Jesus, In Our Church Series

Series: When Jesus Comes To Your Town [#2]

JESUS, IN OUR CHURCH

Mark 11:15-19

Preparation Needed Before Sermon:

1. On the order of service page of the bulletin do not list any songs, Scripture, etc¡K Only have the sermon title and text at the top of the page with blank lines going down the page. At the bottom of the page have a note that says, ¡§The preacher made us do this¡¨. (Love Marie Greer- Secretary & Chris St.Clair II- Associate Pastor, Music Minister, & Education Minister.)[Keep announcement page the same.]

2. Move the ¡§fancy¡¨ desk that is in the foyer to where the Lord¡¦s Supper table usually is- up front in the sanctuary. Put the 2 columns that are usually in the foyer on the stage (1 by the clavinova and 1 by the piano). Move the wooden stand off of the stage and have Chris and singers move their music stands to the side before the preaching.

Introduction:

I¡¦m sure everyone is wandering what is going on this morning with a few things. On your bulletin, you probably noticed that none of the songs were listed. Hopefully you read down far enough to know who is responsible for that.

On the lines provided on your bulletin I would like for you to write the following: Number each of the 1st 3 lines (1, 2, and 3). On those lines list the 3 things that are different about the furniture set up in the sanctuary.

Now skip 1 space and number the next 3 lines (1,2, and 3). List 3 things about last weeks sermon that you remember. If you were not here last week list 3 things about the last sermon you heard preached.

Now skip another space and number the next 3 lines (1,2, and 3). List 3 ways that you applied last weeks sermon (or the last sermon you heard) to your life.

By the way, I do not want to see these so take them with you when you leave.

Last week I asked the question, ¡§How would Jesus react and how would you react if Jesus came to our town¡¨? This morning as we continue in our series ¡§When Jesus Comes To Your Town¡¨, let me get a little more specific. What would Jesus¡¦ reaction and our reactions be if Jesus came to our Church service today here at Bel Aire Baptist Church? (By the way, I do hope that the presence of God is here today. If not, we have huge problems.)

Mark 11:11

First Impressions Of Our Church?

Jesus was ending His ministry in the Temple- His Father¡¦s house of prayer, the place where God¡¦s presence dwelt. He was about to complete His life upon earth. The night before, as He had stood off by Himself in the Temple observing all that was taking place, His thoughts must have been upon His Father, His life now about completed, the great sacrifice He was to pay for man¡¦s sins, the corruption of the Temple taking place all around Him, the worshipping that should be taking place, and so much more. I¡¦m sure his heart was broken. Right before Him was a picture of the terrible sin for which He was to die. The Temple itself, the place where men should be able to draw close to God, was corrupted by men. It had become anything but a house of prayer.

There was much more to the Temple than just a building. The Temple sat on top of Mt. Zion, and it is thought to have covered about thirty acres of land. The Temple consisted of two parts, the Temple building itself and the Temple precincts or courtyards.

The temple building was a small, ornate structure which sat in the center of the Temple property. It was called the Holy Place or Holy of Holies, and only the High Priest could enter its walls; but even he could enter only once during the year, on the Day of Atonement.

The Temple precincts were four courtyards which surrounded the Temple building, each decreasing in their importance to the Jewish mind. It is important to realize that great walls separated the courts from each other.

Court Yard #1:

First there was the Court of the Priests. Only the priests were allowed to enter this court. Within the courtyard stood the great furnishings of worship: the Altar of Burnt Offering, The Brazen Laver, the Seven Branched lamp-stand, the Altar of Incense, and the Table of Showbread.

Court Yard #2:

The Court of the Israelites was next. This was a huge courtyard where Jewish worshippers met together for joint services on the great feast days. It was also where worshippers handed over their sacrifices to the priests.

Court Yard #3:

The Court of the Women was the third courtyard. Women were usually limited to this area except for worship. They could, however, enter the Court of the Israelites when they came to make sacrifice or worship in a joint assembly on a great feast day.