July 14, 2012 - Church at Worship

Homily: "Celebrate Christ" - Dan Matthews

Baptism: Brianna Nicole Cruz - Genevieve Koh Isidro

Pastoral Welcome: Shirley Ponder

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23–25, TNIV - Toini Harrison

Sermon Notes:

We celebrate many things, many times, and many events. Each quarter we share today’s
celebration in special and sacred ways. We participate with family and friends in the ordinance of service. We humbly acknowledge who we are as we offer ourselves in service to
each other. We seek to express in a very personal way the life and ministry of our Lord.

We then come to the Lord’s table. The significance is both profound and practical. “To the
death of Christ we owe even this earthly life. The bread we eat is the purchase of His broken
body. The water we drink is bought by His spilled blood. Never one, saint or sinner, eats his
daily food, but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ. The cross of Calvary is
stamped on every loaf. It is reflected in every water spring. All this Christ has taught in appointing the emblems of His great sacrifice. The light shining from that Communion service in
the upper chamber makes sacred the provisions for our daily life. The family board becomes
as the table of the Lord, and every meal a sacrament.” —The Desire of Ages, 660.

This week let’s be reminded that this is more than the celebration of real historic events.
Today we celebrate a person; The Person of Jesus Christ. While we remember what He did,
when He did it, where He did it, and why He did it, in particular let’s remember, Who did it.

We Celebrate Christ. Very God became Son of Man to demonstrate His love for His own who
willfully separate from Him. “Christ is [here, in this service] to minister to His children. All
who come with their faith fixed upon Him will be greatly blessed.” —The Desire of Ages, 656.

May each of us rejoice in our rescue as we celebrate Him, “the Sinless One [Who] was
treated as we deserve, that we, fallen and sinful, might be treated as He deserve[s].”
—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 267.

Dan Matthews
Associate Pastor for Senior Care

Note: Baptisms and Child Dedications are in the extras section of the DVD