Transcript Communion Service

Jesus The Early Years
Sunday Morning – 23rd September 2007
Studies in Luke’s Gospel
LUKE 7:11-17
Psalm 67(1):1-7 (p. 300)
1 Lord, bless and pity us,
shine on us with thy face:
2 That th’ earth thy way, and
nations all
may know thy saving grace.
Psalm 67(1):1-7 2/4
3 Let people praise thee, Lord;
let people all thee praise.
4 O let the nätions be glad,
in songs their voices raise:
Psalm 67(1):1-7 3/4
5
Thou ’lt justly people judge,
on earth rule nations all.
Let people praise thee, Lord;
let them
praise thee, both great and
small.
Psalm 67(1):1-7 4/4
6 The earth her fruit shall yield,
our God shall blessing send.
7 God shall us bless; men shall
him fear
unto earth’s utmost end.
Prayer & Children’s Talk
“I WILL TRY TO FIX YOU…”
But…
WHO CAN REALLY FIX
YOU?
Psalm 1 a:1-6* (p. 1)
1 Blessed is the one who turns
away
from where the wicked walk,
Who does not stand in sinners’
paths
or sit with those who mock.
Psalm 1 a:1-6* (2/5)
2
Instead he finds God’s holy
law
his joy and great delight;
He makes the precepts of
the LORD
his study day and night.
Psalm 1 a:1-6* (3/5)
3
He prospers ever like a tree
that’s planted by a stream,
And in due season yields its
fruit;
its leaves are always green.
Psalm 1 a:1-6* (4/5)
4
5
Not so the wicked! They are
like
the chaff that’s blown away.
They will not stand when
judgment comes
or with the righteous stay.
Psalm 1 a:1-6* (5/5)
6
It is the LORD who sees and
knows
the way the righteous go,
But those who live an evil
life
the LORD will overthrow.
Scripture Reading –
Luke 7:11-17 (p. 1035)


11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a
town called Nain, and his disciples and
a large crowd went along with him.
12 As he approached the town gate, a
dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she
was a widow. And a large crowd from
the town was with her.
Scripture Reading –
Luke 7:11-17 (p. 1035)


13 When the Lord saw her, his heart
went out to her and he said, "Don't
cry."
14 Then he went up and touched the
coffin, and those carrying it stood still.
He said, "Young man, I say to you, get
up!"
Scripture Reading –
Luke 7:11-17 (p. 1035)


15 The dead man sat up and began to
talk, and Jesus gave him back to his
mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and
praised God.
Scripture Reading –
Luke 7:11-17 (p. 1035)


"A great prophet has appeared among
us," they said. "God has come to help
his people."
17 This news about Jesus spread
throughout Judea and the surrounding
country.
Psalm 16:7-11* (p. 17) 1/5
7
I’ll praise the LORD my God,
whose counsel guides my
choice;
And even in the night, my
heart
recalls instruction’s voice.
Psalm 16:7-11* (p. 17) 2/5
8 Before me constantly
I set the LORD alone.
Because he is at my right
hand
I’ll not be overthrown.
Psalm 16:7-11* (p. 17) 3/5
9 Therefore my heart is glad;
my tongue with joy will
sing.
My body too will rest secure
in hope unwavering.
Psalm 16:7-11* (p. 17) 4/5
10
For you will not allow
my soul in death to stay,
Nor will you leave your
Holy One
to see the tomb’s decay.
Psalm 16:7-11* (p. 17) 5/5
11 You have made known to me
the path of life divine.
Bliss shall I know at your
right hand;
joy from your face will shine.
Prayers of Intercession

Followed by a
Unison Prayer
before the sermon
Unison Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We pray that what we
know not,
you would teach us,
Unison Prayer
What we have not, you
would give to us,
and what we are not,
you would make us.
For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Sermon - Luke 7:11-17
Jesus and the Last Taboo



John Chapman once told: I
wouldn’t be seen dead in
your church!
The Bible is realistic, not
sentimental, about death.
Why is our generation so coy
about death? Is it that we are
UNPREPARED? Uncertain? Luke
relates 3 incidents where Jesus
is master – even of death!
Death:
The Last Taboo
1 – In the Raw Pain of Death Don’t Cry! (Luke 8:40-56)

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd
welcomed him, for they were all
expecting him. Then a man named
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue,
came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading
with him to come to his house
because his only daughter, a girl of
about twelve, was dying…. (the story
is interrupted, then at v 49…)
1 – In the Raw Pain of Death Don’t Cry! (Luke 8:40-56)

While Jesus was still speaking, someone
came from the house of Jairus, the
synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is
dead," he said. "Don't bother the
teacher any more." Hearing this, Jesus
said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just
believe, and she will be healed.“ When
he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did
not let anyone go in with him except
Peter, John and James, and the child's
father and mother.
1 – In the Raw Pain of Death Don’t Cry! (Luke 8:40-56)

Meanwhile, all the people were wailing
and mourning for her. "Stop wailing,"
Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
They laughed at him, knowing that she
was dead. But he took her by the hand
and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit
returned, and at once she stood up.
Then Jesus told them to give her
something to eat. Her parents were
astonished, but he ordered them not to
tell anyone what had happened.
1 – In the Raw Pain of Death Don’t Cry! (Luke 8:40-56)



An astounding story: what could
be worse than ministry to parents
losing a child.
How could Jesus risk saying what
he did?
Because He is the Lord of Life and
Death.
2 – In the Raw Loneliness of
Death - Don’t Cry! (Luke 7:11)



A grieving mother: no husband, no
child, and now: no funeral!
7:13 - When the Lord saw her, his
heart went out to her and he said,
"Don't cry."
Pity for her loneliness. Death
destroys all our hard-won and
precious relationships.
2 – In the Raw Loneliness of
Death - Don’t Cry! (Luke 7:11)



Would you design a world where
death wrecks relationships?
God didn’t: it is the result of our
pushing away the Author of Life.
Jesus is able to handle death!!!
3 – In the Raw Helplessness of
Death - DO CRY! (Luke 23:39)

One of the criminals who hung there hurled
insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save
yourself and us!" But the other criminal
rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said,
"since you are under the same sentence? We
are punished justly, for we are getting what our
deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing
wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom." Jesus
answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you
will be with me in paradise."
3 – In the Raw Helplessness of
Death - DO CRY! (Luke 23:39)




Facing Death – they knew they were
about to die – what should you do?
One still sees Jesus as a servant…
But by a miracle of God, the other
sees what looked so unlikely: Jesus is
a King. A king, who saves from death.
Paradise: God’s garden. It’s all right –
they are here with me…
3 – In the Raw Helplessness of
Death - DO CRY! (Luke 23:39)



Where are you today? Is death
still a taboo subject?
Are you ready to cry to Jesus? To
move towards him, right now?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for
dying in my place. Please forgive
me, and reign over me as King.
Please give me eternal life
because you died for me.
Psalm 73b:24-28* (p. 96) (1/4)
Followed by Sung Doxology: Jude 24-25
To your glory you will bring me
with your counsel as my guide.
I have none but you in heaven;
all on earth I lay aside.
Flesh and heart may fail, but ever
God my portion will abide.
Psalm 73b verses 24-26 (1/4)
Psalm 73b:24-28* (p. 96) (2/4)
Followed by Sung Doxology: Jude 24-25
Those far off from you will perish;
you give them their due reward.
As for me, it is a blessing
to be near the Sovereign LORD.
I have made my God my refuge;
all your deeds I will record.
Psalm 73b verses 27-28 (2/4)
Psalm 73b:24-28* (p. 96) (3/4) Followed by
Sung Doxology: Jude 24-25
Now to him whose power is able
to protect our stumbling feet,
and prepare our souls for glory
there with joy our King to meet
so that we may stand before him
faultless at his judgement seat—
Sung Benediction – Scripture Song from Jude 24-25 (3/4)
Psalm 73b:24-28* (p. 96)
(4/4) Followed
by Sung Doxology: Jude 24-25
To the only God our Saviour,
through our Lord Christ Jesus'
name,
be dominion, power, glory,
majesty and matchless fame,
from before the world's foundation,
now and evermore the same!
Sung Benediction – Scripture Song from Jude 24-25 (4/4)
Words from Jude arranged by Dr NICK NEEDHAM © AUTHOR.
Words of Psalm 73 arranged © Free Church of Scotland.
Join us for tea and coffee
in the church hall
Evening Service is at
6 pm in Dingwall
or
4 pm in
Strathpeffer
God Calls Us to
delight in Christ
and to Share
His Hope.