressing on! Our hope is not in our own strength or ability, but in the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness. He will keep his promise. He will bring a fruitful harvest for those who persevere in doing good! Your labor of faith is not in vain! And that is a reality worth rejoicing in this Easter Sunday. All of these realities are rooted in the finished, sufficient work of Jesus Christ at the cross and in the empty tomb. In Christ…

  • I am forgiven
  • I have peace with God
  • I am a child of God
  • I have the hope of heaven
  • I am called to holiness
  • I am called to good works
  • I am called to live as a witness
  • I am called to make disciples
  • I am called to steadfast, abounding work

Can we give a shout of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord this morning for these wonderful realities? THANK YOU, JESUS!

*Pause*

As we close out our service today, we’re going to do so with a celebration of the Lord’s Table. This is an opportunity for Christians to remember all that the Lord has done for us through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. And since we’ve been laser focused on this topic today, I thought it would be a great way to end our time in celebration.

We will celebrate by partaking of both the bread and the cup as a symbol and reminder of Jesus’ body broken in our place and his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Communion is an opportunity to remember how great a price was paid so that we could be saved from our sin. It is a sobering, yet joyful celebration for Christians. Sobering that the Son of God would give himself for us as a ransom. Joyful that he did, and the result was a living hope that cannot be taken from us! Jesus is victorious; therefore, we have the hope of heaven with Him!

At this time, I’d like to invite the ushers forward with the elements.

Before we pass the elements, I want to share the biblical requirements for joining in this celebration.

This celebration was given by Jesus to his followers. It is an opportunity to remember all that he has done for us. We invite anyone who has trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation to join us in this celebration today. If your faith is not in Jesus Christ alone, then we would encourage you to let the elements pass by you and simply consider what you’ve heard so far during the service this morning and reflect on what is keeping you from trusting him. No one will judge you for not partaking.

The second requirement we see in Scripture is a call to examine ourselves. This is the idea of making sure that you’ve confessed any known sins and sought to turn away from it. It would not be wise to partake of the table if you have sin in your life for which you are not repentant. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that taking the table while living in sin is eating and drinking judgment on yourself. I would ask you not to do that, for your sake and the sake of God’s glory. Instead, I would encourage you to use this time to confess that sin and make a plan to address it right away. If you know you need to be reconciled to someone else in this church, please take care of that during this time. The table is time to protect the unity of the church.

The ushers are going to pass the elements now as we have a time of silent reflection and prayer to prepare for the table. Please use this time to reflect on all that we’ve talked about today and to prepare yourself to take communion by confessing and repenting of any known sin. After the elements have been passed, I’ll lead us in prayer and taking communion together.

Ushers pass elements

Silent prayer. Corporate prayer.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 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.”

Take bread.

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Take cup

Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!

Let’s stand and worship our faithful God together!