Worship Service for March 7, 2021
WELCOME
Good morning and welcome to CrossPointe Community Church’s on-line worship presentation. I thank God for all of you and for the opportunity to spend this time with you. My name is Jim and I am filling in for Randy this week. If you’d like to reach out to Randy, you can e-mail him at randykmeyer@hotmail.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A few weeks ago, Randy announced that he will be offering classes to train people who feel called to learn some practical skills in preaching. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have several people within our congregation who could step into the pulpit at any time? What a great asset to the church and to a future pastor this would be.
He will be doing this in two phases. The first phase will be a four week class on how to share your faith with another person. This is something that all Christians should be able to do, and is a pre-requisite for anyone wishing to engage in preaching.
The first class will be held at the church on Tuesday, March 9th at 7 pm. Then at the end of the four classes on how to share your faith, he will continue on with those who wish to further their training. If you have any questions about this, do not hesitate to call or e-mail Randy.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25
OPENING WORSHIP SONGS
As We Gather
Tom Coomes & Mike Fay
As we gather may Your Spirit work within us,
As we gather may we glorify Your name
Knowing well that as our hearts being to worship
We’ll be blest because we came
We’ll be blest because we cameAs we gather may Your Spirit work within us,
©1981 Maranatha! Music (admin by The Copyright Company)/Coomesietunes (admin by The Copyright Company)
As we gather may we glorify Your name
Knowing well that as our hearts being to worship
We’ll be blest because we came
We’ll be blest because we came
We’ll be blest because we came
CCLI License No. 1843349
Change My Heart, Oh God
Eddie Espinosa
Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.You are the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.Change my heart, O God,
©1982 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (admin. By Music Services)
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.
CCLI License No. 1843349
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord, Almighty Father, by your promise of life everlasting through Jesus, who came to save us, let us live with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. As we gather today, change our hearts so that we, as one body, the body of Christ, the union of saints, may exalt your name and sing praises of thanksgiving. As John’s voice cried out in the wilderness to prepare the way, we too shall join in with a joyful cry of our hearts, singing songs of your salvation, going out into the world and proclaiming your excellence, your love and your grace. May our lives be changed for your glory.
Through Jesus we pray, Amen.
THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING
It’s now time for the Lord’s offering. As we continually thank Him for the overflow of blessings which He showers upon us, we remain faithful in giving the tithe. And as we approach the throne, we bow and pray.
Lord, as we bring our offerings to you, may our tithe be acceptable in your sight. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, and power and strength, be unto you O God forever and ever. As always we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
I will be at the church today until 12 noon if you would like to bring your offering. Or you may send it in to:
CrossPointe Community Church
PO Box 126
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215
PRAYER SONG
Offering
Paul Baloche
The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your Presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It’s only by Your Blood and it’s only through you mercy
Lord I comeI bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus may You receive the honor that You’re due
O Lord I bring an offering to You (REPEAT FROM TOP)O Lord I bring an offering to You
© Copyright 2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (ASCAP)(c/o Integrity Media, Inc. 1000 Cody Road, Mobile, AL 36695
O Lord I bring an offering to You,
I bring an offering to You.
CCLI License No. 1843349
MORNING PRAYER
SCRIPTURE
Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—that you may do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 7:8-11
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”
Matthew 21:12-13
THE MESSAGE
Cleansing The Temple
Jim Brandenburg
There’s a smell in the air. Do you smell it? It smells like spring has finally sprung. Temperatures for this coming week look like 50’s and 60’s. And do you know what else is happening in nature? That’s right! You guessed it. It’s mating season for skunks. If you haven’t had the experience of that wonderful aroma, consider yourself blessed and fortunate. We live in West Salem, near the woods and it’s been an interesting week, to say the least.
So when I found this story, I thought, first, how awesome is God??
And secondly… what perfect timing.
In a 2019 edition of the Daily Hope with Rick Warren email newsletter, Jon Walker writes: “Jasmine is my beautiful and tenderhearted dog (cockapoo). She knows it is wrong to go near an old barn that’s on the edge of my property, but she saw a black cat run behind it and took off for a playful chase. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a cat. It was a skunk, and Jasmine was quite surprised to get a face full of stink. She smelled so bad I didn’t even want to bring her into the house, but I sequestered her in the bathroom while I figured out how to get her clean.
On the Internet, I found several home remedies for removing skunk stink. The recipes called for ingredients such as tomato juice or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, and I think one listed dark chocolate (OK, I made that up. The dark chocolate was for me).
These mixtures removed the bite of the skunk stink (an eye-watering, garlic-like perfume), but the overall smell was still there. By then it was almost midnight, so I took an old blanket, put it on the floor of the bathroom, and that’s where poor Jasmine had to spend the night.
The next morning, I went to the pet store and found a remarkable de-skunker that removed every bit of the stink and left Jasmine smelling wonderfully clean.
The reason I share this story is because it helps illustrate what Jesus has done for you. The Bible says, ‘But God has shown us how much He loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!’ (Romans 5:8)
Jasmine knew she was forbidden from going near the barn, but temptation appeared in the form of (what she thought) was a black cat. Sin is always deceptive, and it always costs more than we think it will. Jasmine thought she’d have some fun; instead, she ended up with the stink of sin all over her. I still loved Jasmine and wanted her to come into the house with me, but I couldn’t let her have the run of the house while she carried the stink of sin. She needed to be cleansed; otherwise, the stink would permeate my home.
That’s how God views our sin. He can’t let us back into heaven until we’re cleansed from our sin; otherwise, our sin would stink up the whole place. Jesus came to cleanse us from our sin, and His bloody sacrifice washes us whiter than snow (Psalms 51:7). When we confess our sin and obediently trust Jesus, we can walk confidently into God’s home, knowing He will welcome us as his daughters and sons.1
We have all fallen to temptation and will continue to do so, Why?
Because we are humans.
We do our best each day in warding off the temptress but let’s face it, sometimes we chase after worldly wants and desires. We sin. Much like the dog in this story chasing what was thought to be a black cat. We wander off the path and give in to temptation. Speaking of temptation…What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word temptation? How about Adam and Eve? Let’s go back to where it all began.
In Genesis 2:15-17 it reads
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.
Adam and Eve were specifically told not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Eve was tempted and drew Adam into that temptation. Then came the first sin. As a result of their sin, God cast them out of the garden. He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
In the opening scriptures, I read from Jeremiah and from Matthew.
In the reading from Matthew, Jesus quotes the verses in Jeremiah as He is chasing out the merchants and money changers. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”
Do you know why Jesus chased out the merchants and money changers?
Picture this…
It was the time of the Passover Feast. Hundreds of thousands of people traveled to Jerusalem to worship. It wasn’t practical for those who came from great distances to bring an animal for the sacrifice. Consequently they had to buy animals locally to sacrifice. Also, the Temple only accepted Tyrian currency so people who came with different currencies had to exchange money to pay the Temple tax. These were practical matters that had to be taken care of for the Passover. The problem was where and how these were done.
The Court of the Gentiles was where the Gentiles were allowed to worship. This was a large area about 2.5 acres in size. Instead of worship taking place, the area was filled with people selling animals and changing money. It was like a huge flea market! How could worship go on with such noise and distraction? That wasn’t the only problem. Those selling animals and exchanging money did so at exorbitant rates. It was worse than buying a burger at Disneyland!2
So, not only were the merchants and money changers desecrating the temple, but they were causing the Gentiles to miss out on worship because of what they were doing.
Cleansing the temple in Jerusalem goes deeper than this. Perhaps Jesus’ action was pointing to a much deeper truth. In the gospel of John, Jesus refers to his body as the temple.
John 2:18-22 reads
The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
Our body as a temple is a very delicate subject. Not one I can cover in an abbreviated sermon. But I think I can take a leap and assume you know that your body is a temple.
We are made in the image of God. Once we surrender our lives and are saved by Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters our temples to dwell within us. Each one of us serves through our gifts, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. What we put into our bodies is important too. Not only the food we eat but what we feed our mind and souls. A good diet with lots of vegetables, exercise and plenty of scripture goes a long way.
Knowing all of that makes you think, doesn’t it?
If Jesus came back today would your house…your temple be clean? Would you be like most and run for the broom and dust pan? Start mopping the floors and washing the windows. Trying to tidy up.
But here’s the wonderful news…though the Lord discerns everything about us, knows our innermost thoughts and struggles, knows every secret sin that we have hidden from everyone else…still He stands with wide-open arms of love to welcome us, accept us, forgive us and totally rid us of all the burdens of guilt and shame if we will just come to Him. That is the reason Jesus died on the cross; to take upon Himself all of our transgressions, and to wash us free from sin. This allows us to enter heaven through His righteousness. Nothing we can earn. A gift.
I want to ask you if you know my Lord and Savior? Do you know Jesus?
I don’t know where you are in your walk with Jesus but let’s make one thing clear. When you gave up on doing things your way and asked Jesus to take the wheel, your old temple was destroyed. Amen?
Jesus is helping you build the new one. And with His help, we can take on the wind and the rain as well as the sweltering heat of the day because Jesus is the architect, the builder, and the perfector.
Today is communion Sunday. As you can see the table has been prepared.
The sacrament of holy communion will be shared today. A sacrament because Christ ordained this meal that He shared with the disciples. Just as well, He shares it with us.
Before we approach the altar of God and take this communion, we first must ask Jesus to cleanse the temple. Check every corner and under the bed. Sweep it all up into a pile and ask Jesus to enter the temple and drive out the sin.
There is no shadow in His presence. He is light. Ask for His forgiveness. Share in the body of Christ and become one with God and His family. That is the UNION part of Comm-UNION. Derived from two words Common-Union.
I would like to sing a special song that I hope helps you to search inside yourself and prepare your heart so you may approach the altar.
COMMUNION SONG
O Come To The Altar
Elevation Worship
Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling.
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling.O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ.Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling.
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling.O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus ChristO come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus ChristOh, what a Savior
Isn’t He wonderful?
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risenOh what a Savior
Isn’t He wonderful?
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risenO come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus ChristO come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus ChristBear your cross as you wait for the crown
©2016 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing(BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com)
Tell the world of the treasure you found
CCLI License No. 1843349
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
COMMUNION AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:24-26 -NLT
COMMUNION PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we bow before You in humility and ask You to examine our hearts today. Show us anything that is not pleasing to You. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or un-forgiveness that may be hindering our relationship with You. We know that we are Your beloved child, having received You into our hearts and lives and having accepted Your death as penalty for our sinfulness. The price You paid covered us for all time, and our desire is to live for You.
RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT
As we take the bread representing Your life that was broken for us, we remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to us and to all who will receive You. We can’t begin to fathom the agonizing suffering of Your crucifixion. Yet You took that pain for us. You died for us! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave us life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, we, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.
(Receive the bread).
And in the same way, as we take this cup representing Your blood poured out from a splintered cross, we realize that You were the supreme sacrifice for all our sins: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for us, we can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that we deserved. You took our punishment. Your pain was indeed our gain. And today we remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave us through the blood that You spilled. As You instructed Your disciples, we, too, receive this cup in remembrance of You.
(Receive the cup)
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the glory forever, Amen.
CLOSING SONG
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Julia H. Johnston
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
©Public Domain
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
CCLI License No. 1843349
Benediction
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:18-21 -NKJV
1 https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/illustration-cleansing-from-sin/
2 https://toeverynation.com/jesus-cleansing-the-temple-is-a-lesson-in-worship/