A Joyous Celebration of Fellowship with Christ and One Another.
No Series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 24 viewsNotes
Transcript
We are so glad to see you all today.
We are so glad to see you all today.
Sunday is a gathering to celebrate the resurrection.
Around the world in nearly 50 locations we have members of this church singing songs to Jesus and studying the Scriptures in 11 different languages!
Today we “come to the table,” “break bread,” we “share in the Lord’s Supper.”
We look at closely at our Bibles to guide us as we partake of this wonderful 2,000 year old tradition of remembering the death of Jesus.
We look at closely at our Bibles to guide us as we partake of this wonderful 2,000 year old tradition of remembering the death of Jesus.
We look to Jesus and His last meal with the disciples. Before they ate together, Jesus initiated what would be the last passover meal for them and the first Lord’s Supper.
The example followed in the Bible is the same example we are following. 1 Corinthians 11:23 “23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:”
We look to Jesus’s last meal in John 6 and how the early churches following this example.
We look to Jesus’s last meal in John 6 and how the early churches following this example.
We look at the fact that we are told to “eat” and “drink.” So we do not dip the bread into the juice.
We look at the fact that He tells us that the bread and fruit of the vine represent His death, they do not become His body.
We see how this is a time of remembrance of the grace shown in the death of Jesus, and not a time of trying to earn God’s grace through a ritual.
We see an emphasis on the whole church “coming together.” / That is why we have our younger brothers and sisters in here with us today
We look at who is included and who should be warned not to participate.
For those in this gathering who would readily admit you’re not yet a follower of Jesus, that you’re exploring Christianity, or you’ve come with a friend or family member, then you should not take the Lord’s Supper today.
We invite those who are followers of Christ, been baptized, and are a member of a Gospel preaching church to join us. —
If that is not you we have an invitation for you as well. Accept Christ, go public with your faith, and commit to a group of believers. / You may say “I am not missing out on much. It is so much more than bread and juice. It is a new life.” —
Do not think you aren’t welcomed among us.
We are not told how often to have the Lord’s Supper. But we are told that 100% of the time we do we are to do so IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM. (some churches have a table that says this)
I have asked Jeff Bush to help with this. After he takes us to the cross and reminds of the death of Jesus. Pastor Beau will lead us as a group of faithful men in this church will help me serve you.
Bible Reading
Bible Reading
Here is a cautionary tale for us. It shows that what we do, think, and say around this table is very telling of how the Gospel is shaping our lives and this church.
1 Corinthians 11:17–22 (KJV)
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
Reminds us of our sacred bond as a blood-bought family.
It offers a moment to show our wholehearted, unwavering devotion to Christ.
It reveals whether our love for Christ shines through in our consideration of one another.
It shows that God builds His church by creating believers, binding them in commitment, and making one out of many.
It offers a shared moment of longing and hope, awaiting the day when Jesus will once again set the table.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
What would you consider the best meal?
Is it at a nice place, or a picnic, expensive, fairly cheap, easy to get, or nearly impossible (like ice cream machine at McDs impossible?)
Next Sunday night we will have a pretty great meal together.
I would contend that what we had this morning is the “best meal in the world.”
It was not designed to satisfy our physical hunger, but to celebrate that the wrath of God had been satisfied for us by the death of Christ on the cross.
Not ready to move on.
Though we have remembered the cross and rejoiced in what God has done. I am not ready to move on. The Lord Supper not only speaks to our “vertical relationship” with God, but has implications to our “horizontal relationship” one with another.
In our time remaining I want to look at 5 ways we a church shares more than “one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17 “17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
Let us look at 5 ways today’s Lord’s Supper is a joyous celebration of fellowship with Christ and one another.
Let us look at 5 ways today’s Lord’s Supper is a joyous celebration of fellowship with Christ and one another.
1.Reminds us of our sacred bond as a blood-bought family.
1.Reminds us of our sacred bond as a blood-bought family.
The passover was a family meal.
The passover was a family meal.
Brief review of the first Passover Meal
Children of Israel were held captive to the Egyptian rule as slaves.
Moses said “Pharoah, Pharoah let my people go?”
Pharoah would not and Exod. 4–10 is the wild story of 10 plaques.
The night before their deliverance God tells the people to slaughter a year-old sheep or goat and smear its blood over their front doors, roast the animal, and eat the meat—all of it—that night. Exod. 12:1–8
They are told to eat and run. Exodus 12:11 “11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.” / Original Door Dash
God commanded His people to celebrate this Passover meal as a yearly memorial.
This is what the disciples headed into the upper room to do with Jesus. Luke 22:8 “8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”
This meal marked the birth of their nation. Who is Israel? The people rescued by God from Egypt.
The Passover reminded them year by year that they were a people—the only people—whom God freed from slavery and made his own.
When you kids ask about what we did today our answer should be similar. Exodus 13:8 “8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.”
Jesus desired to eat this meal with His disciples.
Luke 22:14–15“14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:”
The biblical teaching on the Passover assumes that families will celebrate the meal together.
That’s why fathers are told to explain its meaning to their sons. Exod. 13:14
By celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus turns friends into family.
Jesus is saying that his family are those who receive His sacrifice.
This meal points to the necessary shedding of blood for death to passover us.
This meal points to the necessary shedding of blood for death to passover us.
Why did God spare his people?
Exodus 12:12–13 “12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
They were covered by the blood of a sacrifice.
Not because they deserved to live while the Egyptians didn’t.
The blood of the sacrifice, not their bloodline made the difference.
Jesus directly connects the cup to His shedding of His own blood.
At the Last Supper, Jesus gives an object lesson so that none of us miss it.
Matthew 26:26–28 “26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
We recognize that it is the shed blood of Jesus that has made us a people.
We recognize that it is the shed blood of Jesus that has made us a people.
Ephesians 2:19 “19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
Why? Ephesians 2:13 “13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
The Lord’s Supper is an effective sign of the church’s existence as a church and an individual’s membership in the church.
God’s greatest promise is sealed with His blood.
The night before he was crucified, Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples.
But he turned that Passover into something new, something that looks not to deliverance from Egypt, but to the deliverance God achieved on the cross
Transition: It is only because of the shed blood of Christ that we are now able to gather as a family safe from the wrath to come.
Transition: It is only because of the shed blood of Christ that we are now able to gather as a family safe from the wrath to come.
2. It offers a moment to show our wholehearted, unwavering devotion to Christ.
2. It offers a moment to show our wholehearted, unwavering devotion to Christ.
Paul was concerned with the company the believers would keep.
Paul was concerned with the company the believers would keep.
Paul is going to give some examples of people gathered around false gods.
In the Lord’s Supper we keep company with Christ and the church.
Parents are concerned with the company our kids keep because we know we become like who we hand out with.
There is a fellowship between those who come to the same altar.
1 Corinthians 10:18 “18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?”
They identified with the sacrifice and received its benefits.
Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians to identify with and seek benefit from false gods.
Allegiance to Christ and allegiance to idols are mutually exclusive.
Allegiance to Christ and allegiance to idols are mutually exclusive.
Choose your cup. 1 Corinthians 10:21 “21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”
What’s the problem here?
Paul has no issue with Christians keeping company with non-Christians. 1 Corinthians 10:27 “27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go;..”
The problem is keeping company with their gods.
There are many TABLES around the world in which we could gather. BUT AS GOD’S CHILDREN WE SAY THIS IS WHERE WE MEET! 1 Corinthians 8:6 “6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
What does this “communion” mean?
1 Corinthians 10:16 “16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”
We are sharing together.
Because we keep company with Christ in the Lord’s Supper, we also keep company with each other.
Our allegiance with Christ creates fellowship with each other.
Because we are united to Christ, we are united to each other in him.
Transition: Our meeting at this table makes a statement to this world, to false gods, and to each other. All of our allegiance belongs to Jesus.
Transition: Our meeting at this table makes a statement to this world, to false gods, and to each other. All of our allegiance belongs to Jesus.
3. It reveals whether our love for Christ shines through in our consideration of one another.
3. It reveals whether our love for Christ shines through in our consideration of one another.
We have all experienced family dinners that did not go as we had expected or hoped. because there was divisions among your family. This would be that situation on a much larger scale.
There is nothing to commend here.
There is nothing to commend here.
They are worse off for getting together. 1 Corinthians 11:17 “17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”
The divisions they artificially re making a mockery of the Lord’s Supper.
Not sure what they were doing, but it wasn’t the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:20 “20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.”
They had turned the Lord’s Supper into a selfish demonstration.
1 Corinthians 11:22 “22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”
The richer church members are treating the Lord’s Supper like their own private party.
They’re indulging themselves and excluding the poor, living it up and leaving nothing for others.
Because the Lord’s Supper shows the Gospel, it also carries the demands of the gospel.
Because the Lord’s Supper shows the Gospel, it also carries the demands of the gospel.
There was a real lack of discernment happening. 1 Corinthians 11:29 “29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
The Lord’s body here is referring to the “body” of the church.
You can’t declare the Lord’s death while despising His people.
If you celebrate the Lord’s Supper in a way that excludes and shames the church’s poorer members, it’s as if you’re saying Christ only died for you, not them.
Show consideration one to another.
Wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33 “33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.”
The Lord’s Supper is about the whole body of Christ coming together to declare and delight in the saving death of Christ.
Transition: After we look up we should look around. So at the Lord’s Supper, look around. Remember that the same Christ who saved you has saved all the brothers and sisters seated with you. Rejoice that in gaining Christ as your Savior, you gained his people as your family.
Transition: After we look up we should look around. So at the Lord’s Supper, look around. Remember that the same Christ who saved you has saved all the brothers and sisters seated with you. Rejoice that in gaining Christ as your Savior, you gained his people as your family.
4. It shows that God builds His church by creating believers, binding them in commitment, and making one out of many.
4. It shows that God builds His church by creating believers, binding them in commitment, and making one out of many.
1 Corinthians 10:16–17 “16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
We who are many are one body.
We who are many are one body.
We are many. (diverse, different, and numerous)
We are one.
Why? We all partakers of one bread. (repeated twice)
God creates a local church in two steps.
One: God creates Christians.
How? He sends preachers who proclaim Christ Rom. 10:14–17
His Word is effective in their lives, granting them new life in Christ James 1:18 “18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
Two: People come not only to Christ but also to each other.
A church is more than simply “Christians” in the plural.
There has to be something binding people together.
A church is born when Christians commit to be a church together.
Nate Wilkerson in Benin with 6 Bible Studies. I told him I hope to visit him in the next 2 years. He told me he prays there will be 100 Bible studies by then.
Churches show their commitment to Christ and one another in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Churches show their commitment to Christ and one another in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism is where faith goes public. The church says to the world, “This one belongs to Jesus!”
The Lord’s Supper marks off an entire group of Christians as one body, drawing a line between them and the world around them.
If a group of believers who meant to be a church never celebrated the Lord’s Supper together, they would be disobeying Jesus.
There’s a real sense in which they would not be a church.
Transition: In the Lord’s Supper, our fellowship with Christ creates fellowship with each other. The Lord’s Supper makes many one. In our oneness we share many things, most notably a shared future.
Transition: In the Lord’s Supper, our fellowship with Christ creates fellowship with each other. The Lord’s Supper makes many one. In our oneness we share many things, most notably a shared future.
5. It offers a shared moment of longing and hope, awaiting the day when Jesus will once again set the table.
5. It offers a shared moment of longing and hope, awaiting the day when Jesus will once again set the table.
Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in this world, we shouldn’t only look back to Christ’s past accomplishments, but to the future feast that is yet to be fulfilled. -R. C. Sproul
We wait patiently until He comes
We wait patiently until He comes
Throughout our lives, we hope for what we do not see, and we wait for it patiently. 1 Corinthians 11:26 “26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
The Lord’s Supper doesn’t just look back to the cross; it also looks forward to the coming of God’s kingdom.
It looks forward to a time when Jesus himself will feast with his people.
A place where there is only healing and happiness and holiness.
A place our faith becomes sight.
When God finally joins his people to himself there will be a feast.
This feast will far surpass any party anyone has ever thrown.
Revelation 19:7–9 “7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
The next time Jesus meets with His disciples at the table, we will be seated with them.
The next time Jesus meets with His disciples at the table, we will be seated with them.
Matthew 26:29 “29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
We anticipate the day we will be with Him.
We have hope in a shared future together.
This is not only a celebration of a past even, but a dress rehearsal for the future.
When we sit down there will be someone from EVERY TRIBE and TONGUE with us!!
Like the wine Jesus made from water at the wedding in Cana, God is saving his best for last.
Conclusion: Rejoice!
Conclusion: Rejoice!
Reminds us of our sacred bond as a blood-bought family. / Without the sacrifice of Jesus we would all be far from God.
It offers a moment to show our wholehearted, unwavering devotion to Christ. / Who belongs to Jesus!
It reveals whether our love for Christ shines through in our consideration of one another. / Look around.
It shows that God builds His church by creating believers, binding them in commitment, and making one out of many. / We are committed to each other.
It offers a shared moment of longing and hope, awaiting the day when Jesus will once again set the table. / Allow Hope to evade all the fears of your heart
