OceanSide church of Christ
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THE LORD’S
DAY:
Coming Back to
Center
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Life is busy,
exciting, disappointing, hectic, and challenging.
1.
From day-to-day
hundreds of things come our way that demand our time and
attention.
2.
Sometimes these things
have a tendency to distract us from those things that are important and
eternal.
B.
Each Lord’s Day we
have the opportunity to come back to center.
1.
We assemble together
as the church (Acts 20:7).
2.
Our eyes are taken off
the world and are turned heavenward (John 4:24).
3.
We engage in five
“acts of worship” that remind us, center us, and establish us in things that are
essential for the inner man.
C.
In this lesson, we
want to look at the acts of worship and show how they assist us in coming back
to the center.
I.
SINGING
A.
In most congregations,
the first act of worship involves the entire church in singing songs of praise
without instrumental accompaniment.
1.
Psalm
100:2b
…come
before his presence with singing.
2.
Hebrews
13:15
By him
therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the
fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
3.
Colossians
3:16
Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.
B.
Our singing springs
from a heart of joy.
1.
We praise God for who
He is.
2.
We laud Him for what
He has done.
3.
We extol him for the
precious promises to which we have to look forward.
II.
PRAYER
A.
After one or two
songs, there is usually an opening prayer.
1.
I Thessalonians
5:17
Pray
without ceasing.
2.
I Timothy
2:8
I will
therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and
doubting.
B.
Prayer is our means of
communication with God.
1.
Prayer re-establishes
our relationship with God.
2.
Prayer is an
acknowledgement of our dependence on God.
3.
Prayer enables us to
thank God for His blessings.
4.
Prayer allows us to
bring our cares, concerns, anxieties, and problems to the One who really cares
and is in complete control.
III.
PREACHING
A.
After several songs
and a prayer, the preacher usually comes forward to deliver his
lesson.
1.
Acts
20:7
And upon
the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and he continued his speech
until midnight.
2.
Acts
2:42
And they
continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking
of bread, and in prayers.
B.
That which is to be
preached is the Word of God (II Tim. 4:2).
I charge
thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
doctrine.
C.
When God’s Word is
preached:
1.
We are reminded of our
divine mission (Mark 16:15-16).
2.
We are encouraged to
live sober, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:11-12).
3.
We are strengthened in
our faith (Rom. 10:17).
4.
We are comforted in
our affliction (I Thess. 4:18).
5.
We are armed with a
means of fighting sin (Ps. 119:11).
6.
We are reminded of the
precious promises of God (II Peter 1:3-4).
IV. THE LORD’S
SUPPER
A.
Following the sermon,
we prepare our minds to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
1.
The early church
assembled upon the first day of the week to “break bread” (Acts
20:7).
2.
Paul delivered this
practice to the church at
For I have
received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus
the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake
it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this
do in remembrance of me. After the
same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the
new testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
B.
What is more central
to our Christianity than the death of our Lord Jesus
Christ?
1.
We are reminded of God
great love for us (
2.
We are reminded of the
Lamb of God who was slain in our stead (II Cor. 5:21).
3.
We are reminded of the
body that was hung upon the cross and the blood that flowed from our Lord’s body
(Matt. 26:26-29).
4.
We have the
opportunity not only to look back, but to look inwardly to examine ourselves and
forward toward our Lord’s return (I Cor. 11:26-29).
V.
GIVING
A.
Closely following the
Lord’s Supper is our opportunity to give.
1.
This is not part of
the Lord’s Supper.
2.
It is done after the
Lord’s Supper solely as a matter of convenience.
3.
I Corinthians
16:1-2
Now
concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churche
of
B.
Our giving is a love
and faith response to what God has done for us. It is our sacrifice in response to His
great sacrifice.
1.
It is a cheerful
return of what God has bountifully given us.
2.
It is a demonstration
of our thanksgiving for God’s blessings.
3.
It is a manifestation
of our concern for the Lord work and our desire to see it
progress.
4.
It is a revelation of
how much of ourselves we are willing to give to the Lord.
CONCLUSION
A.
Worship can be
considered a duty, but it is much more than that.
B.
The Lord’s Day
assembly helps us to focus upon the things that should be central in our lives,
the things that we have a tendency to forget as we wrestle with the affairs of
this life.
C.
When this time of the
week is understood and appreciated, we will say as David: I was glad when
they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Ps.
122:1).
THE LORD’S DAY: Coming Back to
Center
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Life is busy, exciting, disappointing, hectic, and
challenging.
1.
From day-to-day hundreds of things come our way that demand our time and
attention.
2.
Sometimes these things have a tendency to distract us from those things
that are eternal.
B.
Each Lord’s Day we have the opportunity to come back to
center.
1.
We assemble together as the church (Acts 20:7).
2.
Our eyes are taken off the world and are turned heavenward (John
4:24).
3.
We engage in five “acts of worship” that remind us, center us, and
establish us in things that are essential for the inner
man.
C.
We want to look at the acts of worship to see how they assist us in
coming back to the center.
I.
SINGING
A.
In most congregations, the first act of worship involves the entire
church in singing songs of praise without instrumental accompaniment (Ps.
100:2b; Heb. 13:15; Col. 3:16).
B.
Our singing springs from a heart of joy.
1.
We praise God for who He is.
2.
We laud Him for what He has done.
3.
We extol him for the precious promises to which we have to look
forward.
II.
PRAYER
A.
After one or two songs, there is usually an opening prayer (I Thess.
5:17; I Tim. 2:8)
B.
Prayer is our means of communication with God.
1.
Prayer re-establishes our relationship with God.
2.
Prayer is an acknowledgement of our dependence on
God.
3.
Prayer enables us to thank God for His blessings.
4.
Prayer allows us to bring our cares, concerns, anxieties, and problems to
the One who really cares and is in complete control.
III.
PREACHING
A.
After several songs and a
prayer, the preacher delivers his lesson (Acts 20:7; Acts
2:42).
B.
That which is to be preached
is the Word of God (II Tim. 4:2).
C.
When God’s Word is
preached:
1.
We are reminded of our
divine mission (Mark 16:15-16).
2.
We are encouraged to live
sober, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:11-12).
3.
We are strengthened in our
faith (Rom. 10:17).
4.
We are comforted in our
affliction (I Thess. 4:18).
5.
We are armed with a means of
fighting sin (Ps. 119:11).
6.
We are reminded of the
precious promises of God (II Peter 1:3-4).
IV.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
A.
Following the sermon, we prepare our minds to partake of the Lord’s
Supper.
1.
The early church assembled upon the first day of the week to “break
bread” (Acts 20:7).
2.
Paul delivered this practice to the church at
B.
What is more central to our Christianity than the death of our Lord Jesus
Christ?
1.
We are reminded of God great love for us (
2.
We are reminded of the Lamb of God who was slain in our stead (II Cor.
5:21).
3.
We are reminded of the Lord’s body and his blood that flowed from it
(Matt. 26:26-29).
4.
We have the opportunity not only to look back, but to look inwardly to
examine ourselves and forward toward our Lord’s return (I Cor.
11:26-29).
V.
GIVING
A.
Closely following the Lord’s Supper is our opportunity to
give.
1.
This is not part of the Lord’s Supper.
2.
It is done after the Lord’s Supper solely as a matter of
convenience.
3.
I Corinthians 16:1-2
B.
Giving is a love and faith response to what God has done for us, a
sacrifice in response to His great sacrifice.
1.
It is a cheerful return of what God has bountifully given
us.
2.
It is a demonstration of our thanksgiving for God’s
blessings.
3.
It is a manifestation of our concern for the Lord work and our desire to
see it progress.
4.
It is a revelation of how much of ourselves we are willing to give to the
Lord.
CONCLUSION
A.
Worship can be considered a
duty, but it is much more than that.
B.
The Lord’s Day assembly
helps us to focus upon the things that should be central in our lives, the
things that we have a tendency to forget as we wrestle with the affairs of this
life.
C.
When this time of the week
is understood and appreciated, we will say as David: I was glad when
they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Ps.
122:1).
THE LORD’S DAY: Coming Back to
Center
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
___________ is busy, exciting, disappointing, hectic, and
challenging.
1.
From day-to-day hundreds of things come our way that demand our time and
_____________.
2.
Sometimes these things have a tendency to ______________ us from those
things that are eternal.
B.
Each Lord’s Day we have the opportunity to come back to
________________.
1.
We ______________________ together as the church (Acts
20:7).
2.
Our eyes are taken off the world and are turned ___________________ (John
4:24).
3.
We engage in _________ “acts of worship” that remind us, center us, and
establish us in things that are essential for the inner
man.
C.
We want to look at the acts of worship to see how they assist us in
coming back to the center.
I.
SINGING
A.
In most congregations, the first act of worship involves the entire
church in singing songs of praise __________________ instrumental accompaniment
(Ps. 100:2b; Heb. 13:15; Col. 3:16).
B.
Our singing springs from a heart of joy.
1.
We praise God for who ________
______.
2.
We laud Him for what He has ______________.
3.
We extol him for the precious ___________ He has given unto
us.
II.
PRAYER
A.
After one or two songs, there is usually an opening prayer (I Thess.
5:17; I Tim. 2:8)
B.
Prayer is our means of ________________________ with
God.
1.
Prayer re-establishes our ____________________ with
God.
2.
Prayer is an acknowledgement of our __________________ on
God.
3.
Prayer enables us to ___________________ God for His
blessings.
4.
Prayer allows us to bring our cares, concerns, anxieties, and problems to
the One who really ___________ and is in complete
____________________.
III.
PREACHING
A.
After several songs and a
prayer, the preacher delivers his lesson (Acts 20:7; Acts
2:42).
B.
That which is to be preached
is the _______________ of God (II Tim. 4:2).
C.
When God’s Word is
preached:
1.
We are reminded of our divine __________________ (Mark
16:15-16).
2.
We are encouraged to live sober, righteous, and ____________ lives (Titus
2:11-12).
3.
We are strengthened in our faith (Rom. 10:17).
4.
We are comforted in our _____________________ (I Thess.
4:18).
5.
We are armed with a means of fighting _________ (Ps.
119:11).
6.
We are reminded of the precious promises of God (II Peter
1:3-4).
IV.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
A.
Following the sermon, we prepare our minds to partake of the Lord’s
Supper.
1.
The early church assembled upon the ________ day of the week to “break
bread” (Acts 20:7).
2.
Paul delivered this practice to the church at
B.
What is more central to our Christianity than the death of our Lord Jesus
Christ?
1.
We are reminded of God great ________________ for us (
2.
We are reminded of the _____________ of God who was slain in our stead
(II Cor. 5:21).
3.
We are reminded of the Lord’s ________ and his ___________ that flowed
from it (Matt. 26:26-29).
4.
We have the opportunity not only to look back, but to look _____________
to examine ourselves and forward toward our Lord’s __________________ (I Cor.
11:26-29).
V.
GIVING
A.
Closely following the Lord’s Supper is our opportunity to
give.
1.
This is __________ part of the Lord’s Supper.
2.
It is done after the Lord’s Supper solely as a matter of
convenience.
3.
I Corinthians 16:1-2
B.
Giving is a love and faith response to what God has done for us, a
____________ in response to His sacrifice.
1.
It is a cheerful return of what God has bountifully given
us.
2.
It is a demonstration of our ____________________ for God’s
blessings.
3.
It is a manifestation of our concern for the Lord ___________ and our
desire to see it progress.
4.
It is a revelation of how much of __________________ we are willing to
give to the Lord.
CONCLUSION
A.
Worship can be considered a duty, but it is much more than
that.
B.
The Lord’s Day assembly helps us to ____________ upon the things that
should be central in our lives, the things that we have a tendency to forget as
we wrestle with the affairs of this life.
C. When this time of the week is understood and appreciated, we will say as David: I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Ps. 122:1).