This Meal Matters (Maundy Thursday)

This Meal Matters *This communion message was prepared and presented for the 2024 Maundy Thursday fellowship between Franklin Street Missionary Baptist Church and Legacy Church at Toulminville Warren United Methodist in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be the co-celebrant with Pastor Marlon Jones.

Matthew 26:26-28 NLT… As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Introduction: How do people of know that Christian’s are serious about their faith?

Transition: What should we call this meal? Eucharist – The Lord’s Supper – Communion…

Exposition: This meal matters…

-because it highlights that Christian communities are caring.

-because it reminds us of the covenant relationship we have with God.

-because it offers forgiveness, which frees us from guilt and shame!

Conclusion: Is there anything God cannot do?

Sold Out For Chicken Change (LENTEN DEVOTIONAL)

Sold Out For Chicken Change *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lenten Lunch series, of Ashland Place U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.

Luke 22:1-6 NLT… The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Introduction: Listen to the story of the change.

Transition: Judas was a follower of Jesus Christ, who had sticky fingers.

Overwhelming Observations: According to verse 3, Satan entered Judas a disciple of Jesus.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t anesthetize your humanity.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t exempt you from Satan’ use radar.

-Being close to Jesus isn’t merely about what we believe but is inclusive of how we believe.

Conclusion: Let’s not become so involved with pointing fingers at Judas, that we forget how easy it is to become Judas.

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

I Peter 4:10-11 NLT… God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

We are God’s workmen who worship.

We are God’s workmen… empowered to engage and explore with enthusiasm.

Who worship… because God chooses to work through us, and is worthy of our adoration.

Challenge: Since your faith community is incomplete without you, identify what you do well and make it a priority to share your gift with members of this fellowship.

Community – 4 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Community – 4 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT… And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 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. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Introduction: Building Christian community is a worthwhile work that is difficult but doable. It is difficult because of humanity’s rebellion toward unity, but it is doable because of the blood of Jesus that changes our nature.

Transition: Community is not so much where you live, as much as it’s about how you live.

Exposition: When we live into the discipline of Christian community, we exchange ‘I, my, and me’ for ‘we, our, us’ which is covenant language.

–Let us (verse 22) approach… faith

We have access because Christ cleansed us with his blood (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:1-2), and we’ve been publicly claimed by water baptism.

–Let us (verse 23) hold fast… hope

Our confidence in God is secure, because God’s promises are yes in Christ (II Corinthians 1:20)!

–Let us (verse 24) motivate one another… love

Our intelligence should be used to invest in each other (I Corinthians 13:4-8a). #GoodVibesOnly

–Let us (verse 25) gather together… obedience

Your presence makes the difference!

Challenge: Connect with a member of our faith community this week (call, write, text, meet) to motivate them, and do some random and unselfish for someone.

Devotional song of the week: Jesus At The Center (Israel & New Breed)

Fasting – 3 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Fasting – 3 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT… “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Introduction: Western civilization is so addicted to opulence, that it frustrates us to hear the word no; even worse, we don’t know how to say no to ourselves.

Transition: Fasting is voluntary and deliberate deprivation; a physical action with spiritual implications.

Exposition: Considering fasting and prayer are twins, we should understand how we should think about it. Think of fasting as praying with your body.

–Why should we fast? For humility. REFERENCE Deuteronomy 8:3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

–When should we fast? While seeking clarity and course correction.

–How should we fast? Without the need of public praise, but comfortable with parental pride.

Challenge: This Thursday (March 7), I am calling us to fast from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Coffee, water, and fruit are permissible and please continue what is necessary for your medical needs.

Devotional song of the week: Give Me A Clean Heart (Fred Hammond)

Reset (LENTEN DEVOTIONAL)

Reset *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lent Lunch series, of Spring Hill Avenue U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.

Acts 1:8 NLT… But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Introduction: Reset means to set again/differently; nuance that is innovative and creative.

Transition: These forty days of Lent are intended to be a rest for the church of Jesus Christ, to focus on the main thing (the will of God).

Exposition: Jesus explains what a reset looks like…

–A true reset makes you stronger

–Resets involve a shift in purpose

–When resets occur, you don’t get stuck where you were meant to start

Conclusion: Our hands are too small to handle this work, but God’s hands are just the right size to give us what we need to live out God’s purpose for our lives.

Prayer – 2 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Prayer – Spiritual Disciplines 2 of 6

Matthew 6:9-13 NLT… Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Introduction: Prayer is the most underutilized tool in the Christian’s toolbox.

God is the only constant in our relationships, and we present the variables of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual distance.

Transition: Our relationship with God suffers when we fail to make prayer a priority.

Exposition: Prayer must be central to the life of a Christian.

–Divine Centrality (verses 9-10) your name, your Kingdom, your will
REFERENCE Matthew 16:42 My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.

–Communal Petitions (verses 11-13) Give us, forgive us, rescue us
REFERENCE James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Challenge: Secure a prayer partner, and pray with and for each other at least twice this week. Do so audibly, and pray unselfishly based on conversation with your prayer partner.

Devotional song of the week: Sweet Hour of Prayer Meditation (Rev. James Cleveland)

The Choice is Yours (LENTEN DEVOTIONAL)

The Choice is Yours *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lent Worship and Dinner series, of Dauphin Way U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.

Matthew 16:24 NLT… Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me”.

Introduction: When you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

The Christian (who claims to be on the way to meet God) must know that the road is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14).

Transition: Who Jesus is (vs. 13-20) gives way to what Jesus does (vs. 21-28).

Peter voices the typical posture of humanity, which is escapism. So, Jesus uses this as a teachable moment on what it means to be a disciple of and for Jesus Christ.

Exposition: If you’re going to make the right choice about following Jesus, then there are some questions you should consider…

–What do you want? (Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any of you wants to be my follower)

In the middle of life is an ‘if’.

–How bad do you want it? (you must give up your own way)

Lay it down!

–What are you waiting for? (take up your cross, and follow me)

Pick it up and live it out!

Conclusion: “He is no fool who forsakes what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”. ~Phillip James Elliott

Study – 1 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Study – Spiritual Disciplines 1 of 6

II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT… All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Introduction: The Christian holy canon has been intricately compiled, is intimately constructive, and is interestingly provocative.

Transition: To study means the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge.

Exposition: Paul is pointing his protégé Timothy in the direction of biblical fidelity (faithful to a code; honoring a promise), and divine usefulness (partners instead of pawns).

-Be good (verse 16)
Studying scripture is important to our development because we are imperfect. Reference Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

-Do good (verse 17)
Studying Scripture is God’s channel to not only develop us but to deploy us. Reference Luke 10:36-37 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Challenge: Steal Away Time… READ 5 minutes, MEDITATE 5 minutes, JOURNAL 5 minutes.

Fifteen minutes of focused reading, intentional thought, and logging your overwhelming observations, will help develop the discipline of study. ***You can find the passages for your Steal Away Time on this site, under the tab Reading with the Rev.

Devotional song of the week: Steal Away to Jesus (Zo! Gospel Choir)

Moving On

Moving On

Mark 9:2-9 NLT… Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, [3] and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. [4] Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. [5] Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials-one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [6] He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. [7] Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” [8] Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. [9] As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Introduction: We must learn how to enjoy moments of celebration for what they are, instead of getting caught up in euphoria, and forgetting that moments are never meant to be monuments.

Transition: Moving on is not dismissive of mountain moments, but it does means that the moment of celebration should be motivation to confidently play whatever hand life deals you for the next round.

Exposition:

-Moving on is healthy.

-Moving on is a sign of being a good follower.

-Moving on means not to talk too fast.

Conclusion: On our Lenten journey, we will be moving on from mortal mountains, with our sights set on falling for, and following Jesus the messiah.