VIDEO: Sunday Service – April 26, 2020

Let us begin with pray:

Eternal God, we are here, yearning to know you more fully. Stay with us as we worship this day. Reveal yourself in words that are spoken, the songs that are sung, and the bread that is broken. Help us understand your truth, and embrace your life-giving power, revealed within your enduring word. In Christ’s holy name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s Scripture: Luke 24: 13-35

On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened.

While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing Him.

He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces down cast.

The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”

He said to them, “What things?”

They said to Him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of His powerful deeds and words, He was recognized by God and all people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find His body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them He is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the woman said. They didn’t see Him.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into His glory?” Then He interpreted for them the things written about Himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.

When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if He was going on ahead. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So, He went in to stay with them. After He took His seat at the table with them, He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when He spoke to us along the road and when He explained the scriptures for us?”

They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.

From my book—Christ-centered Exposition—Introduction to Luke 24

We’ve come now to the end of Luke. Luke 24 recounts the one thing on which all of Christianity stands or falls: the resurrection. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. In fact, our own Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the resurrection did not happen and we believe it did, then we are fools.

So, in a sense, everything in Luke’s Gospel builds up to this one, final miracle. Nothing that happened before the resurrection has any meaning if Christ did not rise from the grave. His virgin birth is meaningless. His perfect obedience to God is meaningless. His miracles and teaching are meaningless. Even His crucifixion means nothing if Christ remains dead, it all hangs on the events of this final chapter.

So, did the resurrection happen?

It might be helpful to remember why Dr. Luke decided to write this Gospel. He told us in Luke 1:1-4.

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

This book of the Bible was written that “Theophilus” (lover of God) might have certainty concerning the teachings of the faith. As Luke points out in the introduction, we can have certainty because Christianity is a historical faith(“Events that have been fulfilled”), a verifiable faith (“eyewitnesses”) , and a biblical faith (“servants of the word”)> Those same truths apply to the resurrection. We have historical, biblical, and verifiable evidence to make us certain that Jesus Christ is the resurrected Lord of all.

Think of watching the news over the course of a day when some major story is developing. That morning the story breaks. The reporter tells you something big has happened but they’re still gathering the details. About midday they are interviewing eyewitnesses who add detail and human interest. Maybe a suspect or a key figure has been identified. Then by the evening news they’ve managed to put together a more complete report of what has happened.

Luke 24 is like that developing news story. In verses 1-12 we get the early report of something big happening. “The tomb is open and is empty.” In verses 13-27 we find two eyewitnesses who get some background on the main subject of the story. “The Scriptures were open and fulfilled.” But also, in verses 28-35 they are able to verify the name of the person involved. “Their eyes were opened, and Jesus revealed.” In verses 36-49 there is the first-person interview with the main focus of the story. Jesus appears in person in the newsroom. “Their minds were opened, and they believe”. Finally, in verses 50-53 the story comes to its end. Then “heaven was opened, and Jesus ascended.”

Will you believe this good news? Are you open to claims of Jesus Christ?

Sermon: Break Thou the Bread of Life

My Thoughts: The minute I hear the word Emmaus—I immediately think of Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan. How Those you would expect to stop and help the one left to die—didn’t. That isn’t the case hear! Jesus comes upon the two traveling the road to Emmaus. They must have been so confused about all the events of the passed days. I can hear them saying but we had hoped He was the Christ. Jesus comes and opens up the Word to them. Starting with the beginning He shares the Word with them—opening up their minds to why everything happened the way it did.

When they get to where they are going, they invite Jesus to stay with them, and then in the breaking of the bread, Jesus is revealed. The commentary says that the bread of life mentioned here is the Word. For us we could say Bible. Yet Jesus is revealed to the travelers in the breaking of the bread, Holy Communion. It is in Jesus sacrifice we see who Jesus really is. The One who gave everything to save us from our sins and restore fellowship with God. During this time of social distancing– it is more important than ever to have relationship with God through Jesus, to keep us connected to the real source of all live, eternal life. So today are you connected? Connected through the Word of God made flesh to restore us to God and give us eternal life.

If we are connected to God and know Him through the word, and celebrate His presence in the breaking of the bread——-Than this moves us to the part where the two disciples remember the burning in their hearts when Jesus opened the Word, scriptures to them. So, does reading the Bible cause burning in Your Heart? If not start with prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit, with the Spirits presence you will find burning, movement, in the heart and soul. For the disciple this was enough to move them to Evangelism. The immediately get up and journey the seven miles by foot to the rest of the disciples and tell them all they have experienced. Does your relationship cause you to get up in front of people, even just one, and tell them what Jesus means to you. If this desire is with in you, I can say you have met the Lord. Now where will you go for Him?

I was reading that from this scripture we can see the order of worship that we use. First is the service of the word.—-Reading and preaching about the Word of God. When we read the Word of God—-we believe that Jesus is the Word of God, from John 1: 1-5, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” So, we say Jesus is the Word of God made flesh for all to see. Then we come to the Bible which we believe is the word of God. So, the question then becomes, If Jesus is the word of God—then the Bible is Jesus present with us.

Second, is the Eucharistic meal—-holy Communion—The Lord’s Supper. Here is where we see Jesus in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. In these time of social distancing the Bishop has said we can’t have communion because we need to have the assembled body. Communion isn’t something we do alone, although sometimes I feel like Jesus did this for me, It’s not just for me but for the whole world. The thing about communion that has always moved me is that the Methodist Church doesn’t say who would we give communion to, but who would Jesus give communion to. Remember He died for everyone! So, we invite anyone who knows Jesus, or would like to know Jesus through the sacrament to come to the Lord’s table.

Third, we could say this is the desired outcome of hearing the Word, and celebration Jesus’s sacrifice for us. The outcome is to go into the world as a service of worldly witness. Bringing the Word, Jesus, to all others. I would say if your reading the Word and acting upon-it, sharing the Word with others, and receiving Jesus through the sacrament, we are doing worship.

One of the contemporary songs we play on the 8:30 service, the girl sings I’m going to get my worship on. She is singing about doing this first every morning. So, an ending thought—Are you getting your Worship on?—- Then you are breaking the Bread of Life. Pastor Roy

Let Us Pray:

Our heavenly Father, in the after-mass of Jesus resurrection allow us to focus on the fact that for the believer, death is only the doorway to new life in your Son our Lord. Help us to serve the world with gladness and justice that all may feel your love now and always, and here in this world hear our prayers for those in need: Amen.

Please meditate and pray for all the prayer concerns on the list included—Amen.

Please recite Lord’s prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Hymn # 2158—Just a Closer Walk with Thee