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A lady went to the pastor and said, “I
won’t be attending church anymore.”
He said, “May I ask why?”
She said, “I see people on their cell phones during the service, some are
gossiping, people just are not living
right, they are all just
hypocrites.”
The pastor got silent and then he said, “Okay, but can I ask you to do
something for me before you make your final decision?”
“What’s that?” she asked.
He replied, “Take a glass of water, fill it to the brim and walk on the
outside of the church pews two times and don’t let any water fall out of the
glass.”
Puzzled, she nevertheless agreed. “Well, Okay, yes, I can do
that!”
Soon she came back and said, “I did it.”
Then the pastor asked her three questions. “Did you see anybody on their
phone? Did you see anybody gossiping? Was anybody acting hypocritically?”
She told him, “Well, I didn’t see anything because I was so focused on
this glass, so the water wouldn’t fall out.”
He told her, “When you come to church, you should be just that focused on
God so that you don’t fall.”
That’s why Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not say
to follow Christians. Don’t let your relationship with God be determined by how
others relate with God. Let us be determined to be focused on God.
The Lord’s supper is a very special time to focus on God and His family. Today we will be looking at the Lord’s Supper. There are many misconceptions and false teaching about communion because religious groups focus on the event and not the intent of the Lord’s Supper.
The History of the Lord’s supper:
The Lord’s Supper is called “the Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21), “communion,” “cup of blessing” (1 Corinthians 10:16), and “breaking of bread” ( Acts 2:42 ). In the ancient Greek speaking Church it was called “eucharist,” or giving of thanks (Matthew 26:27).
Jesus instituted the ordinance of communion in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:24-26.
What is the Purpose of Communion?
- For the commemoration of the death of Christ: “This do in remembrance of Me.”
- It’s a remembrance time for all the believers of the benefits of the new covenant. In this ordinance Christ validates His promises to His people.
- It’s for re-announcing our Christian profession. We consecrate ourselves to Him and to His service.
- It represents our fellowship with other believers in Christ.
- The elements we use represent Christ’s body and blood are bread and the fruit of the vine. The kind of bread, whether leavened or unleavened, is not specified. Christ used unleavened bread simply because it was during the Passover. Fruit of the vine, and no other liquid, was to be used (Matthew 26:26-29).
- This is a permanent ordinance in the Church of Christ, and is to be observed “till He comes” again. (Adapted from Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
The primary biblical text on the nature and meaning of the Lord’s Supper/Table or Communion is 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
Ten observations about the Lord’s supper from 1 Corinthians 11:20-34.
1) The Lord’s Supper is designed to stimulate our remembranceof the person and work of Jesus: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (v.25).
2) The Lord’s Supper is a command. Participation at the Lord’s Table is expected from believers. A prolonged absence from it is spiritually unhealthy and its willful neglect will affect your spiritual walk. (v.25)
3) The Lord’s Supper uses tangible elements: bread and the fruit of the vine. We don’t simply say, “Remember!” The elements of bread and wine are given to stir our minds and hearts. The physical action of eating and drinking reminds us that we are spiritually dependent upon Jesus and His work of saving us through His life, death, and resurrection.
4) The Lord’s Supper is a personalremembrance. We are to remember Jesus. The focus isn’t on Abraham or Moses or Isaiah or any other Hebrew patriarch. Nor is the focus on the Jewish Passover or the night of His betrayal or anything else. The focus is Jesus. “Do this in remembrance of ME” (v.25).
5) When we celebrate the Lord’s supper we confess. In partaking of the elements, we declare: “Christ gave His body and blood for me. He died for me.” If a person cannot and does not personally and consciously confess that Jesus died for them, he/she should not partake. (v.26)
6) During the Lord’s supper we also proclaim “the Lord’s death till He comes.” We celebrate the hope that His return is near (v.26).
7) We must not partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthymanner (v. 27)
To partake in an “unworthy manner” entails at least three things:
(a) a disregard for others in the body of Christ (see vv. 20-22);
(b) being un-loyal to Christ and making additional idols to worship. (see 1 Corinthians 10:14-22);
(c) disregarding Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sin by keeping an unfaithful life style. (vv. 23-26 see also Romans 6:1).
8) We become guilty when we take the Lord’s Supper unworthily; “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (v. 27). This phrase refers to everyone who is not under the blood, who are guilty and condemned because they have this witness. The believer who takes the Lord’s Supper unworthily will be treated as guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and disciplined by the Lord but not condemned with the non-believing world.
9) Therefore, before we participate, we must “examine ourselves”(v. 28). We are to test our motives and attitudes that we are His children by expressing our worship to Christ especially through the Lord’s Supper and by our love for His people, His Bride for which He died.
10) Finally, partaking unworthily will lead to divine discipline(1 Corinthians 11:29-34). The discipline from the Father is in order that believers may be spared the judgement that comes to the unbelieving world. There were some in the city of Corinth who had already suffered the discipline of God (“weak and sick”); some had even died physically (“sleep”). Discipline is an expression of God’s commitment to preserve His people “so that we may not be condemned along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32b).
A prayer before we take communion: Lord Jesus, I bow before You in humility and ask that you help me examine my heart today. I lay aside anything that is not pleasing to You. Especially my pride or any unconfessed sin, or any rebellion or unforgiveness towards my brothers and sisters that may be hindering my relationship with You. I know that I am Your beloved child and know that you dwell in my heart and life because Your death paid my penalty for sin. The price You paid covered me for all time, and my desire is to worship and live for You.
Participation in the Supper: As I take… this bread represents Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate You bore my sin. You died for me! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave me life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, I, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.
And in the same way, as I take this cup, which represents Your blood poured out to cover my sin. I realize that You were the sacrifice for all my sin: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for me, and Your body given for me, I can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that I deserved. You took my punishment. Your pain was indeed my gain. And today I remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave me through the blood that You spilled.
Each time I take communion, Lord, I recommit my life, my heart, my thoughts, my everything to You. As I look to Your coming again, help me to hold to my profession in Your salvation today. Help me to share its message faithfully and love others as You love me. In Your Precious name, amen.
Our tradition is to take a special offering following our participation in the Lord’s Supper. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? 18 …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth.
23 Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 And the people who keep His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.