God’s Kingdom Has Come Near • 06.07.26
Nick Lees   -   June 7, 2026

God’s Kingdom Has Come Near

Luke 10:1-24

Understanding the gracious will of God

  1. The Lord calls and sends his ambassadors
  2. Everyone is accountable for their response to God’s kingdom
  3. A disciple’s joy ought to be in God’s grace, not God’s gifts
  4. Jesus chooses to reveal God and his kingdom to the lowly

Manuscript:

Dismiss 4th +  5th graders

Ushers + Bibles (Luke 10; page 1031)

Share that we have 2 weeks left in our Luke series before we push “pause” on Luke until August 30th.

Today I’ll preach through 10:24 and next Sunday Jordan will finish out chapter 10. In two weeks, Pastor Brent will be taking us through an overview of the book of Micah. We are planning to sprinkle overview sermons on the Minor Prophets throughout the coming years. On 6/28, we will launch our summer sermon series In Him, which is a two-part series on our Union with Christ. The first 3 weeks will be addressing our identity in Christ from the book of Ephesians and the final 4 weeks will be addressing our life in Christ from the book of Romans and a couple other passages in Scripture. I’m looking forward to these studies together and how God will use them to mature us in our faith and continue to call people to himself! I want to encourage you to keep inviting people to come and hear God’s Word with you on a Sunday morning! (Reminder that this is one of our churchwide courageous evangelism initiatives each month this year.)

Let’s turn our attention now to the Gospel of Luke. As we pick back up today in chapter 10, we are joining Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem. Just last week, we heard about this crucial turning point in Luke’s Gospel:

Luke 9:51 (ESV)

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

As Pastor Jack pointed out, from this point until chapter 19:28, Luke is focused on recounting different aspects of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. As we’ve heard, Jesus already knows that this is where he must go to accomplish the will of God. He knows the grand plan of redemption – he came up with it alongside the Father and Spirit in eternity past! He must suffer, die, and rise again to conquer sin and death. So, he sets his face to go to Jerusalem. What an incredible Savior! He was willing to suffer and die for you and for me.

As he is heading to bear the wrath of God for our sins, he continues to instruct his disciples and those who gather around him. He intentionally prepares and shapes them for what lies ahead! He knows what is coming, but they don’t. If they’re going to carry on the mission of the kingdom of God after Jesus’ D/B/R, then they need to know what it means to follow him. Their character needs to be refined. Their unbelief must be confronted. And they need to understand what is at stake in this mission! This is just as true for us today as it was for them back then. These are valuable teachings for each of us to take in…

Today, in Luke 10:1-24, Jesus will further reveal the gracious will of God. There will be some teaching that is like what we heard in Luke 9, but it will be coupled with powerful warnings about the outcome of rejecting Jesus or his disciples. Thankfully those warnings are followed by rejoicing in the success of the mission – some are saved from sin and death! Some enter the kingdom of God and receive the hope of eternal life! So, without further ado, let’s read the text for today and study it together. My hope is that each one of us will understand the gracious will of God and consider how we need to respond to God’s kingdom that has come near.

Luke 10:1–12 (ESV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Let’s stop and consider what we’ve read so far. As Jesus continues his journey, he takes some very similar actions as he did when he appointed and sent the 12 (Luke 9:1-6). Now he raises up 72 others (some manuscripts say 70) and sends them on ahead to proclaim the nearness of the kingdom of God and to demonstrate it with healing. Can you imagine the effectiveness of this approach? To have this many commissioned disciples sent ahead would have allowed the ministry to be multiplied in incredible ways! More and more people would have the opportunity to hear the Good News of the kingdom of God! To witness the arrival of the Messiah/Savior they had been waiting for! Not to mention receiving healing from their physical and spiritual infirmities. Lives, households, and even entire towns were about to be greatly impacted by these ambassadors for Christ!

With this in mind, we arrive out our first takeaway in understanding the gracious will of God:

  1. The Lord calls and sends his ambassadors

As I mentioned in my sermon on Luke 9:1-6, the Lord delegates his authority to his disciples to accomplish the mission. In this calling and sending, we observe the latest stage in Jesus’ life and ministry. He is not doing it alone. He empowered his disciples with his authority and sent them out to heal the sick by proclaiming the kingdom of God. This was a mission of compassion and mercy! It was a divine rescue plan put into action!

Now, let’s consider what we observe from Jesus’ instructions in verses 1-12. Did you notice that Jesus started by addressing the problem that needs solved? In verse 2 he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”

There are MANY who need to hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Many who are currently enemies of God. Many who are heading to judgment and wrath unless they hear and believe and turn from their sin! This is a great need to address! The harvest is plentiful… But the laborers are few!

There is plenty of Gospel work to be done, and we need more Gospel-workers, more ambassadors of Christ to get it done! More men and women who are willing to take risks to tell people about Jesus as the Savior from the wrath to come. More people who are unashamed of speaking about sin and judgment. More people who are willing to call others to faith and repentance.

And how does Jesus instruct them to respond to this great need for gospel laborers? What does he say next in verse 2?

“Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.”

Jesus commands them to pray earnestly. The Greek word denotes praying with urgency… pleadingly… to beg. As I was reading this passage on my own, I will admit that I read past Jesus’ challenge too quickly. I had heard this instruction many times before and I took it for granted. Thankfully Pastor J.C. Ryle’s commentary confronted me with this! “Do not miss the importance of prayer!” he said. Then he went on to make these powerful statements:

Prayer is one of the best and most powerful means of helping forward the cause of Christ in the world. It is a means within the reach of all who have the Spirit of adoption. Not all believers have money to give to missions. Very few have great intellectual gifts, or extensive influence among men. But all believers can pray for the success of the Gospel,—and they ought to pray for it daily. Many and marvellous are the answers to prayer which are recorded for our learning in the Bible. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16.)

The Lord calls and sends, but do you pray? … How often are you praying for God to raise up Gospel workers? … How often are you praying for the Gospel to go forth? … Do you take resources that will challenge you to pray more often/broadly/intentionally?

Point out the missions’ month resources.

Point out the monthly prayer guides.

Share how they have impacted my prayer life and been such a blessing to me.

Now, you may notice that I have chosen the term “ambassadors” to reference those whom Jesus has called and sent out. This is language that is found in Paul’s writings to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

I love this term because it conveys the reality that our lives are not our own, as ambassadors we represent someone greater – Jesus Christ! This fits with Jesus’ teaching in Luke 9 – we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him! Disciples are sent as laborers for Christ; they are to exert intense and consistent effort in sowing the Gospel seed. That is how it was then and how it remains to this day for followers of Christ. If you are a Christian, do you think of yourself as an ambassador? One whose life represents and reflects Christ. Do you view yourself as a laborer? One called and sent by Christ to sow the Gospel seed. This is who Christ has called and equipped you to be!

Jesus also tells them they are sent out “as lambs in the midst of wolves”. Think about that for a minute. Christians are “as lambs in the midst of wolves”… What could that mean?

It means that we ought to expect opposition to our message and ministry! Do you know what a wolf loves to chew on? Lamb chops! The world is hostile to the kingdom of God and the message of that kingdom – that, apart from Christ, we are all dead in our sin, enemies of God, and facing his wrath. This should not be surprising to us as we were all once a part of the world, hostile to God’s kingdom and messengers.

But are you ready for opposition? Passages like these remind us that it is to be expected. Opposition to the Gospel should not catch us by surprise or discourage us. It is the natural response of wolves to act like wolves… until God changes their hearts to receive the message as a lamb. That is what happened in each of us who are in Christ and that is what we must pray happens in the lives of the world around us.

Jesus was preparing his disciples for the opposition that was sure to come. He was reminding them to stay alert to the dangers all around and not to get too comfortable in this world. His instructions in verse 4 drive this home – “Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” The priority is the mission, not comfort! Take nothing with you. Disciples must have total dependence on God and His provision. They will eat when someone receives them and go hungry when rejected, but, regardless, they are to stay on mission and proclaim the Good News.

In my previous sermon on May 10th, we heard some similar teachings from Jesus when he sent out the 12. In that sermon I challenged us to apply this mission in our own lives in three ways:

  • Trust the Lord to provide

Jesus’ gospel ministers are to be known for their trust in the Lord rather than their incredible preparations and self-sufficiency. We are to focus on obedience to the mission and trust God to meet our needs along the way. This is a counter-cultural way of life. I love that we get to see this lived out in our supported missionaries that we are hearing from this month!

  • Value modesty in our mission

By staying in one house during their visit in each town on their journey, Jesus was teaching the disciples not to constantly be looking for how to improve their circumstances. Their mission wasn’t about being comfortable or having the best accommodation or spending time with the most prestigious people in the city, it was about reaching lost sinners with the message of salvation. That must be our focus!

  • Care for both body and soul

When Jesus sent them out, it was to minister to both physical and spiritual needs. It is a beautiful reminder that God made us both body and soul and he cares for both! So, as you live for Christ, look for ways to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of those around you. Even this past week I am aware of our church family praying for and bringing meals to a single mom after a major surgery! Praise God for your faithfulness.

These applications are still necessary! If your faith is in Christ, have you considered over these past weeks and months that you are his Gospel ambassador? Whose kingdom are you living for? In your speech and actions, have you sought to represent Him rather than yourself? *pause*

In Jesus’ instructions to these disciples, he commands them to proclaim the Good News of peace with God and remain where those who desire peace dwell. They will know when a household or town does not want to hear about Jesus! If you’ve ever sought to share the Gospel with others, you have likely experienced what Jesus is talking about… some are excited to hear this Good News while others prefer to shut the door in your face. I know our Witness on Wednesday ministry has experienced both in their times of evangelizing our neighbors. I recall a time when I was new in my faith and sought to share it with my best friend at the time! His response was to sucker punch me in the stomach and tell me to never talk to him about it again. I know my wife, after coming to faith in Christ in college, sought to share about him with her friends and quickly found herself isolated and alone as they all turned against her, telling her that they did not like who she had become and that they didn’t know her anymore! And these are miniscule costs to following Christ compared to what many Christians face in nations around the world. In God’s timing, I received the latest VoTM magazine this past week and each testimony was about someone who had lost a loved one because of their faithfulness for Christ in a hostile nation. There will be many who reject Jesus and God’s kingdom.

This is to be expected. Jesus even addressed it in verses 10-12. Let’s hear it again and his words of warning that follow.

Luke 10:10–16 (ESV)

10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Christ has called and sent his ambassadors to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God. It is the same message declared to all, but the outcome for each individual, household, or community is connected to their response! For those who receive the message in faith and gladness, there is peace with God; but for those who reject the message, there is a harrowing warning of judgment.

So, in seeking to understand the gracious will of God, we must realize…

  1. Everyone is accountable for their response to God’s kingdom

Jesus does not conceal the truth from us! Those who receive his ambassadors receive blessings, for they have received Christ and his Heavenly Father who sent him. These blessings come in the form of God’s mercy and grace! We are forgiven of our sins and washed white as snow. We are no longer fearful of the wrath of God but have only the gracious expectation of peace with Him!

Later in Luke 10, Jesus rejoices greatly in the salvation of souls because of their mission! This is the beauty of God’s plan of redemption – what he sets out to do he will accomplish. The mission to save sinners will be successful! The Word of God is consistent in revealing the incredible beauty of a restored relationship with our Creator, which is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ! What an incredible joy to receive God’s mercy and peace!

Yet, as we have just read, the Word also reveals the outcome for those who reject Christ’s ambassadors and God’s kingdom. They will receive judgment, for in rejecting the ambassadors, they have rejected Christ and his Heavenly Father who sent him. They have revealed that they do not wish to have peace with God but remain his enemies.

Rather than trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and salvation of their souls, they would continue living in their own will and ways. They do not want to submit to the rule and reign of God’s kingdom. They want life on their own terms. They reject the objective truth claims of Jesus as the only way to salvation. They refuse to recognize that their sin has separated them from a holy God and demands his just judgment. They choose to reject the Son of God who endured great humiliation by taking on flesh, dwelling amongst us, and who would go to the Cross to endure the wrath of God for our sake. And for that willful rejection, they will face the wrath of God! And what a terrible thing it will be!

Jesus’ words in verses 12-15 reveal just how terrible it will be… In verse 12 he points out that the wicked town of Sodom, known for their incredible sexual immorality and perversions, will have it easier on the day of judgment than those who reject God’s Son. And that is saying something, because God judged Sodom by raining fire and sulfur down on them! Then, in verses 13-15, he calls out specific towns he had ministered in, yet they had not repented and believed! Capernaum was his home base for his adult ministry! Bethsaida was where he had fed the 5,000+… Yet they were largely hard-hearted and unwilling to believe in Him!

So, he compares them to the exceedingly wicked Gentile towns of Tyre and Sidon and says that even those towns would have responded more favorably than these Jewish towns had! It reveals just how severe judgment will be for those who have the opportunity to know and believe in the Son of God yet choose to reject him and continue in their unbelief.

I couldn’t help but think of the words in the book of Hebrews, warning of the incredible danger of experiencing the truth yet turning from it:

Hebrews 10:26–31 (ESV)

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Underlying this passage is the principle that the more you know, the greater your accountability will be. We live in a time of redemptive history and in a country where nearly everyone has heard about Jesus and, at minimum, his call to believe in him as the only way of salvation. God has told us in his Word that to reject the clear revelation of Jesus, His Son, as the only way to salvation will lead to the highest level of accountability at judgment day.

Whew! I am praying that each of us would heed these teachings and the warning in them. If you know that your faith is not in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, then please address that today! Do not tarry in your rejection of Jesus any longer. Today can be the day of salvation for you and there would be nothing greater than to rejoice with you in that!

If you have tasted and seen of the goodness of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus, then I want to encourage you to rejoice greatly in your salvation! You are at peace with God! You have the hope of heaven and eternal life with Him. Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!

In fact, that is exactly what Jesus tells his disciples to rejoice in. Let’s continue our study in verses 17-20:

Luke 10:17–20 (ESV)

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

The disciples returned with joy because their mission had been successful! Interestingly, they focus on something unexpected, that the demons were subject to their authority in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ response has been the subject of considerable discussion over the years, but the general takeaway is that the kingdom of God is victorious over the kingdom of Satan. As the gospel went forth and people responded in faith, men and women were rescued from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light! Jesus reminds them that he has delegated his authority to them to overcome the spiritual forces of evil, referred to as serpents and scorpions here. They are blessed indeed to share in Christ’s authority as they proclaim the message of the kingdom and set captives free from spiritual bondage, yet Jesus reorients their focus with some surprising words in verse 20!

20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

This leads us to our third takeaway in understanding the gracious will of God:

  1. A disciple’s joy ought to be in God’s grace, not God’s gifts

The most important thing about you, Christian, is that God calls you His own. This is worth far more than anything else. Salvation is a priceless gift. The rescue of a soul from hell is the most powerful reason to rejoice!

And yet, how easy it is to be distracted by other things. These disciples were amazed at the authority they had over the spiritual realm in Jesus’ name. In our modern age, we really tend to de-emphasize the spiritual realm and remain preoccupied with the physical things we can experience with our senses. Yet every person is a citizen of one of two kingdoms, the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan. When someone believes in Jesus and turns from their sin, a great spiritual victory has occurred! They have left the kingdom of darkness to enter the kingdom of light! This is an incredible work of God’s grace in everyone who believes.

This is what we ought to rejoice in, in their lives or in our own. In light of eternity, any other physical or spiritual blessing pales in comparison. You could be blessed with the gift of wisdom, having the knowledge of God’s will and the skill to live it out, yet this pales in comparison to knowing that your name is written in God’s book of life! You could be blessed with the gift of incredible faith, trusting God through the deepest valleys of life in this broken world, yet this pales in comparison to knowing that your name is written in God’s book of life! You could be a great teacher or sacrificial servant, the most hospitable person on the planet, yet this pales in comparison to knowing that your name is written in God’s book of life!

What is the source of your joy? Is it the unshakeable, unchangeable grace of God or in something lesser? *pause*

While on vacation, our family studied the book of Philippians together, and I was reminded of these twin truths to share with you this morning:

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Praise God for this incredible hope!

Do you believe in Jesus Christ? … If so, are you regularly rejoicing that your name is written in heaven? … This reality can carry you through many a season of trial and suffering this side of heaven. It can also provide perspective when you’re tempted to value other things too much, even God’s good gifts. Delight in God’s grace of salvation most of all! This is what we see Jesus doing next in the text. Let’s pick back up in verses 21-24:

Luke 10:21–24 (ESV)

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

After providing the disciples some clarifying instructions about where their ultimate joy is to be found, Jesus models it by greatly rejoicing (exulting!) in the gracious will of God to save some! Jesus overflows in praise and thanksgiving to His Father for his redemptive plan and the outworkings of it. And as he rejoices, he shares some incredible truths about the sovereignty of God in salvation. This is our final takeaway in understanding the gracious will of God today…

  1. Jesus chooses to reveal God and his kingdom to the lowly

In this passage, Jesus praises God for his plan to conceal the things pertaining to salvation from those who are wise in the world’s ways and eyes yet choosing to make it known to those who are like little children. What does Jesus mean by this? It is a rebuke to those who thought that by their education and experience, they would inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus is overturning the traditional Jewish expectation that divine revelation and salvation are reserved for the educated, the culturally elite, or those who meticulously performed the law. Rather than coming to such people, God makes known his salvation to those who recognize they have nothing to offer. The phrase “little children” represents the simple, the poor, the unlearned of society, those who are humble and recognize their need for salvation. Fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John… Tax collectors like Matthew… And so on… As we’ve mentioned multiple times throughout Luke’s gospel, he has been keenly interested in pointing out that Jesus came to save the lowly, the meek, the mild. This does not mean that a rich or educated person cannot inherit the kingdom of God, it just highlights that the treasures and priorities of the world are often a hindrance to faith. The Father’s will was to make his salvation known to the those whom the world least expected.

This fits well with what we heard Jesus teaching last week. Pastor Jack shared how Jesus defined true greatness – humility. Laying oneself down for the good of others. This is the kind of character we ought to value and strive for.

Now, notice in verse 22 that Jesus says that no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. This is a profound statement on God’s sovereignty in salvation. God is the One who calls and redeems His people, and He does so through His Son. The only way someone knows God is because Jesus chose to make it so! Which is exactly what Jesus is doing with the lowly disciples and those whom they reach with the Good News of the kingdom of God.

Jesus chose them to know God and be ambassadors for Christ. Through their ministry, Jesus supernaturally chooses and calls others to know God and be ambassadors for Christ. This is how the kingdom of God has spread down through the ages. Faithful men and women proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and rejoicing as God calls some out of darkness into his marvelous light. This is what we too should rejoice in! Delight that God saves some! That even in the days of greatest darkness in this world, though wars and rumors of wars should swirl, though persecution and opposition increase greatly, yet some will be saved! That some receive eternal life is reason for rejoicing in every day and age. In the words of Pastor Ryle, “It is only through free grace and undeserved mercy that any are saved at all!”

Will you join Jesus in rejoicing greatly in the gift of salvation? Praise God for the good work he continues to do in our day and age! May we be faithful to keep sowing the seed of the Gospel and praying for faith that leads to repentance! And then let us rejoice greatly when it occurs.

As Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” His disciples and everyone who has come after them have been privileged to have access to the revealed mystery of God in ways that the kings and prophets of old longed for! They especially were able to witness and participate in the ministry of the Messiah firsthand, but we are still privileged to have the entire Word of God available to us, the mystery of the Gospel made known to us, and the Spirit of God dwelling within us to empower us for the mission. Blessed are Christians that have access to such resources and power!

May we not take it for granted. May we be bold in our preaching. Fervent in prayer. Courageous in evangelism. Passionate in worship. Purposeful in discipleship. And cultivating a compelling community for the glory of God and good of many. (Six pillars graphic) Just like we say we want to be.

We have every reason to rejoice in the gracious will of God this morning. His kingdom has come near to each of us. If you are in this room, then you’ve had the opportunity to hear the good news of salvation through faith in Christ alone. How will you respond?

Let’s pray and then prepare to celebrate the Lord’s table together.

Pray

Communion

We are going to close out our services by worshiping the Lord through the celebration of communion or the Lord’s table. Communion is an opportunity for Christians to be unified as we come together to remember all that the Lord has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection. This is an opportunity for Christians to remember that we have embraced the promised hope of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation of our souls!

We will celebrate by partaking of both the bread and the cup as a symbol and reminder of Jesus’ body broken in our place and his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Communion is an opportunity to remember how great a price was paid so that we could be saved from our sin. It is a sobering, yet joyful celebration for Christians. Sobering that the Son of God would give himself for us as a ransom. Joyful that he did, and the result is a living hope that cannot be taken from us! Jesus is victorious; therefore, we have the hope of heaven with Him!

At this time, I’d like to invite the ushers forward with the elements.

Before we pass them, I want to share the biblical requirements for joining in this celebration.

This celebration was given by Jesus to his followers. We invite anyone who has trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation to join us in this celebration today. If your faith is not in Jesus Christ alone, then we would encourage you to let the elements pass by you and simply consider what you’ve heard so far during the service this morning and reflect on what is keeping you from trusting him.

The second requirement we see in Scripture is a call to examine ourselves. This is the idea of making sure that you’ve confessed any known sins and sought to turn away from it. It would not be wise to partake of the table if you have sin in your life for which you are not repentant. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that taking the table while living in sin is eating and drinking judgment on yourself. I would ask you not to do that, for your sake and the sake of God’s glory. Instead, I would encourage you to use this time to confess that sin and make a plan to address it right away. If you know you need to be reconciled to someone else in this church, please take care of that during this time. The table is time to protect the unity of the church.

The ushers are going to pass the elements now.  Please take this time for reflection and prayer to prepare for the table. After the elements have been passed, I’ll lead us in prayer and taking communion together.

Ushers pass elements

Silent prayer. Corporate prayer.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)

23 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, 24 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.”

Take bread.

25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Take cup + Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!