Communion Message
(Branches)
March 2, 2003
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Our worship today is an expression and an acknowledgment of our dependence upon Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We need Him every hour. There's another relationship of total dependence that's described for us in the Holy Scriptures, that of the vine and the branches. Without being plugged into the vine a branch's only value is firewood for it produces no fruit.

We find these words of Jesus recorded for us in John chapter 15. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be giving you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

And so today we pray together: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This is my command: Love each other.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

The Scriptures say at times like these that we should examine our self, and so, if you are physically able, I'd like to invite you to join with me as we now kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Lord, this day we bow in Your presence. We are a sinful people. Each and every one of us have failed You each and every day. Your word says if we confess our sins You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord we desire, we ask, You to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us this day. The elements that we hold remind us of the great price that has been paid for our salvation and for our redemption. And as we partake we do so in remembrance of You. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.

Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised. Thank you, Lord, for inhabiting our praise this day, in Jesus' name we pray and all God's people said, amen. Let's take a few moments and greet those who have come to worship with us this morning.