FOUR BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGS OF GRACE (2 OF 13)
by Bob Ingle
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
This content is part of a series.
Four Beautiful Blessings of Grace (2 of 13)
Volume 1: Great God, Messy Church
Bob Ingle
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Turn in your bible to 1 Cor. 1. When I was 26, and in my first year as a pastor, I did something I will never forget, but I hope others have. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and I was about to perform only the second wedding I had ever done as a pastor. I was terrified. So I worked hard on the sermon, and the transitions of the service, and knowing where all would be, but I had forgotten one small, but important detail. The bride and groom had decided they wanted to celebrate communion during service. Together they would walk to the Lord's Table, the new husband would serve his new wife the symbols of the body and blood of Christ in front of their friends and family. Beautiful, right? Of course. But guess who was responsible for putting the elements of bread and juice on the table for them? Yeah. That was me. But I had totally forgotten...until about two minutes before the wedding was supposed to start. And then BAM! I was like OH NO!
So I zipped down to the kitchen basement hoping to find what I needed. I quickly found the little wafers in the cupboard. But when I opened the refrigerator to get the juice, it was absolutely empty...except for one small, half full, totally flat, absolutely stale can of Dr. Pepper. Nothing else. That was it. By now it was wedding time. The music was starting. The attendants were lining up. People were wondering where I was. I was stuck.
So what is a new, nervous, out of options pastor supposed to do? I bowed my head, prayed that God would change the Dr. Pepper to grape juice, and filled the cups. Ha. You should have the look on the bride's face when she gulped it down! Priceless!
Do you know what I needed from that couple for my forgetfulness and neglect? I needed the very thing the Lord's Supper represents and celebrates. I needed grace. Grace by definition is unmerited, undeserved, unrepayable kindness. I ...
Volume 1: Great God, Messy Church
Bob Ingle
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Turn in your bible to 1 Cor. 1. When I was 26, and in my first year as a pastor, I did something I will never forget, but I hope others have. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and I was about to perform only the second wedding I had ever done as a pastor. I was terrified. So I worked hard on the sermon, and the transitions of the service, and knowing where all would be, but I had forgotten one small, but important detail. The bride and groom had decided they wanted to celebrate communion during service. Together they would walk to the Lord's Table, the new husband would serve his new wife the symbols of the body and blood of Christ in front of their friends and family. Beautiful, right? Of course. But guess who was responsible for putting the elements of bread and juice on the table for them? Yeah. That was me. But I had totally forgotten...until about two minutes before the wedding was supposed to start. And then BAM! I was like OH NO!
So I zipped down to the kitchen basement hoping to find what I needed. I quickly found the little wafers in the cupboard. But when I opened the refrigerator to get the juice, it was absolutely empty...except for one small, half full, totally flat, absolutely stale can of Dr. Pepper. Nothing else. That was it. By now it was wedding time. The music was starting. The attendants were lining up. People were wondering where I was. I was stuck.
So what is a new, nervous, out of options pastor supposed to do? I bowed my head, prayed that God would change the Dr. Pepper to grape juice, and filled the cups. Ha. You should have the look on the bride's face when she gulped it down! Priceless!
Do you know what I needed from that couple for my forgetfulness and neglect? I needed the very thing the Lord's Supper represents and celebrates. I needed grace. Grace by definition is unmerited, undeserved, unrepayable kindness. I ...
There are 20172 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
