Contemplative Communion
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Intro:
Intro:
Good morning.
It has been a busy week at the Marietta church of Christ — We have a lot of folks who are in need of prayers and service at this time.
We also rejoice that we have two who were baptized into Christ last Wednesday night.
(Welcome to Alexander and Monica).
We are continuing our series on Acts of Worship this morning, and we come to a very important remembrance that we have each Lord’s Day, and that of course is the Lord’s Supper.
The title for this morning is “Commemorative Communion.”
And then, this evening we are going to look at one particular false doctrine as it pertains to communion.
That would be the doctrine of Transubstantiation.
This morning, though, we are going to look at Jesus Himself as He established the Lord’s Supper, and then we are going to notice one verse that shows when the early church observed it each week, and then we want to look at some of Paul’s thoughts on the subject from 1 Corinthians.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER:
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER:
This can be found in the three synoptic Gospels — Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.
John’s account in chapters 13-17 just very briefly hints at the institution of the Lord’s Supper, but it does give further insight into what some of Jesus’ teachings were around the time of the Lord’s Supper, including teaching about His betrayer and teaching about the Holy Spirit that would come after Him.
All accounts indicate that the Lord’s Supper was instituted during the time of the Passover, (which to me helps me understand the need to use both unleavened bread and grape juice in the Lord’s Supper, because Exo. 12:15 says that the Israelites were commanded to remove all leavening from their houses during the Passover).
I think that’s something that we don’t need to overlook.
Here’s why - What does leavening represent figuratively in the Bible?
Well, just as the Passover lamb that was to be chosen was to be one without spot and without blemish, so there was to be no leaven in the house during Passover because …
Leaven (in passages like 1 Corinthians 5) represents SIN — how it quickly spreads.
Therefore, God says purge out the old leaven (1 Cor. 5:7), that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
Thus, the significance of UN-leavened bread and UN-leavened fruit of the vine is that there is a removal of SIN through Jesus, our Passover!
But let’s get back to the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
Let’s read the Luke account of this together:
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.
Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”
Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
ACTS 20:7
ACTS 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
What we want to notice here is that this was the habitual practice of the disciples during the first century.
“Now on the first day of the week, when the Disciples came together to break bread (a reference to the Lord’s Supper) ...”
Compare this to 1 Corinthians 11:18 and Acts 2:42, we see the following:
For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
4. “When you come together as a church ...” (context of this, which we will see in a moment, is that of coming together for the Lord’s Supper) — The point being? The early church regularly CAME TOGETHER — assembled together (Heb. 10:25).
5. And then …
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
6. Same idea, “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
7. The point being here — The Lord’s Supper was not a “one and done” thing — It was regular Christian practice (which historical records also show), and we come back to Acts 20:7 and it tells us what day of the week they met together to do so.
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
8. How many weeks have a first day?
9. Every week has a first day! (So we should follow the Biblical example and observe the Lord’s Supper every first day of every week).
10. (It is common in many cases for churches to only observe the Lord’s Supper once or twice a year [often Christmas and Easter], or perhaps quarterly, but the Biblical example is on the first day of the week — and every week has a first day).
11. Well, finally we want to look at Paul’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper as we consider “contemplative communion” …
Paul’s Teaching on the Lord’s Supper:
Paul’s Teaching on the Lord’s Supper:
And again, this is found in 1 Corinthians 11.
Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
2. Three main points that we want to reiterate by way of review of what we just read:
a. The Corinthians were abusing the Lord’s Supper through their divisiveness, and through turning it into a common meal like a potluck, wherein some were getting plenty, while others were not.
b. We must not forget v. 24 and v. 25 - We partake of the Lord’s Supper, as the Lord put it “In Remembrance of Me.” (Comment about the need for quiet reflection and reverence).
c. And finally, verses 27 and following show that we must examine ourselves — Are we truly living the Christian life, as best we can? Or are we living in open rebellion to God, and then still partaking of the Lord’s Supper/COMMUNION with God like everything’s fine?!
Because don’t miss v. 30 - “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”
This is a matter of spiritual life and death!
3. Proper observance of the Lord’s Communion!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
This morning we have looked at the Lord’s Supper from the standpoint of:
The Lord’s Institution of it.
The proper day to observe it — first day of every week.
And Paul’s thoughts on the importance of it, and observing it correctly!
Tonight, Lord willing, we will be discussing that false doctrine on the Lord’s Supper — transubstantiation.
