“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *
Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210
www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date: 26 February 2017
Text: I Corinthians 11.17 - 34
Thesis: “There is no remembrance of Christ outside of
the assembly”
1
Introduction
A.
I
would like to thank bro. Gene Austin for requesting this sermon to be
preached.
B.
We
are not here to “preach to the choir so to speak,” we are here to reinforce the
Mind of Christ regarding this subject so we can better defend the faith and
encourage one another to always be faithful.
C.
There
is a rapid decent in church attendance in America
D.
We
could drone on and on about the reasons why.
E.
Vance
Havner observed; “The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the
New Testament, normal it would seem to people abnormal.”
F.
C.
S. Lewis said: “The perfect church
service would be one we were almost unaware of.
Our attention would have been on God.”
G.
Many
people have offered many excuses for neglecting the Lord’s memory:
1.
“Three
letters…NFL!
2.
“I’m
a good person and I don’t want to hear otherwise!”
3.
“When
I want to feel guilty, I’ll just call my mother!”
4.
“Not
going to church because of hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of
all “those out of shape people!”
5.
“I
was on my way to church this morning when I glanced down at my smart
phone. It said; “No Service.” So I turned around and went back home.”
6.
And
my personal favorite…”The preacher doesn’t respond to my remote control!”
7.
Often
folks just go to “Bedside Baptist” where they will listen to Dr. Sheets
attended to by brother Snooze Button and brother Tenmore Minutes.
8.
But
SERIOUSLY…
H.
Thomas Paine the atheist sums it up best: “My
own mind is my own church.”
I.
John
Wesley observed; “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.”
J.
I
have visited the woods many times over my life span and have yet to find
someone holding a worship service!
K.
On
the other hand I have most certainly heard the Lord’s Name being called out
loudly on every golf course I ever played!
L.
Today We Will Go To God’s Word and Discover God’s Greatest Blessing This
Side of Heaven
M.Worship Is For God, Worship is For
Others and Worship is For Me.
2
Worship
is for God
A.
John
4.19 – 24
1.
The
Hour is now here for TRUE worshippers
a.
Those
who neglect God become FALSE worshippers
2.
True
worshippers worship Him in Spirit and in Truth
a.
Those
who don’t worship Him in Spirit worship falsely
b.
Those
who don’t worship Him in Truth worship falsely
3.
God
is seeking such to worship Him
a.
Am
I going to purposely avoid the God of the Universe who is seeking me out to
worship Him?
B.
I
Corinthians 11.17 – 34
1.
Vs.
18 – They are commanded to come together as a church, not as individuals
2.
Vs.
20 – They are commanded to come together to eat the Lord’s Supper
3.
Vs.
24 – Jesus commands us to remember Him when we eat the bread
4.
Vs
. 25 – Jesus commands us to remember Him when we drink the fruit of the vine
5.
Vs.
26 - We are commanded to “proclaim the
Lord’s Death” until He comes as an assembly
6.
Vs.
27 – An unworthy taking proclaims the opposite
7.
Vs.
28 – We are commanded to examine ourselves during the Lord’s Supper, something
impossible for the absent as the examination is to be in the Assembly
8.
Vs.
29 – We are to discern the Lord’s Body during the Lord’s Supper, something
impossible for the absent as this discernment is to be in the Assembly
9.
Vs.
30 – The neglect of the Lord’s Supper will cause a spiritual illness that is
always fatal if not treated
C.
THERE
IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY
3
Worship
is For Others
A.
Hebrews
10.19 – 25
1.
Vs.
22 – We can’t draw near if we aren’t there!
2.
Vs.
23 – A confession to myself is not a confession
3.
Vs.
24 – I can’t stir you up to love and good works if I’m not there at the
assembly
4.
Vs.
24 – You can’t stir me up to love and good works if you are not there in the
assembly
5.
Vs.
25 – Neglect of the assembly is bad habit especially since we are all closer to
judgement today than ever before in all of history!
B.
THERE
IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY
4
Worship
is For Me
A.
Matthew
16.18 – Jesus built His one and only church for me
1.
Worship
allows me the opportunity to thank Him
B.
Acts
2.47 – God added me to His one and only church the day I was baptized
1.
Worship
allows me to thank Him
C.
Ephesians
2.22 – Christ made me a part of God’s Dwelling Place
1.
Worship
allows me to thank Him
D.
Hebrews
3.6 – We are His House if we hold fast
1.
Worship
allows me to thank Him
E.
Romans
12.5 – We are individually members one of another
1.
Worship
allows each of us to thank each other for what we mean to one another in Christ
F.
THERE
IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY
5
Conclusion:
A.
Do
you want to be like Christ? (I know you
do)
1.
Luke
4.16 – It was Christ’s CUSTOM to worship weekly
2.
Matthew
26.26 – 29 – The ONLY way He commands us to remember Him takes place ONLY in
worship
3.
Matthew
18.20 – Worship is where Jesus IS each and every time. He’s here right now
4.
He
longs to see you again tonight should time continue
6
The
Challenge of the Text for Christians Today
A.
Are
you sure time will continue until this evening for you?
7
“The
Gospel Call”
·
My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
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