August 18th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

Partaking in the Bread of Life

Lectionary Readings — Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost — August 18, 2024

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

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Call to Worship (based on John 6:51-58)

Leader: We gather today to worship the living God, who offers us true nourishment for our souls.

People: We come hungry for the bread of life, seeking sustenance that only Christ can provide.

Leader: Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever."

People: We long to partake in this heavenly bread, to find eternal life through Christ.

Leader: Just as we need food for our bodies, our spirits need the nourishment that comes from abiding in Jesus.

People: We open our hearts to receive Christ, to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, that we may have life within us.

Leader: The Lord invites us to a deep, abiding relationship. "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them."

People: We seek to abide in Christ, to draw our very life from Him, as He draws His life from the Father.

Leader: Let us remember that our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and died, but Christ offers us bread that leads to eternal life.

People: We come to feast on the true bread from heaven, believing that through Christ, we will live forever.

Leader: As we worship today, may we be filled with the life of Christ, nourished by His word and His presence.

All: We come to the table of the Lord, to eat and drink, to abide in Christ and He in us. May our worship today draw us ever closer to the source of true life. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 111)

Let us pray.

Gracious and mighty God, we come before You today with hearts full of praise and wonder. As the psalmist declares, "Great are the works of the Lord," we too stand in awe of Your magnificent creation and Your mighty deeds throughout history.

Lord, Your works are full of splendor and majesty, and Your righteousness endures forever. We thank You for the wonderful things You have done, not just in ages past, but in our own lives and in our community. Help us to study and delight in Your works, to see Your hand in the world around us and in the unfolding of our own stories.

Father, we praise You for Your graciousness and mercy. You provide food for those who fear You; You are ever mindful of Your covenant. As we gather in worship today, remind us of Your faithfulness. When we are tempted to doubt or fear, bring to our minds the power You have shown in redeeming Your people.

God of wisdom, Your precepts are trustworthy and Your commands are sure. We confess that we often seek wisdom from other sources, forgetting that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Teach us to revere Your name, to cherish Your commands, and to walk in Your ways.

Lord, as we reflect on the psalmist's words, "Holy and awesome is his name," we are reminded of Your transcendent majesty. Yet we also remember that You invite us into relationship with You. We stand in awe of Your holiness, even as we draw near to You as our loving Father.

We pray for those among us today who need a fresh reminder of Your power and love. For those facing challenges, show Yourself strong on their behalf. For those wrestling with doubt, reveal the trustworthiness of Your character. For those seeking direction, illuminate the path of Your commands.

Heavenly Father, may our worship today echo the psalmist's call to give thanks to You with our whole heart. In our songs, in our prayers, in our hearing of Your Word, may we offer You the praise You are due. Let our time together inspire us to live lives that testify to Your greatness and grace.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied Your righteousness and through whom we can approach Your throne with confidence. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: PARTAKING IN THE BREAD OF LIFE

Scripture: John 6:51-58 (NRSV)

Introduction

• Share a personal story or contemporary illustration about the importance of nourishment, both physical and spiritual.

• Briefly introduce the passage from John 6:51-58, highlighting Jesus' radical claim to be the bread of life.

I. JESUS AS THE LIVING BREAD

Divine and Life-Giving: Explore Jesus' claim to be the bread that came down from heaven.

Scripture Reference: John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Explanation:

• Discuss the significance of Jesus calling Himself the "living bread."

• Connect this claim to Jesus' divine origin and His mission to give life to the world.

Application: Encourage the congregation to reflect on how they seek spiritual nourishment and to consider Jesus as the source of true, eternal life.

II. THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT

Literal and Metaphorical: Examine the shocking nature of Jesus' words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood.

Scripture Reference: John 6:53-54 "So Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.'"

Explanation:

• Address the confusion and offense these words caused among Jesus' listeners.

• Discuss the metaphorical nature of Jesus' language and its connection to His sacrificial death.

• Explore the sacramental implications for the practice of communion.

Application: Challenge the congregation to consider the depth of commitment Jesus calls for and how we can "feed on Him" in our daily lives.

III. THE INTIMACY OF ABIDING IN CHRIST

Mutual and Transformative: Discuss the profound union between Christ and believers.

Scripture Reference: John 6:56 "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them."

Explanation:

• Explore the concept of "abiding" in Christ and its implications for our spiritual life.

• Discuss how this mutual indwelling transforms our identity and daily living.

Application: Encourage the congregation to cultivate a deep, abiding relationship with Christ through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and obedience.

IV. THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

Present and Future: Examine the promise of eternal life through Christ.

Scripture Reference: John 6:57-58 "Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."

Explanation:

• Discuss the nature of eternal life as both a present reality and a future hope.

• Compare the bread Jesus offers with the manna in the wilderness, highlighting the superiority of Christ's provision.

Application: Motivate the congregation to live in light of the eternal life they have in Christ, allowing this reality to shape their priorities and decisions.

Conclusion

• Reflect on the profound nature of Jesus' offer to be our spiritual nourishment and the source of eternal life.

• Encourage the congregation to respond to Jesus' invitation to partake in Him fully.

• Close with a call to action, challenging the congregation to deepen their commitment to Christ and to "feed on Him" daily.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank You for offering Yourself as the bread of life. Help us to partake in You fully, to abide in You, and to find our true nourishment in You. May we experience the eternal life You offer, both now and in the age to come. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers