HoHum:
Bring children up front and do this children’s minute with them:
I am sure that you all know the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” I want you to help me sing that song this morning. While we sing it, I’m going to hold this light up and let it shine all around. (Start to sing the song, but stop when you notice that the light isn't shining.) I wonder what is wrong, my light isn't shining. (Someone will probably notice that it isn't plugged in.) Oh, here's the problem, my light isn't plugged in. (Plug the light in)
Now that we are plugged in, let’s try it again. (Sing) Oh, that was much better. The lamp was shining brightly, wasn't it? It's pretty hard for a light to shine when it isn't connected to the power source, isn't it? Well, actually, it isn't just hard -- it's impossible!
In the Scripture read by Eli (or Cody), Jesus told his disciples a story to teach them the importance of staying connected to him. Of course Jesus didn't use a lamp to tell his story, because electricity hadn't even been invented yet. Instead, Jesus used an example that his disciples would understand. He used the example of a vine. You know what a vine is, don't you? It is a plant with a lot of branches growing out from it. The branches have fruit on them. If it is a grapevine, the branches should have grapes on them.
Have you ever seen a branch that has been broken off of a tree or a vine? What happens to it? That's right, it withers up and dies. Can it made any fruit? No, it isn't any good for anything.
Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, you will have much fruit, but apart from me, you can do nothing." Jesus wants us to produce a lot of fruit. Good fruit like being kind, generous, and faithful. Most of all, he wants us to love others as he has loved us.
Can we do that on our own? No way. Just as the lamp must be plugged in before its light can shine, and just as the branches must be connected to the vine before they can produce fruit, you and I must stay connected to Jesus to produce the good fruit that God expects of us.
(http://www.sermons4kids.com/true_vine.htm)
WBTU:
An elderly woman was being conducted through a great cathedral in Europe. The guide spoke of its beauty of design, calling attention to the statues and painting. The woman was unimpressed. At the conclusion of the tour she asked the guide, “How many souls have been saved here this year? How many people come to worship God here?” “My dear lady,” said the guide, “this is a cathedral, not a chapel.” That’s the trouble. We have too many cathedrals and too few chapels.
Christ “is the head of the body, the church”- Colossians 1:18. What this picture is trying to make us see is that the church is like a human body in all its parts, with the head representing Jesus Christ and the rest of the body from neck to toes representing the church.
Thesis: This head to body relationship is telling us 3 things
For instances:
Our relationship to Christ is one of submission.
Jesus Christ is the leader, the one in authority.
This headship submission relation between Christ and the church is clearly talked about when Paul says that “Christ is the head of the church, his body” and “the church submits to Christ”- Ephesians 5:23-24.
Ephesians 1:22-23: And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. We might think that Paul is talking about how the head is the home of the brain, which controls much of the body’s functioning. While this is very true, Paul probably means when he says “head” as to “authoritative ruler” in these verses.
Jesus and Jesus alone is the final authority for all things relating to the church.
He exercises this authority through his apostles and prophets, whose teaching comes to us in the form of the NT Scriptures. Since these writings are in effect the very words of Christ our head, they possess the absolute authority of Christ himself.
John 16:13-15: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
Therefore, the church is submitted to Christ as its head only to the degree that it is obedient to His Word.
The church is the instrument through which Christ the head fulfills his mission upon the earth.
His mission was to “seek and to save what was lost”- Luke 19:10, to draw all men to himself- John 12:32, and to bring them abundant life, John 10:10, through the power of his death and resurrection.
But just as in the human body the plans and purposes devised by the head (the mind) can be carried out only by the other body members (as in the feet and hands), so also the mission of Christ can only be accomplished as the members of his body, the church, obey his orders.
Why do we have a body? Main reason is to carry out the desires and orders of our head.
1 Corinthians 12:27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. As we the members of the body exercise our Spirit given talents, the head is carrying out his own purposes through us.
Casting Crowns- But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going?Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way
The sign up sheets for 2012. Last year signed up for Christmas caroling. Last year we didn’t have the Appreciation Dinner in February. Maybe there are some things that the Lord does not want us to do because He has not gifted anyone to do that, but more often those who are gifted don’t sign up and don’t participate.
Two main things that I know I have been gifted to do:
Preach and teach- 1 Corinthians 9:16: Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Mercy- Romans 12:8: if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Woe to me if I bury my gifts for any reason. Matthew 25:28-29: Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
The church is the body of Christ means that we receive our sustenance and life through Christ the head.
Ordinarily in the human body all the food and liquids that nourish and sustain us enter into us through the mouth, which is part of the head.
Likewise the church maintains its own life and strength and continues to grow only when it remains in close union and fellowship with Christ its head.
We must ever be in connection with “the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow”- Colossians 2:19.
This same idea is found in the image of Christ as the vine and individual Christians as the branches attached to him. Make reference to John 15:1-6 that was read earlier in service.
The silence of the congregation partaking of the Lord’s Supper was suddenly broken by a loud exclamation. A 5 year old girl was watching that passing out of the bread and juice and asked her mother is she could take some. Her mother said that she was not old enough to take some. With this the little girl blurted out so all could hear: “But I’m so hungry!” Some people giggled and smiled at this. However, it brings up a good thought. “Do we have such a hunger for God? Is there in our own lives any deep longing for the sustenance that is in Christ alone?”
How do we remain in Christ? Vs. 7- If you remain in me and my words remain in you
If you remain in me- talking about plan of salvation. Have Christ in us
My words remain- this is talking about studying, reading, and memorizing the word.
From this we know Christ’s commands and are enabled to obey them. John 15:9-10
Focusing on Christ and his sacrifice that are talked about in the Word. 1 John 2:24-25: See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. Communion is alluded to here.
From this we are enabled to love others. John 15:12-13
Can we do good things without all of this? Yes, but we will not produce “fruit that will last”- John 15:16.
Depending on how frequently we fly, we may know this drill by heart. It’s part of every flight attendant’s monologue covering safety procedures at the beginning of a flight. If the oxygen masks come down, make sure you secure your mask before helping others. The reason for such an instruction should be obvious: we can’t help anyone if we pass out. If we are not healthy spiritually how can we move beyond ourselves and invest in others?
Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Augustine- You have made us for yourself, and our souls are restless until they rest in You.
