Communion Message
Another Chance
October 31, 2004
Pastor Leighton Sheley

In preparation for our time together, I was reading this story that Billy Graham originally provided us. He says: Georgia Tech played the University of California in the 1929 Rose Bowl game. In the game a player recovered a fumble but became confused and ran the wrong way. A teammate tackled him just before he would have scored a touchdown against his own team.

At half-time all of the players went to the dressing room and sat down, wondering what the coach would say. This young man sat by himself, put a towel over his head, and cried. When the team was ready to go back onto the field for the second half, the coach stunned the team when he announced that the same players who started the first half would start the second. All of the players left the dressing room except this young man. He would not budge.

The coach looked back as he called him again and saw that his cheeks were wet with tears. The player said, Coach, I can't do it. I've ruined you. I've disgraced the University of California. I can't face the crowd in that stadium. Then the coach put his hand on the player's shoulder and said: Get up and go back in; the game is only half over.

When I think of that story, deep inside I say, what a coach! Or when I read the story of Jonah in the Bible, and the stories of thousands like him, I say, to think that God would give me another chance. God is the God of second chances.

If you're going the wrong direction, today is another chance for you to turn around and go the right direction - in the Bible that's called repenting. The word 'repent' merely means, simply means to turn around and go the other direction, and today you have another chance to turn around and go the right direction. God is the God of second chances.

Moses, David the King, Paul the apostle, and Peter the apostle, and so many more, received second chances. God is the God of second chances, and second-second chances, and second-second-second chances - and today is your chance. So I'd like to invite you, if you are physically able, to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior. The Scriptures say that at times like this we should examine our self.

Lord we are so thankful that You are the God of second chances. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There's no one righteous, not even one. Each and every one of us have sinned against You in thought, word or deed every day this last week, every day of our lives. And yet You invite us to come onto You and be forgiven and cleansed.

Your word says if we confess our sin You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord this we ask and pray this day in Your name. The elements that we hold remind us of the price that has been paid for our salvation, and the elements remind us that the price has been paid. We partake of these elements in remembrance of You. That's partake of the bread, and also the cup.

(Singing) And when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.

Lord thank you for looking upon us this day and being gracious to us. We worship and praise You with everything within us, in Jesus' name, and all God's people said, amen.