The biblical vision of our church during 2021 is “The Year of the Gospel.” The observance of the Lord’s Supper vividly captures the four points of the gospel message as presented by the apostle Paul, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (Point 1), and that He was buried (Point 2), and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (Point 3), and that He appeared…(Point 4)” (1 Corinthians 5:3-5a). Nothing we do in the ministry as a church more clearly displays the truth of the gospel message that Jesus died for our sins than receiving and eating the broken bread and drinking the cup of Christ’s suffering. The bread shows the broken body of the Lord who suffering by way of the cross in our place. The cup represents the Lord’s shed blood that was poured out for the remission of our sins. By observing the Lord’s Supper we all become preachers of the gospel message.
 
There is an important point that Jesus conveyed to His disciples that we sometimes miss. After the first Lord’s Supper meal in the upper room when Jesus had finished serving the meal, He said, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). The apostle Paul added to what Jesus said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). While the bread and cup proclaim the death of Jesus for our sins, the ongoing observance of the Last Supper demonstrates His continued appearance among those who believe in Him. Every time we eat the bread and drink the cup, Jesus appears one more time in our fellowship together. He shows up again through our shared faith. We feel His risen presence and see His sacrifice for us because we are faithful to His command. How is it possible to deny the truth of the gospel when His people time after time continue what He began for over 2,000 years. The gospel is not only something we preach. It is also something we participate in and continue to demonstrate through the Lord’s Supper.
 
The apostle Paul added a feature to the Lord’s Supper observance which calls for our attention.  He said, “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks judgement to himself if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29). This applies to personal sin in our lives that should be confessed and forgiven before partaking in the Lord’s Supper. The Bible tells us to “…confess our sins and He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Observing the Lord’s Supper motivates us to once again ask for and receive personal renewal and recommitment to our daily walk with Jesus.
 
When Paul said these words to the church at Corinth, he was talking to a church that was out of fellowship because of factions and convicts between believers. He was admonishing the church family to drop their contentions and forgive one another before eating and drinking the elements of Christ’s sacrifice. Everything about the Lord’s Supper displays the sacrifice Jesus made to reconcile us all to God. We should do everything we can to be reconciled to one another, especially during the observance of the Lord’s Supper.

How is it possible for anyone to carry and grudge while eating the symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood?

As we observe the Lord’s Supper this morning, let’s strive for unity and fellowship being reconciled to God and to one another.

 
The Deacon Body expresses gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s continued blessings keeping our church family safe and free from serious physical complications related to the COVID 19 virus. We rejoice with you in our return of in-person worship and ministry this past Sunday morning. It was good to welcome 72 of our people back to renew fellowship and corporate ministry together. We were blessed to have 3 guests join us on site during the worship hour. We continue our praying for and trusting in God’s protecting presence to keep us safe and well during these days of continued resistance to the COVID 19 virus.
 
As you pray about how you will continue to serve the Lord these days, please allow the Deacon Body as spiritual leaders within our church family to encourage you to remain diligent in:
 

• Regularly Washing and Sanitizing your Hands
• Wearing your Mask
• Staying Separated by the Recommended Distance

 
We do not believe these sensible recommendations violate individual rights or freedoms. These are prescribed solutions that work and keep people well. These are no different than taking a prescribed medication for an illness or maintaining distance from others when you have a cold. This is not a matter of infringement, but simply a way to serve the health needs of others. The Bible says, “…with humility of mind regard one another as more important that yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:2-3). Let others know how much you love them by taking care to follow these simple but important principles.
 
We desire for everyone to feel at home when they worship and serve the Lord at Grace. If you feel hesitant to return to in-person worship, or uncomfortable following the recommendations given above, please continue to worship in fellowship with your church family through our online worship gathering. You can register your presence with us each week online by simply sending a text or making a comment. We would love to hear what you have to say and what God is saying to you through His word. This present difficulty caused by COVID is not ultimate. It will pass and we will be back to our regular routines and practices when it is safe and reasonable to do so. Until then, let’s keep our church family in unity, working together for the glory of God and the building of His kingdom at Grace.  

This morning my sermon on the gospel as God’s power is taken from Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is first and foremost a gospel of POWER.
 
What kind of power do we have in the gospel?
 
Paul says it is God’s power.  Imagine that. When we have the gospel, we have the power of God.
 
I spent some time this week attempting to learn more about the power of God. I will preach to you today the details of what I learned about the character and quality of God’s power, but I want you to have these scripture passages for you own study and reference. I have listed them below so you can put them in your Bible:

• Gospel Power Created the Universe and All that is – “God made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom…”  (Jeremiah 10:12-13)
• Gospel Power Reveals Who God is – “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power, and divine nature. So, they are without excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)
• Gospel Power Raised Jesus from the Dead – “…For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12).
• Gospel Power Gives Us Hope – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
• Gospel Power Works Within the Believer – “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)
• Gospel Power Reigns Forever – “And they said, ‘WE give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.’” (Revelation 11:17)

 
When Paul says that the gospel is the power of God, we believe that God’s amazing power has come to work in all those who believe in Jesus. It works within Christ’s church. It is the power that causes unbelievers to be saved. It involves them in partnership with all that God is doing in the world today. God’s power is not like the world’s power, “He that is in you is greater than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God’s power is the only power that can transform people into God’s children. The truth is, we possess the only real and lasting power there is because we belong to God. All other power lacks sufficient energy to meet the spiritual desires and most basic needs of life, liberty and right standing before God. Our nation and our world today are in desperate need of gospel power that comes directly from God.
 
When you know Jesus and claim Him as your personal Lord and Savior, you have a right to exercise God’s power through your practice and sharing of the gospel of Jesus. Let others see Jesus in you. That’s real power!

​As I watched the events of Wednesday unfold, I saw the Christian Flag limp and dragging the floor being carried into the Senate Chamber. Later on, I saw a flag with the name JESUS carried casually around outside the Capital Building. Sometime later, I saw a tee shirt worn by somebody with the emblem of a Bible worn over a chubby belly with the words "Holy Bible" on the front. Seeing those words and emblems in that context seemed out of place and somewhat strange. I have been thinking about these images since Wednesday.
 
A question comes to my mind every time I go back and reflect on what I saw. The question is,
 
"Would Jesus be a part of an insurrection?"
 
Every time I think about it, the same answer comes to mind, "Yes, He would."
 
Jesus participates in insurrection, because He has already participated in them, but not the way you might think.
 
Don't forget about the first coup attempt when the angel Lucifer decided he wanted to replace God in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:9). Now, if you believe in the preexistence of Jesus (Colossians 1:17), and I do, Jesus had to be a part of God's take-down of the devil and the devil's removal from the portals of glory. Jesus participated in the clean-up after Satan along with his minions were thrown out. Jesus was the remedy, not the cause.
 
Then, as if the devil didn't learn his lesson, he tried it again when he tempted Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Satan led an insurrection in creation by attempting to overthrow what God had commanded Adam and Eve to do (Genesis 3).
 
Remember what God did?
 
He threw the serpent out of the Garden along with Adam and Eve. He placed an angel at the front gate with a flaming sword in his hand to guard His garden and the tree of life so nobody could ever again usurp His authority. Yes, Jesus was there and participated once again in casting Satan down and putting him in his place.
 
The New Testament is full of Jesus throwing Satan out of places and people. The devil always tries to take over. Jesus cast demons out of people 12 times during His ministry. He commanded them, once He foiled their takeover attempt, to keep quiet about it. He sent a bunch of them into a herd of pigs that committed suicide jumping over a cliff and into the sea (Matthew 8:28-32). Mary Magdalene had 7 demons that Jesus cast out making her whole again (Luke 8:2). Jesus did not participate in the take-over side of Satan's insurrections. Instead of insurrection, He made the restoration and clean-up side happen. He put back together what Satan tried to tear apart.
 
The most profound hostile takeover attempt of Satan was when the angry mob, believing and acting on the blatant lies of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin counsel saying Jesus was an imposter. The crowd screamed and clamored to Pilate in their hate filled rebellion, "Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!" Jesus let them have their way. He laid down his life as a ransom for many (1 Timothy 2:6).
 
They along with the devil thought their coup attempt was a success, but not so. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave once again cleaning up the overthrow that Satan had tried. The tomb is empty. Sin and death is no more and ole "Mister Nasty" is once again thrown down.
 
Yes, Jesus has a place during an insurrection. The Bible is welcome. The Christian Flag belongs wherever hostile takeovers take place. These are not a cause. They are the answer to insurrection. Jesus is a reconciler, a peacemaker, a redeemer who cleans up the mess, calms the waters and restores order. Jesus fixes the chaos and hatred and bloodshed that insurrection leaves behind.
 
One more point. The apostle Paul confessed that insurrection is a daily problem in his own soul. He does not do what he knows he should do, and then he turns around and does the very things he knows he should not do (Romans 7:18-20). Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?" Paul, needs help cleaning up the rebellion and insurrection in his own life. Listen to His victory confession, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus wins! His life is saved! The rebellion is over and through Jesus his soul is no longer controlled by chaos.
 
Man! When it comes to insurrection, I want to be on the Jesus side of it. Satan, and chaos, and insurrection have no chance when Jesus is there.
 
Pastor Mike