← General Meeting   COMMUNION MEDITATION
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Baptism Is Our Enlistment

Communion meditation · Titus 2:11–14 · target 3:30, never past 5:00 · adapted from a meditation by John Winstead

Remember six words

1 POINT2 TITUS 23 ENLIST4 ANTHEM5 REMEMBER6 PRAY

Point to the baptistry and the cross. Read Titus 2. Baptism is enlistment. Communion is the anthem. Remember His body and blood. Pray. If you lose your place, go to the next word. Use Memory mode to rehearse with only the cue words showing.

Beat 1 · Point
0:00 to 0:15

Two things in the room

Two thingsThe baptistryThe crossAnd this scripture

Good morning. I want to draw your attention to two things.

There's a baptistry over there,POINT and there's a cross over there.POINT

And this scripture, from the book of Titus, chapter 2.

Before you start, know exactly where the baptistry and the cross are from where you'll stand. Point slowly and let people look. If the room has no baptistry or cross in view, say "Picture a baptistry, and picture the cross."
Bridge: "Titus 2, starting in verse 11..."
Beat 2 · Titus 2
0:15 to 1:00

The scripture

Grace has appearedSay no to ungodlinessWait for the blessed hopeGave Himself to redeem usEager to do what is good

11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.PAUSE

NIV. You can read this one, no need to memorize it. Slow down on the last line, "eager to do what is good." It comes back at the end of Beat 4.
Bridge: "For many of us, hopefully for all of us..."
Beat 3 · Enlist
1:00 to 1:45

Baptism is our enlistment

Hopefully all of usBaptism = enlistmentWicked, sinful, as good as deadBury meRaise me to new lifeEager to do His will

For many of us, hopefully for all of us, our baptism is our enlistment.PAUSE

We enlist. We say, "I'm wicked. I'm sinful. I'm as good as dead. Bury me, throw in the dirt. Because I believe that Jesus is able to raise me up to new life."

That's enlistment. And we're eager, eager to do His will and to do good work in this world.

Glance at the baptistry when you say "our baptism is our enlistment." This is the main idea. Let it sit for a second.
Bridge: "And every time we see that cup and that bread passed..."
Beat 4 · Anthem
1:45 to 2:30

Communion is the anthem played again

Cup and bread passedThe anthem againWe reaffirmNew lifeI need Him, I need His peopleArmy of GodPurified, eager to do good

And every time we see that cup and that bread passed, it's like the anthem being played again in our hearts. And we reaffirm:

He has given me new life. I need Him every day. I need His people every day. I'm part of that army of God. I am a person purified for Him, and eager to do what is good.PAUSE

"Eager to do what is good" ties back to verse 14. Same words, said slowly.
Bridge: "Christian baptism and the Lord's Supper remind us..."
Beat 5 · Remember
2:30 to 3:10

Take and remember

How much God loves usIf you've enlisted, if you're HisBread: His body brokenCup: His blood poured outNot yet? Say yes now

Christian baptism and the Lord's Supper remind us how much God loves us, and how much Jesus did for us.

So during this time of communion, if you've enlisted, if you're His, break this bread and eat it, and remember His body broken for you. And drink of this cup, and remember His blood poured out for you.

If you're not committed to Him, if you haven't said yes to Jesus and let Him make you new, make that commitment now.PAUSE

Look at the cross on "His body broken for you." Say the invitation gently. Pause before the prayer.
Bridge: "Let's pray. Heavenly Father..."
Beat 6 · Pray
3:10 to 3:30

The prayer

Thank youLoving usRedeeming usPurpose in lifeFace to face

Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you for loving us, and redeeming us, and giving us purpose in life. And we look forward to the day when we will see you face to face. In Jesus' name, amen.

Three thank-yous: loving, redeeming, purpose. Then "face to face" brings it back to verse 13, the blessed hope. Amen, then step back so the elements can be passed.

Rehearsal plan