Prayer

1. Song All people that on earth do dwell (Psalm 100)

 

Introduction

 

Announcements

Welcome everyone at our annual Thanksgiving service.

After the service you are invited to be a part of the fellowship and thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving service is not a normal service.

It’s a service in which we express our gratitude to God for His blessings, protection, love, faithfulness and for everything He has done this year.

As we look at various areas, we will also sing various hymns that focus on Christ as the greatest gift to this world.

 

Thanksgiving Message

But life is God’s gift to us, and He wants us to enjoy it and use it for His glory. So, instead of complaining about what you don’t have, start giving thanks for what you do have—and be satisfied!”

Warren W. Wiersbe

Thanksgiving expresses gratitude to God for his care and concern, especially shown through his redemptive acts.

We should not do it out of legalism.

Giving thanks:

 

• Shifts your focus from you to God.
• acknowledges God’s Sovereign and providential control.
• gives God credit.
• serves as a form of praise to God for who He is and what he has done. The term closely tied:
• Barakh =To bless

 

Deuteronomy 8:10 LSB

¹⁰ “And so, you will eat and be satisfied, and you shall bless Yahweh your God for the good land which He has given you.

 

Todah = thanks coming from the verb to praise (yadah)

The Greek for give thanks = Eucharisteso thankful, grateful, well pleasing BEDAG =to express appreciation for benefits or blessings. It shows gratitude and appreciation to a person.

Your admiring God, respecting Him, esteeming Him, and valuing him when you give thanks.

Its recognizing: that everything you have, you have received from God.

 

1 Corinthians 4:7 LSB

For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

It’s recognizing that apart from the Lord you can do nothing.

 

John 15:5 LSB

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

At its root it means to delight in God’s grace towards you

When should you give thanks to the Lord?

 

Psalm 92:1–2 LSB

It is good to give thanks to Yahweh and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, In the middle of the night.

 

Psalm 119:62 LSB

At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous judgments.

When we eat.

1 Timothy 4:4–5 LSB

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

When you pray

 

Colossians 4:2 LSB

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

 

In everything you do

 

Colossians 3:17 LSB

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Always

 

Ephesians 5:20 LSB

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.

What should you be giving thanks for?

For the fact that God is good.

 

Psalm 107:1 LSB

Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His loving-kindness endures forever.

 

For His Steadfast Love

Psalm 107:8 LSB

Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His loving-kindness, And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

For His deliverance in times of distress.

 

Psalm 107:13–15 LSB

Then they cried out to Yahweh in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their bands apart. Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His loving-kindness, And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men!

For His Healing

 

Psalm 107:20–22 LSB

He sent His word and healed them and provided them escape from their destruction. Let them give thanks to Yahweh for His loving-kindness, And for His wondrous deeds to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and recount His works with joyful singing.

For His sovereign control of life.

Psalm 107:29 ESV

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. For creation

 

1 Timothy 4:4–5 LSB

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Romans 1:21 LSB

For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Application

Why don’t you turn to the person next to you and praise and give thanks to the Lord for?

• His goodness
• His steadfast love
• His deliverance
• His control
• His creation

Thanksgiving is the condition in which life is to be enjoyed.

The Psalmist stated you are to enter through the temple courts with songs of thanksgiving.

 

Psalm 100:4 LSB

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

• The writer of Chronicles encouraged his readers to thank and praise God for His goodness and great deeds.

 

1 Chronicles 16:8–9 LSB

Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name; Make known His acts among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him: Muse on all His wondrous deeds.

• When they received bad news, they thanked God trusting that God is just.

 

Job 1:21 LSB

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.”

They thanked God for:

• His faithfulness to His covenant promises, for
• Rescuing them from their enemies

 

Psalm 30:1 LSB

I will exalt You, O Yahweh, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my enemies be glad over me.

• Rescuing them from death

 

Psalm 30:8–12 LSB

To You, O Yahweh, I called, and to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?  “Hear, O Yahweh, and be gracious to me; O Yahweh, be my helper.”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,  That my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

• For answers to prayers

 

Psalm 28:6 LSB

Blessed be Yahweh, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications.

• For compassion to the afflicted

 

Psalm 72:12 LSB

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,

The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

 

For executing justice

Deuteronomy 32:4 LSB

“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.

• For continued guidance

Psalm 32:8 LSB

I will give you insight and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

 

Isaiah 30:20 LSB

The Lord has given you bread of distress and water of oppression; He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but our eyes will see your Teacher.

How Was Thanksgiving Expressed?

The Old Testament’s worshipper’s thankfulness was expressed by:

• Shouts of joy

Psalm 42:4 LSB

These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the sound of a shout of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

• Songs of joy

Psalm 42:4 LSB

These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the sound of a shout of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

• Songs of praise

Psalm 145:7 LSB

They shall pour forth the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

• Music and dance

Psalm 150:3–5 LSB

Praise Him with trumpet blast; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals. and feasting and festivals celebrating in remembrance of God

 

2 Chronicles 30:21 LSB

And the sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day after day with loud instruments to Yahweh.

Thanksgiving was foundational for covenant life.

The law rested upon gratitude for Gods redeeming work.

God had brought them out of Egypt out of the land of slavery and made them a kingdom of priests a holy nation.

 

Thanksgiving is seen as:

• A motive for the Christian life and conduct
• A general attitude towards the blessings and trials in life
• A central component in prayer
• The context for the proper use of material things in life.

Your heart should be constantly shifting away from yourself, to thank God.

Paul introduced many of His letters in a prayer of thankfulness.

 

Colossians 1:3 LSB

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

 

1 Thessalonians 1:2 LSB

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.

 

He Thanked God for His grace given to believers.

 

1 Corinthians 1:4 LSB

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God, which was given you in Christ Jesus,

 

He thanked God for the ability to spread the gospel.

2 Corinthians 2:14 LSB

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

 

For strength

1 Timothy 1:12 LSB

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service,

 

For the faith and love among fellow believers

Romans 6:17 LSB

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over, for hearing the rapports of Christians faith in Christ and love for one another.

 

Ephesians 1:15–16 LSB

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers: For hearing of believers partnership in the gospel

 

Philippians 1:3–5 LSB

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,  because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. For the communion

 

1 Corinthians 11:24 LSB

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 Letter to the Thessalonians believers are commanded to give thanks as a lifestyle.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 LSB
Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Which simply means your sinning when you’re not thankful.

You’re to be always rejoicing, always praying and in all things giving thanks.

The reason is given as this is God’s will for you in Christ.

Thanksgiving is one of God’s ultimate goals for the human being.

Thanksgiving is also a remedy for anxiousness.

 

Philippians 4:6 LSB

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

When you’re anxious you become focused on various distracting cares

The remedy is prayer and thanksgiving.

This will turn your eyes from your problems to God.

Jesus is the best example of a thankful person. Jesus thanked the Lord for meals.

 

Mark 8:6 LSB

And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them. And He kept giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the crowd.

Jesus thanked the Father for hearing His prayers that God hides secrets from the wise and reveal it to his children.

 

Luke 10:21 LSB

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

 

• Jesus expected people to respond in praise and thanksgiving.

 

Luke 17:11–19 LSB

It happened that while He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing through Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him.  And they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it happened that as they were going, they were cleansed.  Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,  and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?

“Was there no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” You and I need to learn the importance:

• of seeing what God has done, and acknowledging it by
• and expressing thankfulness and praise for what He has done.

Application

Turn to the person next to you and list some of the things you know that is true about God that has not changed.

List some of the things God has done.

Now, spend a few minutes thanking Him for these things.

Some people walking into a field will always find the manure pile.

Don’t be that person that only focuses upon the dung heaps of life and never expresses thankfulness to God for all He is and has done.

Let us now respond in thankfulness through song.

 

2. Song: I ‘m forever grateful

I. Prayer

In the area of prayer, the Bible instructs us.

 

1 John 5:14–15 LSB

And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Prayer is part of Christian life, and we are thankful to the Lord, that we can approach His throne of grace through the work of Christ.

We began the year with a week of prayer from the 15-19 of January in which we met every evening in prayer.

Every Sunday we had prayer times from 8:15-8:45 before church.

We also had prayer on a monthly basis on a Sunday afternoon at 16H00.

Prayer requests have also been communicated via the WhatsApp groups and the bulletin.

On this I thought I would mention just one answer to prayer that has encouraged me.

This was a prayer request we had from Gennadiya 30 October.

 

Hi Karl!

There’s still no news from my brother in the front-line Kurakhove. Russians write that they occupied part of the city. I know there’s a big fight right now.

Tomorrow we are going to go with Elena to the front-line with humanitarian help and Gospel ministry. We don’t know how far we can go as Russians are moving very fast now occupying our territories. There’s not much information from Ukrainian side too. All we know is that people in the war zone suffer very much and, in their suffering, they need to know about love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now the most dangerous thing on such trips is drones. They attack every vehicle in the war zone, even civilians. We don’t have anti drones’ protection in our minivan, but we have trust in God. Please support us in your prayers! God bless you!

I let him know the 31 of October after bible study that we had prayed for him.

On the 2nd of November, he wrote this…

 

Hi Karl!

We are back home. Thank you very much for your prayers!

We had an amazing ministry with soldiers and civilians. People on the front-line are very open for the Gospel. Facing the death every minute, they ask for protection, and they want to know Jesus Christ personally. We were just in the right place to help them.

God is amazing. In the place of the road, there was a danger of Russian drones, suddenly started a heavy rain. We could safely drive and thank the Lord for His care about us.

Thank you for your prayers! He really answers prayers. He is a loving God!

 

The point I want to make is this.

Prayer is a vital tool of Grace to grow you in holiness.

 

Hebrews 4:16 LSB

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Prayer should be a constant heart attitude.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 LSB

pray without ceasing.

 

Prayer is the way you can:

 

• have fellowship with God (Psalm 27:4)
• express dependence upon God (Luke11:9-13)
• adore and praise God.
• give thanks to God (Philippians 1:3-5)
• confess your sins to God (1 John 1:9, Psalm 32:5)
• gain wisdom in navigating trials from God (James 1:5)
• empowered to be his witness.
• gain freedom from anxiety and fear (Philippians 4:6-7)
• means of bringing about heart change in your heart and the hearts of others.
• means of engaging in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:18)
• Means of bringing about change in people’s lives (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
• have more laborers in the harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38)

3. Song: Great is the Lord He is holy and Just

We now will focus upon the churches outreach: which is a proclamation of Christ and the works he had accomplished.

              II. Outreach

We were able to share the gospel with several visitors and also had the privilege of welcoming 12 new members into Witbank Baptist Church from December 2023 year to now including.

1. Alex
2. Anke
3. Dewet
4. Cornelius
5. Elize
6. Gladys
7. Mandre
8. Maybeline
9. Nobuhle
10. Ogone
11. Sy
12. Rod
13. Sybil

Community outreach happened in several ways.

Every Saturday we shared the gospel with staff of various restaurants and surrounding shops in the mall.

Ewoud, Frank, Erika, Fabio, Alex, Mandre, Bongani Tshepo, and I were involved at various times throughout the year.

Frank has expanded to ministering to the spur in another shopping center.

There was also some outreach happening at Witbank hospital on some Thursdays on invitation from Dr Norman

 

Many Tuesday mornings also had an evangelistic bible study for the bush people, to who we catered with showers, and doing some maintenance related jobs at the church.

 

These targets areas can all expand depending upon the amount of church members willing to learn how to share the gospel.

      III.Worship

We have also had regular church services.

Karl was exercising oversight over it.

This year:

• Tshepo
• Nathan
• Bongani
• myself

all served as service leaders.

Leading us in on the Piano was Lucille and Kayra and Erika and Monica were lead singers.

Estiaan & Charlotte, Ewoud, and Silvia and Anke and Dewet all served on the sound desk, video recordings and presentations.

Behind the scenes Erika continues to keep us legal with regard to the copyright laws with our songs by every week filling in which songs were sung.

 

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

The Bible teaches us that the body causes the growth of the body as each person serves in a particular area.

The hospitality teams blessed the church by serving with flowers, tea duty, making eats at home, door duty, offering, preparing for the communion, and serving it.

I’ve listed those I know were involved in the hospitality teams.

The Jacque, Lucille, Frank, Juna, Remco, Ellen, Buhle & Janet, Suzette, Brenda, Derek, Elize, Thandeka, Nathan Anna, Anna Nell Magda, Suzette, Janet, Florence

If I missed anyone, the mistake is on me, but the Lord knows.

This year we also had a Sunday School class with (Magda and Anna) faithfully teaching the children.

They worked through Generations of Grace.

The Lord, however, has moved both our Sunday School teachers to another province.

4. Song Creator King

     IV.Preaching

 

2 Timothy 4:1–4 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

The expository preachers this year have been,

• We completed 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, and Daniel.
• Tshepo continued in preaching in Nehemiah.
• Riaan and Ian from Middelburg Baptist Church also preached on the pulpit for pulpit swops and filling in when needed.

The majority of sermons were also uploaded onto You Tube, and Facebook on a weekly basis.

We are grateful to the Lord for His grace in enabling men to preach expository sermons from the pulpit.

            V.Member care

 

Various classes

In May and July, we had two Discovery Classes which was attended by members and visitors.

We also had 2 Parenting equipping days as well as marriage equipping class if I remember correctly.

We also were involved in the camp with Middelburg Baptist Church, which focused on family related issues.

 

Women’s Ministry

This year the ladies had several teatime sessions/ brunch in which testimonies were shared, and various topics discussed and was well attended.

 

Men’s Ministry

We were able to have three Men’s mornings, which turned out to be a time of breakfast/brunch/braai and then to discuss various topics as well. These were well attended.

 

Bible-Study

Wednesday evening bible study happened at some of the church members homes. I led these events and Tshepo did a few.

We discussed topics on discipleship, the great commission, making disciples, ancient patterns on discipleship walking by the Spirit and other relevant topics.

We had good fellowship, worshiping, prayer and times in God’s word.

 

In The Area of Counseling

Brenda, Lucille, Jacques, and I attended an online course presented by Joel James and their staff at Grace Fellowship.

Charlotte, Sylvia and Anke I think attended some of the sessions.

Erika and I continue to be involved in counseling at the church, helping members with various areas relating to sanctification and marriage.

The sufficiency of God’s word is something we can be grateful as His words have answers for everything, we need for life and Godliness.

(The next song we will have Erika, Monika and Mandre doing a song for us. We will listen as the church.

5. Song Angels from the reams of glory

 

6. Song 1. The Servant king

         VI.Infrastructure and Operations

Behind the Scenes are also some members who have served the church with regards to infrastructure and operations.

Tshepo has helped over-seeing this area, which has led to some upgrades in financial policies and keeping track of the finances.

Several members have served like Lucille in the finances.

Maintenance and property development Frank, Rod, and Ewoud, and the Jacques

Silvia on Facebook, which has made Brenda on the web site,

Security – Jacques,

Kitchen consumables -Erika

     VII.As We Reflected on the Church as a Whole,

We have seen the Lord continue to mature and grow us as a church.

This is the second year that the church has been financially self-sustaining by the Lord’s grace.

God continues to work in our hearts, convicted us of sin, encouraged us to find hope and joy in the times of trails.

He protected us from so many unforeseen dangers.

All glory belongs to Christ.

We are truly grateful to Christ.

Without Christ, this year’s many acts of service would not have happened.

 

Application

1. You and I need to be reminded:
2. that the church is not about you and me.
3. That we live because of the grace of God.
4. That we are to live in a condition of continual gratefulness to God. That’s how life should be enjoyed to its full

1.not to focus just on you, but rather to be constantly joyful and grateful for God’s many many blessings.

The next passage serves as a reminder of the greatest gift God has given his people: the birth of Jesus Christ birth.

 

Luke 2:8–20 ESV

In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Because Jesus came to this world as savior, we have the privilege of seeing people testify of His salvation in their lives.

Pieter’s Baptism

So, this morning we have the privilege of witnessing Pieter being baptized as public witness that Jesus has in fact granted him the gift of repentance and faith.

While we go out, to prepare for the baptism, the church will sing.

 

7. Song Immanuel
8. Song 1. Who is he in yonder stall?

 

Peter in the Sermon at Pentecost, which was the start of the church, after having preached the gospel said the following:

 

Acts 2:36–38 ESV

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism

• It symbolizes outwardly what God has accomplished inwardly.
• symbolizes the believer’s union with Christ death and resurrection.

 

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus was baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

is the external sign of the believer’s union with the invisible church?

 

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

 

The mode of Baptism is through immersion.

 

Acts 8:38–39 ESV

And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Believers’ baptism by immersion is: Commanded by Christ

 

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

• a command every believer should obey.
• is a command the church should obey.
• is a visible sign of membership to the local church
• is a step of obedience
• is following the example of Christ, who was baptized in the Jordan, that He might fulfill all righteousness.
• does not save but is the external sign that someone professes to be saved. It’s my Joy this morning to baptize Pieter

 

Now Pieter, as you have expressed the desire to be baptized as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary that you answer the question I now put to you before God and this congregation.

• Pieter, have you before God repented of your sin and have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and received His forgiveness?
• Do you promise in dependence on divine grace to follow Christ, and serve him forever in the fellowship of His church?

You may now give your testimony.

Pieter, on confession of your repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord and at your request, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Mandre will now pray for Pieter.

Let’s close with this final hymn and then join us afterwards for our fellowship and thanksgiving meal.

 

9. Song 1. Joy to the world

We will now celebrate the

Communion

 

Instructions About Communion

• It was instituted by Christ, replacing the Passover feast which commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt with the Lord’s supper which commemorates Gods deliverance of Gods elect from sin, death, Satan through Christ death on the cross.
• Communion is all about remembering Christ death and resurrection for your and my sins.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

• It’s also a present proclamation of the death and resurrection of Christ today and that you believe the gospel. (About having fellowship with His body united on the doctrines of Christ’s death and resurrection)
• It’s a celebration of what unites all believers from every cultural group.

There is also an anticipation of His return that we celebrate.

 

Mark 14:25ESV

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

We practice open communion which means:

 

• If you have repented of your sin and trusted Christ as your Savior and Lord, then you’re a free to participate.
• If, however, you have not turned away from your sin and trusted and committed your life to Christ, we ask you to refrain from participating in communion as we do not want you to partake of something in an unworthy manner.
• If there are children present (we would ask the parents to use their own discretion to allow or refrain your child based on whether they are believers or not.)

 

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 ESV

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

We will now hand out the Matzo.

Now something interesting about the Matzo

Matzo symbolized the transition from slavery to freedom, from suffering to liberation.

The Jews had to leave Egypt in a hurry, without providing time for their bread to rise.

It’s like God told them to take their dough and go, the first fast food of the ancient near east.

It symbolized the haste with which the Hebrews fled Egypt.

The flat bread became an element in the Passover ritual and priestly ceremonies.

It also symbolized purity and was the picture of the Jews of redemption and freedom, leaving a life of slavery and suffering for freedom and liberty.

Was called lechem oni (poor man’s bread)

It also reminded them to be humble, and to not forget what life was like in slavery.

Jesus added a new meaning to the unleavened bread.

He stated that this represented his body.

Bread Hand out the Matzo

AS we hand out the matzo may I ask you to wait in an attitude of prayer, until all has been served so that we can all participate together as a united body.

 

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.”

 

Join with me as we eat together the Matzo which represents the body (person) of Jesus.

We remember:

• Jesus’s incarnation,
• birth,
• life of obedience
• and death and resurrection on your behalf.

and remember how Jesus saved you from slavery of sin to becoming His child.

Pray giving thanks for the Christ body sacrificed on the cross

The fruit of the vine in OT times were seen as a sign of Gods divine blessing and Grace.

 

Amos 9:14 LSB

“Also, I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the desolated cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine and make gardens and eat their fruit.

 

It also related to the return of the Jewish people to the land of promise.

Jesus however gave new mean to it became a symbol of the new covenant in Christ blood, a remembrance of Christ death on the cross for your sins.

 

Handing Out of the Cups

Once again, I would ask our helpers to hand out the cups and that everyone wait in an attitude of prayer until we all drink together.

 

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Let’s drink together of the juice that represents the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross:

• that turned away God’s wrath,
• that reconcile and redeem you.
• that purified you and provided forgiveness of sins.
• that made the way to be included in His family and have access to God.
• that you can be a part of the new covenant with its eternal inheritance
• that you are free to love and obey Christ.

Let’s drink together in remembrance of Christ blood shed for you.

Prayer, giving thanks for the forgiveness of sin, the redemption that was obtained and the reconciliation.

Let us now celebrate what the ancient Christians called the agape meal, or the love feast.

A symbol of brotherly love, fellowship, and unity among early Christians. It was a concrete manifestation of Christ command to love one another. These were joyous times of fellowship.

Biblical Illustrator Treasury:

 

1 Corinthians The Origin of the Love Feast

Christians in Paul’s day referred to the fellowship meal as a love feast or agape meal. Of course, the word agape means “God’s kind of love.” The meal, therefore, was originally intended to be more than just an opportunity for Christians to eat food together. When they sat at the tables with their brothers and sisters in Christ, they enjoyed the savory fellowship that came with being one in Christ. In the process of sharing a meal, they also shared a fresh taste of the goodness of God’s love for them.

It began at Pentecost and was a practice of the early church.

 

Acts 2:44–46 LSB

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have needed. And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

Because the church was born in Jerusalem, The Christians were mainly Jewish and were strongly influenced by the Passover meals.

The problem that happened in the Corinthian church was that it did not have the pervasive Jewish culture.

Sin crept in and instead of it being a symbol of wholesome fellowship and worship, some became drunk, and others despised the church.

 

1 Corinthians 11:18–22 (LSB)

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first, and one is hungry and another is drunk. For do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

So, if you and I want to retain something of what the early church did, one should focus on sharing in fellowship, brotherly unity, and Christian love.

So, let’s do that Now.

Let’s pray.