Category: Church

One of my duties every Sunday morning with my church family – whether I preach a full sermon or not – is that I open our service with inspiration (following our first worship song and leading-in to our second worship song), and I also close our service with encouragement.

After about 75 minutes of service the goal is to send out my brothers and sisters into the world on a high note – to encourage each of them to keep the praise, worship, and celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ going through the front doors, into our vehicles, and continuing on in whatever we do and wherever we go. That’s how we bring the church instead of go to the church. If you’re going to church on a Sunday then you’re doing it all wrong. You’re going through the motions. You’re following a religion. If you are the church, and you’re bringing the church with you on a Sunday then you’re glorifying God. That’s not a religion. That’s a way of life. That’s a fantastic journey that started at the point of salvation and continues through the point of resurrection.

I always have an opening and a closing prepared in advance of each service, but my plans are not God’s plans. (I write that with a smile on my face because I have to remind myself of that on a fairly regular basis.)

Today I had this Scripture from Colossians 4 prepared for my closing:

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray that God will give us many opportunities to speak about Christ. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive, so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Well God took me on an impromptu mission at the precise moment that I would’ve recited that Scripture. I essentially went rogue, walked off the stage, welcomed a couple of new faces by name to our church body, and lifted-up in prayer our brothers and sisters (by name) who weren’t present with us. I went straight from that to a few ad-libbed remarks, and then I read one of my longtime Scriptures of Benediction (Psalm 19:14 KJB).

It’s good to be prepared in-season and out-of-season, but when God leads you in a different direction then you must abandon those plans and go with God. He is The Way, The Truth, The Life.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

And so – dear brothers and sisters – we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death – Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house – let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, but encourage one another – especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT)

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

I am back in the U.S.A., back in South Florida, back at home, back with my church family this morning, and back on social media. My regularly-scheduled Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday blogs are back in business. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, so let’s blog together.

It was a quick turnaround from vacation time for me. Upon receiving a cell phone signal for the first time in 7 days I received a message via Messenger early on Saturday morning (4 AM) asking if I could preach this Sunday. Of course I can !

Preach the Word of God. Be prepared – whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT)

Today I preached a brand new sermon that I wrote in the days and weeks leading-up to my vacation. It’s a sermon all about Communion – its importance, and why we do it.

In remembrance of Him.

I preached mostly from Romans (3:25-26, 5:6-11, 6:11).

We are dead to the power of sin, and alive to God through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11),

and because of this connection – this Communion with Christ – we will be spared from God’s wrath on the last day.

When Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world – we will share in all His glory. (Colossians 3:4)

The early church observed and celebrated Jesus by taking Communion – often. They realized that every time they gathered around a table to eat and drink in fellowship – in Communion with each other – it was a time to recognize Jesus, and thank God for all that He has done.

The same is true 2,000 years later. We observe and celebrate Jesus by taking Communion. It’s a time set aside – once a month – for us to pause, reflect, and recognize Jesus corporately – as a connected and united church body in fellowship – and thank God for all that He has done for us.

It’s a glorious and intimate moment in Communion with God. This must never become mundane, or a ritual, or an obligation. This is a celebration of death becoming life – forever.

In remembrance of Him.

We observed and celebrated Communion towards the end of my message.

All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries