Preparing for Worship 2/7

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The Sermon

This week, we are returning to our series, “According to Plan,” looking at each book of the Bible as they chronologically unfold God’s plan of redemption.  If you want to get caught up, go to the sermon archive page, or get a general sweep of redemptive history, or a more specific, book-by-book view of God’s work preparing for Christ (from the ESV Study Bible).

This week we resume the series by looking at the book of Isaiah.  Isaiah is a book of massive proportions, looking backward and forward in Israel’s history.  Through his prophet, God makes clear why judgment is coming on his people.  Yet, God is also clear that he will preserve a remnant for himself which he will save through the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ.

Consider these key texts: Isaiah 1:1-31; 6:1-13; 9:6-7; 40:3-5; 42:1–9; 49:1–6; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12; 60:1-22

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The Music

This week, the music will try to evoke the themes of Isaiah’s prophecy: the Holiness of God as the exalted King, the sin and rebellion of God’s people as they worship idols, and the grace and mercy of God who still saves a people for him.

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The Ordinance

This week, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  The Lord’s Supper was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ during his last meal with his disciples.  There he transformed the traditional Passover meal—which pointed forward to his sacrificial death—into a meal which would allow his disciples to forever remember his death until his return.  During the supper, the elements of bread and wine serve to represent the body and blood of Jesus.  By partaking of the meal, we are to “proclaim the Lord’s death” until he returns (1 Cor 11:26).

More than that, the meal expresses our fellowship with each other.  We come as the body of Christ to remember his death for us. We come together in fellowship as God’s people to celebrate our unity and salvation in him (1 Cor 10:16).  It is appropriate, then, for those who come to the Lord’s Table to examine themselves and their relationship with the Lord (1 Cor 11:28).  The meal proclaims our fellowship in the life and death of our Lord, and so we should reflect on whether or not our life is reflecting the Savior’s teachings.  Are we living in a way that will bring honor to him?  Specifically, are we living with our spiritual brothers and sisters in a way that brings him honor?

Since the supper represents the death of Christ for his people, it is not appropriate for those who are not Christians to partake.  Though, you need not be a member of this church to join us at the Lord’s Table, we do ask that only those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins partake of the Supper.

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