Communion Service

Thank you, Callum. It's good to be back with you again on the Lord's Day.

We'll begin our time of worship and before we sing, we'll read some words from Isaiah chapter 55.

Isaiah 55 · chapter mention

Isaiah chapter 55. And at the beginning of the chapter, we hear that gospel call.

Isaiah 55 · chapter mention

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And he who has no money, come buy and eat.

Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which

is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat what

is good and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear and come to me. Hear that your soul may live.

Let's worship God and sing to his praise. We sing from Psalm 51, the traditional version of the Psalm,

page 281 in the books. Psalm 51. And we sing from verse 7 through to verse 13.

Do thy with hyssop sprinkle me, I shall be cleansed so. Ye wash thou me, and then I shall be whiter than the snow.

And as we think about that prayer that's answered in Christ, we remember today the cost at which the

cleansing for our souls came. And we rejoice in the salvation that is gifted to us as we come to Jesus.

So, Psalm 51, verses 7 to 13. And we'll stand to sing to God's praise.

Psalms 51:7–13

Psalm 52, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing,

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's unite our hearts in prayer once more. Let's pray.

Let's pray.

presence of God. We thank you for the call that we so often turn to in the psalm that says,

be still and know that I am God and I am with you. So we pray, Lord, that we would know that

sense of your presence with us this morning as we come together in worship, as we gather together

around the Lord's table. We thank you that we do so as sinners who are turning unto thee,

we come as sinners who recognize that we cannot save ourselves, but there is a Savior in Christ.

And Father, we thank you for sending your Son, the Lord Jesus, into this world,

for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Lord Jesus, we thank you for coming into this

world to live for us that perfect, sinless life that none of us have or could ever live. We thank you

for the righteousness that is so amazingly seen as we look to Jesus and as we read of Jesus in the

Gospels. And even as we see the character and the wonder of Christ prophesied in the Old Testament,

we see a perfect, sinless, spotless life. We see pure righteousness.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. And we thank you that our calling is to fix our eyes upon him.

So enable us to do that, we pray, Holy Spirit, we ask that you would help us.

We confess that we are so easily distracted. Our minds are so cluttered with many of the things of

this world. And we pray that you would help us, Holy Spirit, to lift our eyes from ground level to the

hills and to the one who made the hills, the God of heaven and earth. And we pray that this day,

we would be once more amazed by the grace of Jesus, God's riches poured out upon us at Christ's expense.

As we draw near to the cross, once more we ask, Lord, that we would see the wonder of the verse that tells us

that he who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we, through him, may become the righteousness of God.

And what a wondrous thought that is. Give us faith, we pray, that we may grasp it more fully,

that as we confess our sin, that as we confess our sin, it is transferred to Jesus, who made an end on it,

on the cross. And as we believe in him, we become righteous in and through him, the great exchange.

Help us, Lord, to see, to believe, to grasp, and to worship you with great joy,

as we see all that you have done for us in Christ. So help us, Lord, we pray,

as we seek to worship you. We thank you for those who are coming to the table for the first time

this morning. We pray for Delina and the Gaelic, as we pray for Rory John and all who gather there,

that they would know your presence and help, as we pray for that also here.

And we pray also for Martin. And we ask, Lord, that you would bless him. We thank you that,

as a young man, he has professed that his faith is in Jesus. And we ask, Lord, that you would help him,

not only as he sits at the table today, but as he rises from the table, as he goes back to school,

as he's amongst his friends. We ask that he and each one of us who profess Christ would be salt

and light, wherever you put us. So hear our prayers. Guide us and lead us in worship. Take away

our sin, we pray. We have confessed it in the psalm, as we have taken upon our lips that psalm of

repentance. And as again, Lord, we confess our sin in the quietness of our own hearts. We pray that you

would cleanse us in the blood of Christ, that you would give us the assurance of the pardon that is

ours in Jesus. And that you would give us the joy of knowing peace with God and the promise of

resurrection life. Even as we rise from the table, we do so remembering that we do this only until Jesus

comes. And this day, and every Lord's day we are given, we are reminded of the fact that our Savior

lives and one day will return. And we pray that we would be found ready. Hear our prayers go before

us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

It's good to see and hear one or two boys and girls here. I'm scanning the church to see where I can see

them, but I think you've all been elevated to the upper levels. The chances of you speaking to me

from over there are quite slim. Unless Ali Moli's son's here, and he'll certainly speak to me from

whatever angle he might be. So I thought I would just show you something today. And boys and girls,

you might need your binoculars. But can you tell me, what's this? It's on my hand. I take it off.

What's that? Can you see it? Anyone brave enough to shout out?

He must not be in the service, is he? It's a ring, for those of you who can't see. And it's a ring

that is on a, I've only got one piece of jewelry in my whole body. It's the only piece of jewelry I've

ever worn in my life. And it's a ring, and I wear it on this finger. And when I'm wearing a ring on this

finger, like everyone else who wears a ring on this finger, it tells you something. What does it tell

you? Well, it tells you that I'm married. So back in Harris, my wife, Mary, is over there. And I've

got three girls, Anna and Grace and Lois. But this ring is something that, it tells you that I'm married.

Now, boys and girls, if I take this ring off my finger, and I put it now in my pocket, does

that mean that I'm not married anymore? Well, no. I'm still married. It's not the ring that

makes me married. It's just a sign. It's a sign that tells other people that I'm married,

and it's a sign, you could say, that helps me to remember. If I would never dare forget.

But it helps me to remember on Valentine's Day that I'm married, and I better go out and

buy a card and chocolates or whatever. So the ring is not the thing that makes me married.

It's a sign, and it's a reminder of the fact that I'm married. And boys and girls, the thing

that you see today that's different from most Sundays is that there is a table down at the

front here. And on the table, there's bread and there's wine. And the bread reminds us of

the body of Jesus. He gave himself for us. And the wine reminds us of the blood of Jesus.

It takes us to the cross, where we remember that Jesus, he bled and he died to take our sin away.

And when we eat the bread, and when we drink the wine, we're saying that we're Christians.

See, everybody who takes the bread and takes the wine today, they are saying as they take it,

I'm a Christian.

Now, is it the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine that makes them Christians? No, it's not.

These things are just signs. And they point us to Jesus. And when we come and we sit at the table,

as this is called, and we take the bread and we take the wine, we're saying, Lord Jesus, I trust in you.

We're saying that to Jesus. But we're saying to the people around who are watching,

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm trusting Jesus. I'm a sinner who is trusting Jesus as my Savior.

One last thing before you go away to Sunday school. What do you think Mary would say if I went home

or if I moved to a new place on the mainland? And I said, I'll tell you what, Mary, I do love you,

but I'm going to take the wedding ring off. And I think from now on, we should keep our marriage a secret.

Even though I love you, I tell you what, I don't want anybody to know about you.

And I don't want anyone to know that we love each other and that we're married. Will that be okay?

What do you think she would say? I think she would say a whole lot.

I don't think she would be very pleased if I was going to say, I'm not brave enough.

I'm a bit ashamed to say that I'm married to you. That's not okay.

If we love each other, we wear the ring.

And we tell people that we're married.

And if we are trusting Jesus,

if we love Jesus,

if he's taken our sin away,

if we are his people,

it's not okay to not come to the table.

We must hear what Jesus says.

And he says, do this

to remember me.

Do this.

Take the bread, take the wine,

sit at the table

to tell people that you love me

and that you're trusting me.

And so that's what we do

as we come to the table today.

So let's pray again just for a moment.

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you love us.

We thank you that we can trust you.

We thank you that you went to the cross

to take our sin away.

And that the bread reminds us of your body

that you gave for us.

And the wine reminds us of the blood

that was shed to take away our sin.

We ask, Lord, that every one of us

would be trusting you.

That our sins would be washed away.

And we pray that if there's anybody here

who is trusting you,

but isn't yet telling anybody

that they're trusting you,

we pray that even today

that would change

and that they would want to come

and tell people

that they are Christians.

Be with the boys and girls.

Help them as they go to Sunday school.

Open their minds and their hearts

that they would remember their creator

and that they would trust Jesus

as their saviour

in the days of their youth.

Bless them, we pray.

And we ask all this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We're going to sing again

to God's praise.

And we'll sing this time

from the Sing Psalms version

of Psalm 23.

Psalm 23.

And that is on page 28

of the book.

And notice what we're saying

in that psalm.

We're saying,

we're saying the Lord

is my shepherd.

Not just that he's the shepherd,

but we're saying the Lord

is my shepherd.

And so we'll sing

this psalm.

Psalm 23,

the whole psalm

to God's praise.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

έ έ έ

By wandering steps he brings back to his way,

in straight paths of righteousness making me stay,

unless he has done his great name to display.

Though I walk with death's honey where darkness is near,

because you are with me no evil I fear,

your wrath and your suffering be comfort and cheer.

And the sight of my enemies at table you spread,

the oil of rejoicing you pour on my head,

my cup overflows and ungracious regret.

O jury, your covenant, mercy and grace,

will follow me closely in all of my ways.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord all my days.

If you could turn with me now please to Matthew chapter 11,

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

page 984 on the Bible here.

Matthew chapter 11 and just a short reading,

Matthew 11 · chapter mention

as we had last night also from verse 25 to the end of the chapter.

At that time Jesus declared,

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.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father,

and no one knows the Son except the Father,

and no one knows the Father except the Son,

and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.

Amen.

May God bless that reading of his word to us.

We'll sing again now to God's praise from Psalm 62.

Sing Psalm 62, page number 80 in the book.

We sing from verse 5 to verse 12 of the psalm.

Find rest, my soul, in God alone.

In him my hope is ever sure.

My safety fortress, sheltering rock.

In him alone I am secure.

Down to the end of the psalm.

Psalm 62, verses 5 to 12.

Psalms 62:5–12

To God's praise.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

If you could turn back please to the passage that we read in Matthew 11.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Our Heavenly Father we thank you that we find rest in God alone.

We thank you that our hope is in Christ.

Amen.

And so we ask Lord that as we come back to the word as we hear again this invitation, this call that comes from Jesus to come to him.

We ask Lord that we would find rest, that we would know the sure and certain hope that comes from being found in him.

Amen.

So help us Lord we pray as we meditate upon your word and what we pray for ourselves here.

We pray for Rory John as he leads in the Gaelic.

We pray for the children again as they go to their Sunday school class.

We pray for many denominations around us in this town who gather around your word as we do at this time.

And we ask Lord that whatever Christ crucified is preached that you would be working, that Jesus would be lifted up and that many would be drawn to him.

So help us we pray in Jesus name.

Amen.

We pray for the έ voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy

and vibrations in our phone that's calling us to respond to all manner of things that come across our way.

There are many calls that we receive from many different places and people.

But what I'd like to do this morning in the time that we have is return to the verses that we have been in over the course of the weekend

and the verses that we looked at yesterday evening.

And in these verses, we hear the call of God upon us, the words of Jesus, the words of God the Son.

And he says,

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

And I really want to just limit our thoughts this morning to verse 28.

And think about this call, this verse, under four headings.

We hear, first of all, in this verse, a universal call or an inclusive call.

An all-inclusive call, you could say.

That's the first thing that we'll think about.

The second point that's connected to the first point is that this is a call.

It's a call to, it's a call for sinners to respond.

It's a universal, inclusive call, point one.

It's a call for sinners.

And these two points fit together because we're all sinners.

So it's for all of us.

The third point is it's a call to come to Christ.

We're given clear direction on who we are to come to, how we are to respond.

We come directly to Christ.

And the final thing that we see in this verse is that it's a call to rest.

It's a call to receive rest.

So four very simple points that speak to us about the wonder of the gospel message,

which is deep enough for every theological professor that ever lived to delve down into

and never get to the bottom of.

And yet it's simple enough for the youngest amongst us here to be able to take hold of

and respond to.

It's a call for the very young as it is a call for those who are up in years and who may be

mature in the faith.

So first point in the message this morning is this is a universal call or it's an inclusive

call.

Sometimes people criticize Christianity for being exclusive.

There's nothing exclusive about the call that we have heard.

This is a universal.

It's a wide.

It's an all inclusive call.

This is a call for everyone.

Everyone who has been given ears to hear is being called through this verse.

Jesus says, come to me all who are weary, who labor and are heavy laden.

Not just the respectable.

Not just the clean living.

Not just those who can trace a family heritage of church connections.

This is a call for all.

Sometimes we get offers through the post or on an email and it's something that grabs us.

You know, maybe we see an offer for a free holiday or 20% off new trainers or whatever it is that

interests you, that grabs you.

It catches your eye and you think, I need that.

I want that.

And so we start to respond to this call that's come into our inbox.

But we get five minutes into the application process and we realize, actually, it's not for us.

The 20% off the new trainers is only for students.

Or the free holiday is only for the over 70s or the over 60s or whatever.

There's exclusions.

There's qualifications.

And as we scrutinize the text, we see that we don't qualify for this holiday or this offer.

But when we read these verses, we see that there's no such exclusions.

There's no deceptive small print that's hidden away in the back of this chapter.

This is a universal call.

It's an inclusive call.

James Montgomery Boyce, the commentator, says,

Jesus' words are for people of all ages.

I see people of all ages here.

All nationalities.

And I expect there's people from many different places here.

All temperaments.

I don't know you well, but I expect there's different tempers in the room.

And Jesus calls them.

He calls us, says boys, exactly as they are.

And the call is a call to come.

As the hymn writer wrote in that old hymn,

Just as I am without one plea,

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidst me come to thee,

O Lamb of God.

I come.

That's the call.

It's a call to all.

It's a call to come and to become as we are.

And Jesus only knows exactly how we are and who we are.

We can put on a face and we can deceive others about who we are.

We can sometimes project an image that's better than we actually are.

We usually try and work that way, don't we?

We put on our best face.

So it's at home that see exactly who we are.

And yet Jesus sees more clearly exactly who we are

Because he scans our thoughts.

He knows our hearts.

And yet, even though he knows us intimately,

Even though he has known us since the womb,

Even though he knows all our days,

Past, present, and into the future,

But we can't see.

And yet still he calls us.

Exactly as we are today.

He calls us to come.

It's a universal call.

It's for everybody.

It's an inclusive, wide call.

Think about the verse that we so often quote from John 16.

For God so loved the world.

Not one little region.

It's a big, wide word.

The world.

For God so loved the world

That he gave us one and only Son

That whoever.

It's wide.

It's universal.

It's inclusive.

That whoever.

Believes in him.

Would not perish.

But have eternal life.

I'm always conscious that when we come to the Lord's house,

And especially around the table,

The devil is very active.

There's probably been battles in the house

Before you left this morning.

We are conscious of attacks and battles

When we're coming towards the table.

And the devil will love to

Crash into our minds and say,

What are you doing here today?

What are you doing here today?

Yes, them.

I can see them.

They should have a place.

But what about you?

What are you doing here today?

With all the things you said this week

And the things you didn't say.

And the thoughts that went through your mind.

What are you doing here?

What makes you think that you can become a Christian?

What makes you think that the Lord's table is for you?

Surely you are excluded.

Surely the Lord is not calling you.

That's the assaults that we hear crashing in

As God is working.

The devil is seeking to counter.

And yet through this verse,

There is that loving, reassuring correction from Jesus.

And he's saying all who have ears to hear

Are called to come.

None are excluded.

It's a universal call.

The second point is it's a call for sinners.

Jesus invites all.

In the NIV it says,

All who are weary and burdened

We are called to come.

And it's sin

That causes you and I

To feel weary in our souls

And burdened.

So Jesus is calling sinners.

And we know that because

The language experts tell us

That in the Greek

The words used

Are not speaking about

Physical burdens

And the

Physical weaknesses

And the stresses

Of a difficult life.

That's not the meaning

That's captured in these words.

The words that are used

In this verse

Are words that

Referred chiefly to the burden

We feel

At the sense of our sin.

It's a spiritual burden.

It's a spiritual weight.

The AV and the ESV

Which we've read

Speak of those who labor

And are heavy laden.

Those who are tired

From laboring

In our own good works

Rather than receiving

The grace of Christ.

It's possible

For us to work

Furiously

At religion

And try to do

All these religious things

All these good works

As a means

By which we can try

And persuade God

To accept us.

And if that's the way

We're living

Then we are very quickly

Weary

And burdened.

It's a labor.

To all those who labor

All those who are heavy laden

All those who are weighed down

By the sin

That plagues us

Jesus is speaking to us

And the call

Is a universal

It's an inclusive call

Because sin is universal

Sin is

All inclusive

There's no one in this room

No one in this church

Who isn't a sinner

No matter how young

Or how old

How many times you've sat

In the chairs

How good our lives

May look on the outside

How much of the Bible

We may be able to recite

How high a mark

We got in the catechism exams

All of us are sinners.

I was traveling from Edinburgh

Through to Glasgow

The week before last

As I was coming out

Of a meeting

And I was fighting

Against the clock

Trying to catch a train

And so I went charging

Along through the station

And through the

The platform

The announcement

Was sounding

And I jumped onto

The first carriage

That was on the train

That was taking us

From Edinburgh

Through to Glasgow

I sat down

Relieved to be in my seat

And once I sat down

I thought

This is nice

Because the carriage

Seemed to have a bit more space

Than the ones I was usually in

And the seats

Were a bit more comfortable

And it was just

A nice atmosphere

And I thought

This is much nicer

Than I remembered

And then I

I looked around

And I noticed

I was in first class

And I wanted to stay in there

But I could see the conductor

Just a few carriages along

And I knew

That my ticket said

Not first class

But economy

And that's what was important

It wasn't what I felt

I could have sat there

With my arms folded

Saying I should be in here

But I had no

I had no right to be in there

My ticket said economy

My ticket said

You've got a cheap seat

And so I had to accept that

And move

And as much as

Some may not like

This truth

The Bible says

That you and I

Are sinners

That's what our ticket says

Romans 3.23 says

All have sinned

In verse 10 and 11

Of the same chapter

It says

There's no one righteous

Not even one

And that might sound like

Bad news

And it is bad news

But it's bad news

That drives us

To the good news

And the good news

Is that Jesus came

To seek and save

The lost

He came for sinners

He didn't come for

Those who claim

To be spiritually healthy

He came for those

Who know

That we are

Spiritually sick

He came for those

Who agree

With him

That we are sinners

He came for those

Who know

That we need him

To be our saviour

John Newton

Who wrote the hymn

Amazing Grace

Towards the end

Of his life

He was

Struggling with

His memory

And

He couldn't remember

Very much

He couldn't even remember

And recognise

Those

Who were his closest

Friends

And

The record goes

That one of his

Closest friends

Came to visit him

Towards the end

Of his life

And

John Newton

He didn't recognise him

He couldn't remember him

And his friends said

Well

What do you remember

If you don't remember me

You know

What do you remember

And Newton said

I'm quoting

My memory

Is nearly gone

But I remember

Two things

That I am a great sinner

And that Christ

Is a great saviour

And his mind

May have been failing

But still

He had that vision

And that faith

Of a little child

The faith

That enables

Us to enter

The kingdom of God

By recognising

That the call

Of God

Is for sinners

Like us

Sinners

Who need a saviour

In Christ

And as we take

Our place

At the Lord's table

That is what

We confess

Not that we are

Righteous

None of us

Can swagger in

To a church

With our chests

Puffed out

And take our place

As those who think

That we are good enough

That we are righteous

We come with our heads down

We come in humility

We come with reverence

Recognising

That

We are not worthy

But we are trusting

In Jesus

The only one

Who was

And is

Worthy

This is a table

For sinners

Saved

By grace

It's a

A universal

And inclusive call

It's a call

For sinners

The third point

Is it's a call

To come

To Christ

And just the simplicity

Of this

Is just so

Encouraging

Certainly for a simple

Mind like mine

This is a call

To come

To Christ

Where will we find

Help

Where will we find

Salvation

Where will we find

Grace that

Saves and sustain us

In Christ

No other place

All of us

I expect

Will have been

In the situation

Where we're

Looking for help

We're looking for

Assistance

We're in a state

Of need

And we reach out

To a place

Where we think

We're going to get help

And the help

Doesn't come

So maybe

We're struggling

With our health

And we pick up

The phone

And we make a phone call

And we're looking

For help

And we get

Passed from one

Person to the next

To the next

To the next

And we're no

Farther forward

Fifteen minutes later

Or you phone

With a problem

With your broadband

And you get

You tell your story

To the person

At the end of the phone

And they say

Well hold the line

I'm going to transfer

You to this other

Department

You tell them

Your story

And they say

Actually it's not us

We'll transfer you

To another department

And you get passed

From place to place

To place to place

And you get no help

In this verse

Jesus is calling

Those of us

Who are weary

And burdened

Those who are laboring

And who are heavy laden

And we are being called

To come directly

To Christ

So let me ask

That simple

Direct question

Have you come

To Jesus yet?

I remember

When I was a

Just a young boy

Growing up in

Stornway actually

And when I was

Aged eight

I came under

A real heavy

Conviction of sin

I did something

Maybe I'll talk

About it tonight

If I've got a voice left

I did something

And when I did it

The second I did it

I knew I'd done

The wrong thing

I sinned

And from that point

On

God

Worked in my life

To show me

That I had a sin

Problem

And I knew that

Even at age eight

I knew about sin

I knew about salvation

I knew about heaven

I knew about hell

And I knew at that

Young age

That I

I was lost

And I knew that

If I died that night

I wasn't going to be

With Jesus

And it

Scared me

And this weight

Of sin

Was pressing down

On me

And when I was

Playing football

Or busy with my

Pals

I would kind of

Be distracted

But when I was

On my own again

I just felt that

That conviction of sin

Pressing down

And I knew what to do

About it

I knew that I had

To come to Jesus

I knew I had to

Ask for forgiveness

I knew I had to

Ask him to come

Into my life

But for two years

The two saddest years

Of my life

Aged eight to ten

I didn't come

To him

I was slow

To come to him

And for these

Two years

I was so

Restless

And so sad

In my

Heart

So have you

Whether you're

Aged eight

Or whether you're

Aged eighty

Have you come

To Jesus

That's the calling

See when sin

Presses in on us

If we don't

Come to Jesus

We're going to

Go somewhere else

And we'll never

Get rest

Any other place

Some people

When they

They start to feel

Restless

And when they

Come under

Conviction of sin

They'll take

To drink

Or drugs

Let's try

And forget

This

Let's try

And get a

Buzz that will

Just distract us

From this

And there's all

Manner of ruin

And disruption

When we're

Head in that

Direction

Some people

When they come

Under conviction

When they come

Under conviction

Of sin

And when there's

That restlessness

They bury themselves

In work

Some try hard

To be better

People

Think they can

Fix themselves

But still

The burden

Is there

The weight

Is there

And that

Weariness

That burden

That sense

Of being

Heavy laden

It remains

Pressing down

In on us

Until we

Come to

Christ

Himself

And so

He says

To us

Today

All of us

Come to

Me

That was

The call

That was

First heard

In Matthew

Matthew 4 · chapter mention

Chapter 4

As Jesus

Speaks to

Peter and

Andrew

He says

Come to

Me

Follow

Me

And that's

The abiding

Call for all

Of us

It's a word

For all of

Us

Every morning

We wake

Jesus

Is saying

Come to

Me

Abide in

Me

Walk

Close with

Me

Enjoy

The rest

That only

I can

Give

And to

Call to

Come to

Christ

Everything

We need

Is

Finding

Christ

Think

About

The

Sayings

In

John's

Gospel

That speak

To us

About how

Jesus

He

He

He gives

Us

Everything

That we

Need

John 6

Jesus

Says

I am

The bread

Of life

John

John 8 · chapter mention

Chapter 8

And 9

Jesus

Says

I am

The light

Of the

World

John

John 10 · chapter mention

Chapter

10

Jesus

Says

I am

The door

I am

The good

Shepherd

John 11

I am

The resurrection

And the

Life

John 14

I am

The way

And the

Truth

And the

Life

John 15

I am

The true

Vine

In Christ

Alone

We find

Help

In Christ

Alone

We find

Salvation

In Christ

Alone

We are

Forgiven

So we

Are called

To come

To Christ

And to

Remain

In Christ

And that's

What we

Profess

As we

Take our

Place at

The Lord's

Table

We profess

That we

Have come

To Jesus

For grace

We profess

That we

Are with

Him

A call

That's

Universal

That's

Wide

That's

Inclusive

A call

For sinners

A call

To come

To Christ

And finally

A call

To rest

Jesus

Says

Come to

Me

All who

Labor

And are

Heavy

Laden

And I

Will give

You

Rest

And in

Just a

Few

Moments

We'll

Come to

The Lord's

Table

We'll

Partake

Some of

Us of

The Lord's

Supper

It's a

Meal that

Was

Instituted

For us

In order

That we

Will be

Reminded

Of all

That Jesus

Did for

Us

On the

Cross

At

Calvary

And the

Cross

Can be

A hard

Place

For you

And I

To look

Because

There we

See

Our

Lord

There we

See the

One

Who was

Without

Sin

Taking

Our

Sin

Upon

Himself

One

Hymn

Writer

Wrote

It

Was

My

Sin

That

Held

Him

There

Until

It

Was

Accomplished

His

Dying

Breath

Has

Brought

Me

Life

I

Know

That

It

Is

Finished

And so

The cross

It's a

Hard

Place

In

Some

Ways

For us

To

Look

Because

There we

See

Our

Savior

Suffering

For us

We can

Read the

Account

Callum

Read

From

Luke 23

This

Morning

In

The

Home

We

Have

That

Short

Account

Of

Jesus

Suffering

On

The cross

The

Nails

Driven

Into

His

Hands

And

Feet

The

Sword

That

Peace

Pierced

His

Side

The

Gasping

For

Breath

The

Suffocation

The

Physical

Suffering

That

He

Endured

The

Acute

Pain

That

He

Endured

As

He

Hung

On

The

Cross

But

That

Was

Not

The

Worst

Of

It

Because

When

Jesus

Suffered

Physical

Pain

He

Said

Nothing

But

When

His

Father

Turned

His

Face

Away

From

Him

When

His

Father

Could

Not

Look

Upon

Him

Because

He

Was

Carrying

My

Sin

And

Yours

Jesus

In

That

Moment

The

God

Man

Who

Had

Always

Known

The

Rest

Of

Being

In

His

Father's

Presence

In

That

Moment

As

He

Hung

On

The

Cross

As

His

Father

Turns

His

Face

Away

Jesus

He

Lost

That

Sense

Of

Rest

And

As

He

Did

He

Cried

Out

My

God

My

God

Why

Have

You

Forsaken

!

Me!

And

The

Answer

Is

Because

Of

You!

And

Because

Of

Me!

It

Was

For

Your

Sake

And

Mine!

Jesus

On

The

Cross

He

Lost

His

Rest

So

That

We

Could

Receive

It

So

That

We

Could

Receive

The

Rest

The

Assurance

Of

Sins

Forgiven

And

Peace

With

God

And

Eternal

Life

And

That

Is

True

Rest

A

Million

Pounds

Pounds

In

The

Bank

Is

Not

Rest

A

Permanent

Job

For

Life

Is

Not

Rest

Marrying

The

Girl

Or

Boy

That

You

Dreamed

Of

That's

Not

Rest

Rest

For

Our

Soul

Eternal

Rest

Is

Found

Only

When

We

Respond

In

Faith

To

Christ's

Call

To

Come

To

Him

And

Every

Time

We

Come

To

The

Table

We

Taste

Afresh

Something

Of

The

Rest

That

Is

Promised

To

All

Who

Come

To

Jesus

Come

To

Me

All

Who

Labor

And

Are

Heavy

Laden

And

I

Will

Give

You

Rest

A

Universal

Call

A

Call

To

Sinners

A

Call

To

Christ

And

A

Call

To

Rest

So

Let

Us

Be

Encouraged

As

We

Hear

The

Call

Of

Jesus

To

Come

To

Him

And

To

Come

Back

To

Him

If

We're

Drifting

And

To

Take

Our

Place

As

His

People

At

His

Table

Let's

Pray

Heavenly

Father

We

Thank you

Once more

For the

Gospel

Call

And

We

Pray

That

You

Would

Give

Each

One

Of

Us

Amen

Ears

To

Hear

And

Eyes

To

See

And

Hearts

That

Will

Respond

To

The

Call

Of

Jesus

We

Pray

For

Any

Who

May

Be

Sitting

Here

This

Morning

And

Who

Are

Under

Attack

who wonder and stress

as to whether they should even be at the table.

We pray, Lord, that you would help them.

When Satan tempts me to despair

and tells me of the guilt within,

upward I look and see him,

Jesus there,

who made an end to all my sin

because the sinless Saviour died.

My guilty soul is counted free

for God the just is satisfied

to look on him

and pardon me.

Give to us, Lord, we pray,

that sense of the security

of being in Christ

and the grace,

the lavish grace

that is promised to us in Jesus.

We pray for any who are here this morning

and who are outside of the table,

Lord, that you would strive with them

from the youngest here to the oldest

and we thank you, Lord,

that you called the children

to come to you.

And when there were those

who tried to push the children back,

they were rebuked.

And so we pray for the young ones here

that they would hear the voice of Jesus

and that they too would come

and find that rest that the world cannot give

that is found only in Jesus.

So be at work, Lord, we pray

and bless us,

minister to us

as we come to the table

that we would know

the taste of the grace of Jesus once more.

And we ask this in Jesus' name

and for his sake.

Amen.

Just as we come to the table

very briefly,

I want to think about where we look,

where we look as we come to the table.

And we're to look two ways.

We're to look, first of all, at self.

In just a moment,

we're going to read the words of Warrant.

And in the passage

where the Lord's Supper is instituted,

there is a verse that says,

let a person,

let a man, woman, boy, girl,

as they prepare to come,

let a person examine himself.

We're very good at examining other people

and saying,

I'm surprised to see they were there.

That's not your job or mine.

Let a person examine himself.

And as you and I examine self,

we see sin.

If we've got any clarity,

any sense of who we are,

as we examine self,

we see sin.

Sin that we are repenting of day by day,

but still we see sin.

Is that a reason to stay away from the table?

Well, no, it's a reason to come.

It's God, the Holy Spirit,

who convicts us,

who shows us our sin.

The table is for sinners.

Remember the story,

you'll have been told the story a thousand times.

Rabbi Duncan,

the minister,

the Old Testament professor,

was preaching in a church one day,

and he saw a woman he recognized

as one of the Lord's people,

who was broken by her sin.

As the elements were being passed around,

they came to her,

and she passed them on,

and dissolved into tears.

And what does he do?

He gets down from the place

that he was standing,

and he takes the elements,

and he goes to her,

and he says,

Tack it, woman.

It's for sinners.

So as we come,

we look at self.

We examine self,

and we see sin,

and we repent of sin.

But as Murray McShane says,

and this takes us to the second place

that we look,

the place that we fix our eyes.

We look at self,

but then we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Robert Murray McShane said,

for every look you take at self,

take ten looks at Jesus.

So if you want a text

to go forward with,

you can take Isaiah chapter 45

Isaiah 45 · chapter mention

and verse 22,

which says,

Look unto me,

and be ye saved.

And that's the text

that we go forward on.

Satan says to us,

Look at the state of you.

Look at the state of you

and your sin.

But the Lord says to us,

Look at the sufficiency

of your Savior.

So looking to Jesus

and trusting in Jesus,

saved by the blood of Jesus,

with our faith in him,

we come.

to warrant the passage

from 1 Corinthians chapter 11

1 Corinthians 11 · chapter mention

and verse 23.

The Apostle Paul said,

For I received from the Lord

that which I also delivered to you,

that the Lord Jesus

on the same night

in which he was betrayed

took bread.

And when he had given thanks,

he broke it and said,

Take, eat.

This is my body

which is broken for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same manner,

he also 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.

For as often

as you eat this bread

and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death

until he comes.

Therefore,

whoever eats this bread

or drinks this cup

of the Lord

in an unworthy manner

will be guilty

of the body

and blood of the Lord.

But let a man

examine himself

and so let him

eat of the bread

and drink of the cup.

For he who eats

and drinks

in an unworthy manner

eats and drinks

judgment to himself,

not discerning

the Lord's body.

So following

the example

of Jesus,

let's now

pray

and give thanks

for this meal

that is prepared

for us.

Our Heavenly Father,

we thank you

for your word

that we have read.

We thank you

for this sacrament

that we are guided

and instructed in

as we come together

as your people.

We thank you

that although

these elements

before us

are just ordinary things

in terms of

their makeup

and the way

that we receive them,

we recognize

that they point us

to the body

of the Lord Jesus.

So we ask,

Lord,

that we would discern

the body

and the blood

of Christ,

that we would

remember him

in all that we do

at this time.

We thank you

for the mystery

and the wonder

of the verse

that says,

he who knew

no sin

became sin

so that we

might become

righteous

in and through him.

We thank you

that as John the Baptist

saw Jesus,

he said,

Behold,

the Lamb of God

who takes away

the sin

of the world.

We thank you

for the perfect sacrifice

that was

found in Christ

for the body

that was given

and the blood

that was shed

that makes atonement

for our sin.

To help us,

we pray,

as we take

the bread,

as we take

the wine,

to remember

the Lord Jesus.

Take away from our minds

every distraction

and bring us

once more

to the cross

that we may

survey it

and that we

may once more

be touched

by the magnitude

of the love

of God.

This is love.

Not that we

love God,

but that he

loved us

and gave us

son to be

the atoning

sacrifice,

the propitiation

for our sin.

Give us eyes

to see it,

we pray.

enable us

to mourn

and repent

of the sin

that so easily

entangles us

and yet

enable us

to rejoice

in the salvation

that is secured

in and through

the sufficient

work,

the finished

work

of Jesus.

So meet with us,

Lord,

we pray.

Bless us,

we ask

in Jesus'

name.

Amen.

So the Lord

Jesus,

on the night

in which he

was betrayed,

took bread

and when he

had blessed

it and

given thanks,

he broke

it and

said,

this is my

body which

is for you.

Do this

in remembrance

of me.

And in the same

way,

he took the

cup

and said,

this cup

is the new

covenant

in my blood.

Do this

as often

as you drink

it

in remembrance

of me.

A very short

verse

as we

prepare to

rise from

the table.

Psalm 130

and verse 7,

second half

of verse 7,

it says,

plenteous redemption,

plenteous redemption

is ever

found

with him.

with Jesus

from all

our iniquities.

We are

forgiven.