Spring Communion 2024

Intro: Good morning and welcome everyone to our service this morning.

Its been a blessing to be here so far and to go through the feet washing with all of you. Are we serving each other well? Its a good reminder and an awsome challenge.

Communion: A religious ritual that commemorates Jesus’ last supper with His disciples and his death on the cross.

Why are you here this morning?

Are you here....

Because you want to remember what Jesus did for you giving himself on the cross for your sins?

Or because you’re expected to be here?

Or because its a habit, a tradition that we do every six months.

Pastor Lonnie tells a story that some of you may have heard but it makes a good point so I’ll steal it from him this morning.

A little girl is watching her mother prepare meat for dinner and she observes her mother cut off the ends of the meat before putting it in the pot to cook. She asked her mother why she cut the ends off? Her mother said, I think it helps the spiced soak into the meat and makes it more flavorful, but go ask grandma why we do it, she’s the one that taught me. The little girl goes to grandma and asks her why she cuts off the ends of the meat before cooking it, and grandma replies, I think it helps the juices stay in the meat better. You should go ask Nanna because she’s the one that taught me. The little girl goes to Nanna and asks her why she cuts off the ends of the meat before she cooks it? And Nanna replies, because my pot was too small.....

Let’s remember why we’re here today. Its more than a tradition, its a sacred and holy day for believers that love God and that truly are seeking a deep connection with Christ and the church.

For my text today, I’ll be reading from 1 Corinthians 10:1–17

1 Corinthians 10:1–17 ESV

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Paul was warning the Corinthian church against the idolatry and other sinful practices the israelites took part in.

We don’t struggle with idolatry do we? No I think we do.

Idolatry shows up today just like it did back then. Maybe not in the form of golden statues or pagan symbols, but it might be our favorite sports team. Maybe a hobby that clouds our judgement. Cars, jobs, social status, you name it, we are all susceptible to it.

In the beginning of the chapter all was good. God was showing up. He was giving them everything they needed.

they were miraculously led through the red sea symbolized there escape from slavery in Egypt

they were given manna from heaven which symbolized (Christ crusified)

the rock that Moses struck to give them water symbolized Christ as the rock that the Christian church is built on, and where the refreshing water the believers drink comes from

v. 6-14 Paul warns the Corinthians about carnal desires and not letting those desires gain strength by indulgence. We will all face temptations and trials, but if we hold tight to Christ and his Word. He will make a way for us to escape and overcome.

He was also warning them not to grumble and complain.

We start to grumble when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don’t have.

The israelites didn’t seem to get it. They couldn’t see what God was doing for them—setting them free, making them a nation, and giving them a new land.

All they could see was what God wasn’t doing for them.

Now before we judge the israelites too hard for their short comings, lets take a step back and take an introspective look at ourselves for a minute.

Are we truly grateful for what we have and what God has given us?

v. 16-17 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Joining in the Communion table shows a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of immense graditude to him for salvation.

For us as a church it’s about unity and fellowship both with Christ and each other.

In closing I’d like to address the past, the present, and the future relating to our service this morning and really answering the question of why we’re here.

we’re here because the sins of your past are under the blood and we are here to give thanks for his shed blood (past tense)

we’re here as part of a unified body of believers as we take part in the bread and wine symbolizing Christ’s body and shed blood (present tense)

I hope we will leave here with renewed aspirations to commune with Christ every day moving forward (future tense)

God bless you all.