Sermon Recap: September 4

SERMON RECAP: SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
ELDERS DON BROESAMLE AND RALPH MILNIK
ON COMMUNION AND PRAYER

How are you loving Name Tag Sunday? One of my AWANA kids from last year made mine and it was, by far, the best name tag I've had so far. Name Tag Sunday is the first Sunday of each month and it was developed with you in mind. How often we hear, "I've been coming to this church for _____ years and people still don't know my name". Or, "I've been coming to this church for _____ years and I still don't know who ________ is". The guessing game is over, folks! More so than that, community is so precious and desired, but we understand how challenging it can be dive in, talk to someone or even ask, "How do I fit here?". Little by little, or big by big, we hope and pray for your cup to be filled over with the joy of community.

How do communion and prayer fit into how we congregate and grow as a community? Don was reading through 1 Corinthians 11 and referenced verses 23-33. As I was reading back through those verses, I was taken aback by the verse before. I know this is a long section to read, but it so adequately, to me, shares the very heart of God for His community as we congregate together in His name.

"In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.
1 Corinthians 11:17-33

Together. We grow together. When we eat or drink or gather in His name, before us is the opportunity and space to grow with one another. I also think of the verse, Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." When we walk alongside of one another, open to serving, open to being vulnerable, we are being sharpened. There is community. It's no wonder that word is so closely tied to communion.

Communion is received from the Lord.
Communion rejoices in atonement from the Cross.
Communion is Christ having drained the cup of sin and God's judgement for there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
Communion proclaims that Christ is risen.
Communion is received together.

As we congregate and grow in community, we also learn to pray with and for one another. Elder, Ralph Milnik, reminded us that when we pray, we rest our faith on God's goodness and faithfulness, not on specific results. Did anyone else think that ring was a gone-er? Geez. How often have I relied on the results of my prayers and urgency, rather than on leaning into where God is leading? Too often, friends. Too often.

What does Scripture say about prayer?

Psalm 121 says this:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Forevermore. Where is my help? Where does my help come from? Who watches over me? Who keeps watch over me? Forevermore.

So where are we headed, friends? This Saturday and Sunday, we'll have Craig Hazen with us. Craig is an author, speaker, and teacher of Apologetics. We're talking TRUTH. We'll gather in the Commons on Saturday, September 10 at 6:30, and then back again for both the 8:45 and 10:30 Sunday services on September 11. Please join us. We would love to gather and grow together, sharpening one another in truth.

If you did not fill out a prayer request card but have something you would like our pastoral staff or elders to be praying for, please email Pastor Nate Levering- nate@sierrabible.com. We're here for you.

Upcoming:
Beginning next Monday, September 12, we will be reading through the book of John together as we, together, kick off the PROOF series. John is full of miracles and we are so excited to work through this together, resting our faith in Jesus.

LifeGroups are being formed and will kick off the week of September 18. We still have groups that are open! Email myself, emilyt@sierrabible.com, if you would like to join! We'd sure love to have you.

Rooted, a 10-week deep dive book study, is also beginning on September 18. Pastor Nate Levering and wife, Kathy Levering, will be leading this group. This group will meet at the church from 4:00-5:30. Please email Nate Levering at nate@sierrabible.com if you would like to join or have questions.