Our great God, You have so captivated our hearts again that it is difficult to contain our praise And these are just little tastes of the glory that is to come. We love to sing of redemption. We love to sing of how you've rescued us from our sin. We love to sing of the righteous one, Jesus Christ. We love to rejoice in all that he is for us. And as inadequate as our understanding is, as unskillful as we are, In putting together our words of praise, we must do it. And we long for the day when our minds and souls and tongues will be perfectly united. And it will all be perfectly clear and perfectly powerful and perfectly suited to you. We give you our praise this morning that you are the living, loving Savior. Father, there are some here this morning whose hearts are just dead within them. some who've never assented to the truths that are now precious to us. And it still seems a mystery to them that this is a strange, if not bizarre thing that happens week in and week out. And for their sakes, we pray that you would make their hearts alive in Christ and to Christ. That they would recognize that Sin is deadly, and yet there is a gift of eternal life that comes by faith, through grace, can never be earned. It's found in Christ. It comes to us through Him. And even this new life, this eternal life that we've been given, it all goes back to Him. And I pray, Heavenly Father, that you'd have mercy this morning and may this be the day where that soul that is presently dead because of sin would be made alive. We also know that there are brothers and sisters who carry weights that are extremely heavy. And the pressure that they live under has squeezed every last drop of strength from them and they are here, but just unable to enter in today because they're exhausted. And we pray that you would show your kindness to them and refresh and renew them and put your strength into their hearts again and settle their minds. bring them assurance and help and hope. And I ask that you would lift up the hands that have fallen in this place and that you would strengthen the feeble, that the weak ones who honestly can't go on, you would carry in your arms even as you've promised in your word. For those who have lost sight of you just because life is so busy, hectic and chaotic, would you capture their attention anew this day? And may they see Christ. in His infinite glory and His infinite worth so that the things that have occupied their attention and become more precious to them, at least functionally, would be set in their proper perspective and that Christ would be all and in all again to them. Spirit of God, we're praying for your divine assistance. You are the instructor. You're the hope of those who are not skilled to understand what God has willed for us and planned even on this day. And as we open the Word, we're mindful that The truth here is spiritually discerned. So we're not bringing our intellect to you. We're not even bringing our highly trained skills and educational background into this time. We are bringing an absolute dependence upon you and praying that you would open our hearts to receive all of your truth as you have it for us today. And we pray spirit of God that you would skillfully lead us right into the presence of Christ so that this table that we celebrate today. And even though the serving of bread is very small and the cup that holds this powerful symbol of his blood in itself is very small. We pray that there would be just a powerful experience of hope in Christ, of faith that our sins are in fact forgiven, that an eternal covenant has been signed and sealed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that He Himself is preparing a great feast table in His Kingdom that every believer will enjoy one day. So please make Christ real to us. and make our salvation real anew. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen. Open your Bibles to Luke 22, please, Luke 22. And I want you to find verse 19. That's page 882 if you're using one of our Pew Bibles. I want to begin in Luke 22. Actually, let me begin reading in verse 14. It will serve us, I think, to read the entire paragraph, but for our specific consideration, verses 19 and 20 this morning. And when the hour came, he reclined at table and the apostles with him. It is the hour of Passover in particular. And Jesus says, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise, the cup, after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. Today, we remember Christ. We come to the table nearly every month. Sometimes it may be more than a month that elapses, but we come together for the Lord's Supper, as we call it. It is the Lord's table or even communion. And though we are not continuing to plow through the series on who we are, I want to make sure that we are connecting this table to everyday life. There's a man seated at the table with the Lord and the disciples the night of this scene right here, and he he will not actually partake in what we've just read, but he's been there. And it's interesting to me to consider the life of Judas and how he walked with Christ and yet seemingly is able to compartmentalize so many parts of his life. He doesn't connect Christ to every part of his life as he needs to. And ultimately it leaves him open, susceptible to this most heinous act of betraying the Christ that he walked with. He's so skillful at fitting in, speaking as he ought to, ordering his life as disciples order their lives, that these disciples really do not know who this betrayer is that Jesus speaks of. They are troubled by this. I'm concerned that we as a body of Christ can hear the Word taught and even assent to it when we come into a meeting like this and yet not connect Christ Himself and His truth to every aspect of life. You can't compartmentalize any part of your Christian life. It's all under His Lordship. It all falls into the category of worship and service. And I don't want this beautiful and often familiar observance to become vain tradition for us. Our Lord doesn't want what He has done by giving His body and shedding His blood to become a simple ritual or tradition. So actually what I want to do is take this Lord's Table and in particular the texts 19 and 20 and connect it to some things that we've worked through in recent weeks. We've had ongoing discussion as a congregation who we are. We're a God-blessed, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered people. The little phrase that has developed in the course of this series is that a God of grace is doing a work of grace and a people of grace to create a culture of grace. And this is not the ultimate culture of grace. The ultimate culture of grace comes at the end of the age and will endure forever. But even now we're enjoying astonishing benefits that He has blessed us with. We want to draw lines of application right into the most practical areas of life. And we've covered some of those and we spent time looking at particular areas. We draw lines of application from our Lord, who he is and what he has done right into our sin. It's what allows us to deal with sin seriously. Yet it also removes the fear of dealing with our sin seriously, because we know that at the center where we began to draw that line of application toward our sin, dealing with it seriously, is a Christ who is gracious. He deals with our sin graciously, and so we deal with the sin of one another graciously, don't we? We looked at even some practical applications of modesty and music, and it's all connected to Christ. did a speedy run through Ephesians. Remember that? Connecting Christ, the cornerstone, to marriage, to parenting, to our business ethic and practice. And so every line that you draw in Christ is drawn with Christ as the starting point. And let me just blow through some of those things I just said. You know what? You can barely see those lines that are going out. I should have strengthened those. But all of life, and there are many other aspects, it all goes back to Christ and is connected to Him. Every line is shaped by the person and Word of Christ. You have to give consideration to who He is, what is He like, and then you also have to give consideration to what He has said, because His Word is truth. But it's Christ's Word. It's Christ's character. Very practically, let me run you back to something. And I'm coming to this table, all right? So I'm trying to connect your modesty and my modesty to the bread and the cup that we're going to share in just a moment. How do we draw the line of modesty? Well, we began with Christ and we considered that He is holy and He is humble. And we ran through a number of scriptures. They're not all printed there or projected there for you, but nonetheless, considering that in His earthly existence from the time He was born, swaddled in those cloths that were typical of every baby born at that age. It wasn't royal attire, but it was holy attire. It was certainly humble attire. We looked at who Christ is. Then what do we read from him? Well, Christ himself calls us to dress modestly. And even beyond the physical attire, remember from 1 Peter 5, verse 5, he calls us to clothe ourselves in humility. It's all connected to him. So we draw a line, and even with respect to modesty, based on the person and word of God, and we might even summarize it this way. We dress modestly because Christ is holy and humble, and I ran out of some room there. He teaches us. to be modest. His word tells us that. But what happens to us? How does that line, and in particular the line of modesty, become blurred? And there are all kinds of lines, remember, radiating from Christ into all of life for us. How do those lines gradually become blurred? I wanted to illustrate this for you because as I've meditated on this, I've been thinking to myself, I think it happens incrementally. It happens, first of all, as we assume Christ. We just assume Christ. We sang about Him all morning long. We talk about Him. We're here in church. Our kids are going to get in Sunday school. We're going to probably get another lesson on Christ. And then Monday through Friday, there is either less talk or very little talk about Christ. And from that you move into your application or your tradition itself becoming the focal point. But what is happening, and it happens inadvertently, unintentionally very often, but that begins to eclipse Christ and then finally you forget Christ. Functionally, how does this happen? It may look something like this So we we begin by teaching we dress modestly because Christ is holy and humble and his word is clear Christ is at the center and and one of the lines of application runs out to modest attire but look at this next phrase and See how we are assuming Christ when we say well we dress modestly because that's what the Bible teaches and that is true, isn't it and But if we don't go back frequently enough, what is happening? Well, the modest attire is still clearly in focus, but... There's a little bit of a shadow that starts to creep across Christ. He's not explicitly named. We dress modestly because that's what the Bible teaches. What's the next step? Well, now Christ is moving a little bit to the edge. Modesty is in clear relief there. But we dress modestly because we have always been taught that way. Oh, we're assuming that we have been taught that from the Bible, but now we're not explicitly stating it's Christ at the center and it's Christ's Word, but we're just assuming we've all got Christ and, you know, He's still there, but He is gradually being eclipsed. We dress modestly because it's an important part of our tradition. You know, modesty is an important part of the Mormon tradition. It's an important part of Jehovah's Witness tradition. Well, that's not what we're talking about. Well, if that's not what we're talking about, then what's the difference? We need to back up, don't we? But the shadow creeps even further across Christ. Modesty is still clearly evident. Haven't made any significant changes there. But then we say, well, we dress modestly because it's right. And it is, isn't it? Christ is all but eclipsed at this point, and ultimately we end up with, well, we just dress modestly. Not sure why. Not sure anymore if it's just a matter of our tradition or there's something more significant with it. And what will the coming generation see? That's all. That's a little bit of an overstatement. I mean, I don't think we're close to this. No, I don't either, but you know the way we protect against that? You remember Christ. You remember Christ. Peter calls us to remember. Turn to 1 Peter with me, please. This is just one example of how so many times through the Scriptures we are taught in this way. 1 Peter 1 and look at verse 13. That's page 1014 if you're using a pew Bible. Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." We've encountered that before. Remember going back? That's Leviticus. It's the law. Different application in that age, wasn't it? Yes. And now the truth is still universal. It has not changed, but there can be a little different application of that. But notice what Peter is doing. You also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy. And if you call on him as father, who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves, live your life with fear throughout the time of your exile, not afraid that God's going to get you. But you do live in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. He is the one before whom every one of us will give account. But look at this, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot, the lamb we sang of, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. You want to know why you have to live a holy life? You want to know why you have to be careful about all of your conduct in life? It's not because of our tradition. It's not because it's simply the right thing to do. It's because there is a Christ in heaven who shed his blood to purchase you. And Jesus is calling us to remember. So Peter draws a line from the precious blood of Christ right into your everyday living. And I really do believe that that is where Christ is taking us. So go back to Luke's Gospel with me, please. Again, page 882, if you happen to lose your place there. Luke 22, verse 19, Jesus took bread When He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, ìThis is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.î Beloved, I donít want us to compartmentalize our lives because it is not enough that you come in and we all look neat and clean and smell pretty good today and probably have been speaking fairly politely, at least since we got out of our cars, came in here. But you can't compartmentalize your life. Come in here and say, oh, we love Jesus. Oh, it's so wonderful that He gave His body for us. Yes, Lord, I take this wonderful symbol of His broken body and I eat it. Oh, praise Jesus. And then check out for another week. What bearing does the broken body have upon the clothing that you're wearing today? What bearing does the broken body have on the forms of entertainment that you are engaging in? Or even the amount of entertainment that you're engaging in? What bearing does the broken body of Christ have on the way you speak to your spouse or to your child? Or the way you honor your parents? What bearing does the broken body have on all of life? Jesus goes on, likewise the cup after they had eaten saying, this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. We know it's a covenant that speaks of forgiveness and where Christ's blood has been shed. There is there is complete forgiveness offered. What bearing does the shed blood of Jesus Christ have upon the attire you wear the entertainment you engage in the relationships of life. Does it have any bearing for you this morning. Or can you come to this table and eat and drink and then walk away and erase the line in between? Jesus says, do this in remembrance of Me. Beloved, every line of life is drawn from Christ. Has to be. Has to be. But even more specifically, I want you to meditate on this. Every line of my life is and must be drawn through the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Is there a way that we can attire ourselves so that at least, at minimum, this is not a contradiction of the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. That would be the minimum. I don't know how to draw a clear line short of printing words on my attire that quotes Bible verses or things like that. And some people do that, and that can be okay. But at minimum, external should not contradict the broken body and shed blood. At minimum, the words that come out of my mouth, that I speak to my wife, to my children, those who are closest, should not be a contradiction of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. In their maturity, that would be minimum standard, but a mature believer is actually going to speak words that do what? Minister grace to the hearer. That's what we're taught. But that comes right out of our Savior. Are you tracking with me that you see there's more to this than just, well, the Bible says. I'm all for what the Bible says, but I'm for what the Bible says, because ultimately it's what Christ says. The Pharisees believed what the Bible said, and they killed Jesus. That's the ultimate example of compartmentalization. God, help us. God, guard us from so compartmentalizing our life. God, guard us from compartmentalizing this table. Do you know the beauty of this? One other thought that's just been in my heart. There are actually just so many things that are dear about this table to me. This table is prepared for people who know they're sinful. This table is prepared for people who know they've blown it, they've failed, that they're just not going to make it in life. Now, no, you don't come here carelessly saying, it doesn't matter, since it's for sinners, I don't have to worry about my sin. No, you come with a broken heart, repenting of your sin, confessing, but it nonetheless is for people just like that who are, in fact, broken by their sin and say, if I don't have Jesus, if I don't have a substitute Savior whose body was broken instead of mine, And if I can't find a sacrifice that God would really accept, and now I have one, the shed blood of the Lord Jesus is the demonstration that He is the sacrifice that God has perfectly accepted. But if I don't have Him as substitute and sacrifice, I have no hope. This table is for you. And when you hold that little bread and that little cup in your hand again, it is intended to remind you of how great your Savior is. So we do this in remembrance, not merely a memorial act. Oh, let's all think about Jesus now and the great things He did. No, but to set our hearts and say, oh, Lord, take me back to Christ lest I live my life in all of the right ways and yet not connected to Christ. And you can do that and in the end lose everything. The Lord has given us signs. He's given his people signs all through history. He gave Noah a sign that he would never destroy the earth again by flood. And the sign is the rainbow. He gave Israel the Passover. Roasted lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs. Those were very meaningful for signs that they had been delivered from bondage, brought out of Egypt, a mighty rescue. Those are signs. And you know, he's put a sign in your hand this morning. a sign of his broken body, and a sign of his shed blood. Why? To grow your faith, to mature it, to assure you, but to remind you, Christ is all. So today, we remember. And it is an active remembrance. Remember Christ. I want to ask our elders and deacons who will be serving to come and prepare the table.