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 Corinth just as he had received it of the Lord (I Cor. 11:23-26).

 

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 (Rom. 5:8-9).

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 Galatia, even to do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

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 Corinth just as he had received it (I Cor. 11:23-26).

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 (Rom. 5:8-9).

                              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 Corinth just as he had received it (I Cor. 11:23-26).

               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 (Rom. 5:8-9).

                              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).