Note: This is un-edited captioning. It has NOT been proofed or corrected.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

FEBRUARY 4, 2007

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE 10:45 WORSHIP SERVICE AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

IF YOU ARE VISITING WITH US WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND TO YOU A SPECIAL WELCOME, AT THE END OF EACH ROW YOU WILL SEE THE RED BOOK OF FELLOWSHIP. 

PLEASE FILL OUT AND PASS TO THE END OF THE AISLE.

ISAIAH HAS WRITTEN HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THEY WHO PUBLISH PEACE, WHO BRING GOOD TIDINGS OF GOD, WHO PUBLISHES SALVATION, MOSES TO ZION, YOUR GOD REIGNS.

MR. WILKES:  I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT SCOTT SAID AND WELCOME YOU TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY IN EPIPHANY.

THE HYMN IS NUMBER 15.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.  

WIGGLE TIME:  CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A SPECIAL DAY THAT IS COMING UP IN A WEEK AND A HALF?

THAT'S RIGHT, VALENTINES DAY.

DON'T GET TOO EXCITED ‑‑ IF IT EVER HAD CANDY IN IT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

I CAN AT LEAST TALK ABOUT VALENTINE'S DAY.

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS DAY?

IT IS NOT SOMEBODY ELSE'S BIRTHDAY.

WHAT DO WE DO ON VALENTINE'S DAY?

WE SHOW LOVE.

THAT IS GREAT.

AND LUKE WAS SAYING SOMETHING ‑‑ WE GIVE THANKS, WE SEND CARDS, WE SEND LETTERS TO PEOPLE.

THERE IS NOT EVEN A SMELL IN THE VALENTINE'S BOX ANY MORE.

WE SEND CARDS AND LETTER TO SHOW THAT WE LOVE THEM AND CARE ABOUT THEM.

WE TAKE VALENTINES TO SCHOOL, AND KINDERGARTEN, AND PRESCHOOL.

WHAT IS YOUR HEART, ANYWAY?

IT IS A MUSCLE AND IT PUMPS BLOOD THROUGH YOUR BODY AND IT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST. 

SO SOME OF YOURS IS NOT QUITE AS BIG AS SOME OF OURS NOW, BUT IT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST, AND IT PUMPS BLOOD ALL THROUGH THE BODY, AND IT WEIGHS LESS THAN A POUND.

HAVE YOU HEARD SOMEBODY SAY I LOVE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART?

HAVE YOU HEARD THINGS LIKE THAT? 

AND WE SEND CARDS SOMETIMES THAT ARE SHAPED LIKE HEARTS?

SOMETIMES NOW, SOME OF OUR HEARTS ARE SHAPED ‑‑ THEY HAVE DINOSAURS AND RACE CARS.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE THAT SAYS "BE MINE."  

AND YOU KNOW JESUS TALKED A LOT ABOUT HEARTS, AND HE URGED PEOPLE TO LET HIM COME INTO THEIR HEARTS, AND HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES ONCE TO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS MATTHEW 6.

FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO. 

SO YOU LEARN TO LOVE THINGS AND THEY ARE THE THINGS THAT APPARENT IN YOUR LIVE.

WHERE IS YOUR HEART?

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

YOU LOVE GOD, YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHERS AND DADS, YOUR FAMILY, YOU LOVE YOUR HOME, OTHER PEOPLE.

THE RIGHT KIND OF THINGS.

CHILD:  YOUR PETS.

YES, YOU LOVE YOUR PETS.

AND THEY ARE GOOD THINGS, THE RIGHT KIND OF THINGS.

NOT BAD THINGS THAT WILL HARM YOU. 

SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING WHEN WE HAVE OUR PRAYER SO YOU WILL REMEMBER TO KEEP THESE GOOD THINGS IN YOUR HEART OR IN YOUR MINDS ‑‑ WHENEVER YOU THINK OF THESE.

SO LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.

DEAR GOD, HELP US TO LOVE GOOD THINGS IN YOUR WORLD.

AMEN.

GOOD MORNING.

BOTH OF OUR SCRIPTURES THAT ARE LISTED IN YOUR BULLETINS MAY BE FOUND IN YOUR PEW BIBLE, IF YOU PREFER TO FOLLOW ME THROUGH THE READING.

PSALM 138 IS ON PAGE 541 IN YOUR PEW BIBLE.

JOHN 2:1‑11 IS ON PAGE 923 IN YOUR PEW BIBLE.

STAND PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING.

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE?

>>I CAN BE LOUD.

>>YOU ARE NOT THAT LOUD.

CWF SUNDAY CIRCLE MEETS NEXT SUNDAY AT 9 A.M. IN THE CAFE.  IT IS NOT ON THE CALENDAR YET, SORRY, BUT COME JOIN US.

CHRISTINE:  MANY OF YOU WERE HERE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND HEARD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. 

THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT THE CHILDREN ARE SPONSORING THEIR MISSION PROJECT.

WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER VALENTINE CANDY BAGS TO TAKE TO OUR SHUTINS, AND FOR BROWN AND FOR THE SHELTER.

SO IF YOU CAN COME WEDNESDAY NIGHT, BRING A BAG OF CANDY TO HELP THE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PROJECT.

THANK YOU.

>>WELL, THE BROWN ACADEMY PROJECT IS NOW SO SUCCESSFUL I NEVER GO ANY PLACE WITHOUT A YELLOW LEGAL PAD IN MY HAND.  AND I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO GAIL RICH WHO HAS 

RESTOCKED THE BROWN BUCKS STORE, THE MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM AT BROWN WHICH HELPS WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR AND LEARNING.

WE HAVE MORE CHILDREN WHO NEED ANGELS.

A CHILD WENT TO SEE MRS. BURKE AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH HER PRIVATELY AND SHUT THE DOOR AND HE SAID, "MRS. BURKE, I AM NOT HOMELESS, BUT COULD I HAVE ONE OF THEM ANGELS?  CAUSE I DON'T HAVE NO PANTS THAT FIT ME VERY WELL."

SO.

WE NEED MORE ANGELS FOR CHILDREN AT BROWN.

OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM BEGINS ON TUESDAY WITH 70 CHILDREN COMING.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

AND THAT WOULD BE TUESDAY AFTERNOON BEGINNING AT 3:30.

I WILL BE SITTING IN THE VESTIBULE AFTER CHURCH.

I WILL BE SITTING THERE WITH MY LEGAL PAD IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER.

THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE TUESDAY MORNING BOOK STUDY, WE ARE STUDYING MAX LUCADO'S BOOK.

JOYS ‑‑ ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

GAIL ‑‑ I THINK I WAS SITTING ON MY HANDS.

MY JOY IS FOR THE GENEROUS OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND GENEROSITY THAT YOU SHARED WITH US ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM MY EARNEST APPEAL FOR FUNDS TO STOCK THE BROWN STORE.

WITH YOUR GIFTS I HAVE THUS FAR, AND I AM NOT FINISHED SHOPPING, GOTTEN 298 GIFTS FOR THE STORE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE RAISE FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT?

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WE GOT $495.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, FOLKS.

OTHER JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

CONCERNS ‑‑ EVERYONE HAS SEEN LADY LAKE, FLORIDA, AND WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. 

I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY THERE. 

ALL OF MY FAMILY IS FINE, BUT A LOT OF PLACES THAT I HAVE SEEN AND WALKED THE STREETS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED IN A LOT OF WAYS.

>>A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF OURS WROTE ME AN E‑MAIL THIS WEEKEND AND SAID HER NIECE, A LITTLE GIRL NAMED GRACIE, A 6‑YEAR‑OLD, HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA.

>>PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR?

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER:  

LET US PRAY:   WE COME TO YOU THIS MORNING, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, SEEKING GRACE.

WE COME TO YOU TO BE REMINDED OF YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

WE COME TO YOU TO BE REMINDED THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING GOOD ENOUGH, THAT WHATEVER OUR FLAWS, OUR INCONSISTENCIES OR FAILURES, YOU LOVE US.

AND IT IS REALLY YOUR OPINION THAT MATTERS MOST, REMIND US OF THAT ALSO.

WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT PLACES ON OUR FAITH JOURNEY, AND WE THANK YOU THAT YOU RECEIVE US WHERE WE ARE, AND YOU WALK AT OUR PACE, AND YOU DO NOT FORCE OR PUSH US TO BE ANYWHERE EXCEPT WHERE WE ARE, OR WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

O GOD, WE HAVE TO ASK THAT YOU FILL US WITH GRACE SO THAT WE MIGHT BE GRACIOUS ONE TO ANOTHER.

THAT YOU MIGHT TAKE FROM US ANY MEANNESS OF SPIRIT, THAT YOU MIGHT TRANSFORM OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MIGHT REACH OUT IN LOVE TO ALL PERSONS.

FOR NO ONE IS UNLOVABLE IN YOUR EYES, THOUGH SOMETIMES THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR US. 

REMIND US DAILY OF HOW MUCH YOU CARE FOR YOUR CREATION.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE, TO BE YOUR PEOPLE.

HELP US TO NEVER SHY AWAY FROM THAT CALLING.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS DUE TO WEATHER, DUE TO PERSONAL CRISIS, WHETHER THEIR FAULT OR NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

REMIND US ALL THAT YOU ARE PRESENT.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP THAT WE MIGHT LET GO OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE WEIGHED US DOWN THIS WEEK.

AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THE CALLS TO HAVE PRAYER THAT WE SAY TOGETHER BOLDLY.

(THE LORD'S PRAYER IS PRAYED)

NOW IS OUR TIME OF OFFERING.

LET US ALWAYS REFLECT ON THE GENEROSITY OF GOD. 

SO LET'S NOW GIVE GENEROUSLY SO WE MIGHT EXTEND THAT GENEROSITY TO THOSE OUTSIDE THESE WALLS.

LET US PRAY:

OPEN OUR EYES AND OUR HEARTS O LORD.

THAT WE MIGHT SEE YOUR GOODNESS IN US AND ALL AROUND US. 

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

MESSAGE: 

I REMEMBER WHEN I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WHAT JESUS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE WAS MORE EXCITING AND SCANDALOUS THAN THE MEEK AND UNEXCITING JESUS THAT MANY PEOPLE IN CHURCHES SPEAK ABOUT.

I WAS YOUNGER AND I REALLY STARTED STUDYING THE BIBLE AND I REALIZED THE RADICAL DOCUMENT THAT I HAD IN MY HANDS, THAT IT WAS A DOCUMENT THAT COULD ACTUALLY REALLY DESTROY RELIGION.  I REMEMBER READING FOR THE FIRST TIME WHERE JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE.

JESUS USED HIS POWER NOT ONLY TO HEAL, BUT TO ENCOURAGE THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE STORY ITSELF THAT MADE ME CHANGE THE WAY I THOUGHT ABOUT RELIGION AND WHAT JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT.

I WAS STARING AT THAT PASSAGE, THIS PASSAGE THAT LUTHER READ THIS MORNING FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, AND I DISCOVERED THE MEANING OF SOMETHING I HAD NEVER NOTICED BEFORE. 

IT WAS A BRIEF PHRASE, A SMALL TINY DETAIL OF THE STORY, BUT IT KNOCKED ME OVER THE HEAD.

I WANT TO READ THOSE WORDS AGAIN FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, FROM THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION:

THREE DAYS LATER THERE WAS A WEDDING IN THE VILLAGE OF CANAA IN GALILEE.

JESUS' MOTHER WAS THERE.

JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE GUESTS ALSO.

WHEN THEY STARTED RUNNING LOW ON THE WINE AT THE WEDDING BANQUET, JESUS' MOTHER TOLD THEM, "WE ARE ABOUT OUT OF WINE."

AND JESUS SAID, "IS THAT ANY OF OUR BUSINESS, MOTHER, YOURS OR MINE?  THIS ISN’T MY TIME, DON’T PUSH ME.”
SHE WENT AHEAD ANYWAY, TELLING THE SERVANTS, “WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU, DO IT."

SIX STONE WATERPOTS WERE THERE USED BY THE JEWS FOR RITUAL WASHINGS.

EACH HELD 20 TO 30 GALLONS.

JESUS ORDERED THE SERVANTS TO FILL THE POTS WITH WATER AMD THEY FILLED THEM TO THE BRIM.

"NOW FILL THE PITCHERS AND TAKE THEM TO THE HOST," JESUS SAID, AND THEY DID.

WHEN THE HOST TASTED THE WATER THAT HAD BECOME WINE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT THE SERVANTS DID.

HE CALLED OUT TO THE BRIDEGROOM, "EVERYBODY I KNOW BEGINS WITH THEIR FINEST WINES AND AFTER THE GUESTS HAVE HAD THEIR FILL BRING IN THE CHEAP STUFF BUT YOU HAVE SAVED THE BEST FOR NOW."

THIS ACT IN CANAA OF GALILLEE WAS THE FIRST SIGN THAT JESUS GAVE, THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF HIS GLORY AND HIS DISCIPLES BELIEVED IN HIM.

HOW IS THAT FOR A WEDDING GIFT?

SIX HUGE JARS FILLED WITH THE BEST WINE.

JOHN SAID THAT THESE STONE JARS COULD HOLD BETWEEN ABOUT 120 TO 180‑GALLONS OF WINE

WHICH WOULD FILL OVER ABOUT 2,000 4‑OUNCE GLASSES.

THAT IS A LOT OF WINE.

MUST HAVE BEEN SOME PARTY.

I MEAN, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THE MIRACLE BUSINESS!

BUT IN ORIGINAL GREEK THE WORD TRANSLATED “MIRACLE” IN VERSE 11 IS REALLY THE WORD “SIGN.” 

A POINTER TOWARD THE TRUE NATURE OF JESUS’ MESSAGE AND MISSION.

THE MIRACLE ISN'T JUST ABOUT PROVIDING WINE TO THIRSTY GUESTS, THERE IS MORE GOING ON HERE.

I NOTICED SOMETHING IN VERSE 6 THAT I NEVER NOTICED BEFORE, AND IT CHANGED FOREVER THE WAY I THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS.

JESUS DIDN'T USE ORDINARY WINE JARS.

HE DIRECTED THE SERVANTS TO USE THE SACRED CONTAINERS SET ASIDE FOR RELIGIOUS RITUAL.

ONE OF THE TRADITIONS OF SOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS OF THAT DAY, ESPECIALLY A POWERFUL GROUP THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF, THE PHARISEES -- WAS REGULAR RITUAL HAND CLEANSING.

THEY WOULD DIP THEIR HANDS IN THE SACRED WATER TO SYMBOLIZE A DESIRE TO REMAIN PURE FROM THE SIN OF THE WORLD. 

SO I STARTED THINKING, WHY WOULD JESUS USE THESE SACRED JARS FOR THE WATER‑TURNED‑INTO‑WINE MIRACLE?

I MEAN, THERE HAD TO BE OTHER CONTAINERS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THAT WINE.

I MEAN, THEY HAD RUN OUT OF WINE AT THIS PARTY, THERE HAD TO BE EMPTIES TO HOLD THE WINE ‑‑ WINE JARS, WINE JUGS, WINE BOTTLES, WINE KEGS, WINE SKINS, WHATEVER THEY HAD JUST BEEN USING, RIGHT THERE, WAS EMPTY.

WAITING TO BE FILLED ‑‑ SO WHY USE THE STONE JARS?

WHY USE THOSE SACRED SYMBOLS OF RELIGIOUS TRADITION?

WHY DO SOMETHING INTENTIONALLY AND POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE?

I HAD TO OWN UP TO THE TRUTH AS WE ALL DO THAT THROUGH HIS FIRST MIRACLE JESUS INTENTIONALLY DESECRATED A RELIGIOUS ICON, A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL.

HE PURPOSEFULLY CHOSE THE SACRED JARS TO CHALLENGE THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM BY CONVERTING THEM FROM SYMBOLS OF RELIGIOUS PURIFICATION INTO SYMBOLS OF RELATIONAL CELEBRATION.

JESUS TAKES US FROM HOLY WATER TO WEDDING WINE, FROM LEGALISM TO LIFE, FROM RELIGION TO RELATIONSHIP.

THE CHURCH CAN ONLY BE A CONDUIT OF GOD'S OUTRAGEOUS LOVE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF IT STOPS BEING CONCERNED ABOUT ITS REPUTATION.

THE ONLY REPUTATION THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH IS TO HAVE THE ONE THAT JESUS HAD.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS UNPRECEDENTED LOVE BY THOSE WHO WOULD RECEIVE IT AND SCORNED FOR HIS IRRELIGIOUS ATTITUDE BY THOSE WHO WOULD NOT.

IT SHOULD BE THE SAME WITH US SINCE WE ARE THE CORPORATE EXPRESSION OF THIS VERY SAME JESUS.

JESUS' RELIGIOUS REPUTATION WAS TARNISHED IN THE EYES OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE HE DID NOT HONOR MANY OF THEIR RELIGIOUS TABOOS OF HIS DAY.

AMONG THE RELIGIOUS JESUS’S REPUTATION WAS DISHONORABLE, AND JESUS WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT HIS REPUTATION BECAUSE HE WAS FREE.

HE WAS ABOUT LIFE.

HE WAS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

AFTER I READ THIS STORY IN THIS NEW WAY I KNEW I HAD TO LET GO OF MY RELIGIOUS ASSUMPTIONS AND LET THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE BE WHO HE REALLY WAS AND IS, AND NOT WHAT TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF CHURCH HISTORY SAID HE SHOULD BE.

WHAT IF GOD, WHAT IF GOD WAS TO MAKE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE ON OUR PLANET?

AND WHAT IF GOD CAME TO OFFER US AN ASTOUNDING MESSAGE -- THAT AS FAR AS GOD IS CONCERNED, RELIGION HAS OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS, IF IT EVER WAS USEFUL?

WHAT IF GOD TOLD THE WORLD THAT RELIGION COULD NOT HELP US GET CLOSER TO HIM, BUT WAS MORE OF A DISTRACTION THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

WHAT IF GOD MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WAS HAPPY TO HAVE AN INTIMATE, LOVING RELATIONSIHP WITH EACH ONE OF US AND TO HELP US HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT RELIGION TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS?

WHAT IF GOD TOLD US THAT RELIGION IS HURTING MORE THAN IT IS HELPING THE PLANET, AND IT IS TIME TO SHUT THE WHOLE THING DOWN?

WOULD THAT DISCOURAGE YOU OR INSPIRE YOU?

AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ACTUALLY DID OCCUR, DON'T WE?

WE BELIEVE HE MADE AN APPEARANCE ON EARTH IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, BUT CHIEFLY THROUGH THE HISTORICAL FIGURE OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, AND THAT HIS MESSAGE WAS THAT GOD DESIRES TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OF US, MINUS OUR HUMAN ADDICTION TO RELIGIOIN THAT ONLY SEEMS TO GET IN THE WAY.

AND MANY OF THOSE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, LIKE THE ONES WHO SET UP THE PURIFICATION JARS AT THE WEDDING, MANY OF THEM, WHO BECAME AWARE OF THIS MESSAGE, FOR THE MOST PART WERE THREATENED BY THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER, AND THEY FOUGHT TO ELIMINATE THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER.

WHEN JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE USING THOSE JARS, HE WAS OFFERING US A NEW WAY THAT WE COULD ENCOUNTER GOD.

HE WAS CREATING THIS NEW TEMPLE AND THIS NEW TEMPLE WASN’T A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, BUT RATHER A LIVING COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE MAKE UP THE BRICKS, OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER BECOMES THE MORTAR, AND RELATIONSHIP REPLACES REQUIRED RITUAL SYMBOLS.

WHAT HE CAME TO DEMOLISH IS WHAT SO MANY OF US WANT TO HANG ON TO ‑‑ RELIGION.

CURIOUSLY WHEN JESUS CAME PREACHING AND TEACHING HE NEVER USED THE WORD RELIGION TO DESCRIBE WHAT HE CAME TO ESTABLISH.

JESUS CALLED PEOPLE TO WHAT?

TO FAITH, AND FAITH IS A RELATIONAL WORLD MEANING TRUST.

HE CALLS EVERYONE INTO A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, TO HIM, AND THAT WORKS ITS WAY OUT IN OUR DAILY LIFESTYLE CHOICES.

DOES THIS MEAN IT IS WRONG GOING TO CHURCH?

ACCORDING TO JESUS IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT AT ALL.

IT DOES MEAN, THOUGH, THAT GOING TO CHURCH DOES NOT SUM UP WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW JESUS AND HAVE FAITH IN HIM.

THE VISION OF THE CHURCH AS JESUS INTENDED WAS SIMPLY A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS COULD GATHER TOGETHER REGULARLY TO LEARN TO GROW AND TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN OUR PURSUIT OF TRUTH.

I PASSIONATELY DESIRE THAT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH BECOMES FOR PEOPLE A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY WHERE WE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND THEN TURN AND INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN US.

I BELIEVE THE ANTIDOTE TO ORGANIZED RELIGION IS NOT DISORGANIZED RELIGION, BUT ORGANIZED IRRELIGION.  A PEOPLE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING AN IRRELIGIOUS MESSIAH.

AT FIRST CHRISTIAN LET US BE WILLING TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO LIVE OUT THIS RADICAL MESSAGE OF JESUS.

LET'S BE A JESUS KIND OF CHURCH, A CHURCH WHERE THE ONLY QUALIFICATION FOR FELLOWSHIP IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY AND THIRSTY, AND SOMETHING SOMEWHERE DEEP DOWN TELLS THEM THAT THE FOOD AND WATER THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IS TO BE FOUND IN THE OUTRAGEOUS, THE RECKLESS LOVE THAT FLOWS IN AND THROUGH ALL OF US, THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST JESUS.

WHAT A STORY.

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID.

AMEN.

OUR HYMN OF INVITATION, HYMN OF REFLECTION IS HYMN NUMBER 348.

IF YOU WISH TO BEGIN THAT JOURNEY WITH JESUS IN THIS CHURCH, I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD.

I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD IN THE SINGING OF THIS HYMN.

WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE SCOTTIE AND JAKE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN FOR TRANSFERRING THEIR MEMBERSHIP FROM FIRST CENTENARY.

DO YOU CLAIM YOUR FAITH FROM JESUS CHRIST AND DO YOU WISH TO JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH?

>>YES.

>>YOU MAY BE SEATED.

NOW WE COME TO OUR TIME OF COMMUNION.

THIS TABLE IS OPEN TO ALL WHO ARE SEEKING GOD.

WE DO THAT IN VARIOUS WAYS.

BUT THE LORD IS OPEN TO ALL AND HE IS THE ONE WHO INVITES YOU ‑‑ FOR GOD ULTIMATELY KNOWS OUR HEARTS.

LET US SHARE OUR CONFESSIONS TO GOD WHO CALLS US SILENTLY.

LET US PRAY.

WE GIVE THESE THINGS THAT WEIGH US DOWN TO YOU.

FOR YOU HAVE THE POWER, AND THAT POWER THAT CLEANSES US IS YOUR LOVE FOR WHICH WE ARE GRATEFUL.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. 

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST JESUS WE OFFER.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING HYMN NUMBER 428.

FOR I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO HANDED TO YOU ON THE LORD THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID, "THIS IS MY BODY AND I GIVE IT TO YOU.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

AND THE WAY HE TOOK THE CUP ALWAYS AFTER SUPPER SAYING THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. 

DO THIS AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

O GOD WE COME IN THANKSGIVING TO THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AROUND THIS TABLE.

WE GIVE SPECIAL THANKS FOR THIS BREAD FROM THE EARTH BROKEN IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE BROKEN BODY OF CHRIST. 

WHAT WAS THE BREAD OF LIFE THROUGH THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

MAY WE HAVE LIFE NOW AND FOREVERMORE. 

FOR THIS WE GIVE OUR GRATEFUL THANKS.

DEAR FATHER, THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO CARRY DEEP SINS, SIN OF SUCH MAGNITUDE THAT IT IS DEEP WITHIN OUR SOULS AND IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM OTHER AS WELL AS OURSELVES.

IT WAS THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST WHO PRAYED ON THIS TABLE.

HELP US TO KNOW [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] WE CAN HERE.

THAT WE CAN HEAR TO ALSO BE RECOVERED.

THAT WE CAN HEAR TO ALSO BE RESTORED THROUGH YOUR LOVE AND POWER.

TO THIS KING DAVID WAS DELIVERED FROM HIS SIN.

THEREFORE WITH THE TAKING OF THIS CUP, BRING TO GOD WHAT IS SECRET IN YOUR HEART FOR HE KNOWS IT ALREADY.

BE THOROUGHLY IMMERSED IN HIS BLOOD, BE WASHED CLEAN, BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RENEWING OUR RELATIONSHIP OF ONENESS WITH GOD JUST AS IT MUST BE LIKE TO BE IN HEAVEN.

AMEN.

LET US PRAY:   OUR HYMN IS NUMBER 610.

PLEASE STAND.