Communion

Communion is a time of remembrance that relates not only to our relationship with Christ but also to our relationships with each other as believers. It symbolizes our unity in the body of Christ and celebrates the covenant we have with Jesus.

Communion is also a time of reflection of the sin in our lives that we may be holding onto that can be laid at the foot of the cross with a repentant heart and mind looking to Jesus and asking for forgiveness. It’s a time to proclaim the sacrifice Jesus made for us by taking on our sins and dying on the cross for us and then he rose on the third day that we may have eternal life with Him.

Jesus died on the cross because of His great love for us. John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Isaiah 53:4–5 “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul speaks about partaking of the elements in Unity as the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 “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? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.”

As we partake of the elements that symbolize the blood and body of Christ we share our identity in Him. This is a reflection of our unity as believers as one body. It’s a reminder that our faith binds us together.

As we take communion let’s examine ourselves and ask the Lord to prepare our hearts to receive the elements and open our heart to the work of the holy spirit to search us and know us. To open our heart to you Jesus and recognize your presence with us and in us.

Next I’m going to read a portion of scripture about the Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples and proclaim the sacrifice he made for us as we look forward to the future glory of his return. I will read the verses out of Matthew and they pray and then we will partake of the elements together.

Matthew 26:26–29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.””

Pray and then partake of the elements together.

As a reminder we take communion together as the body of Christ the first Sunday of every month.

Eseme will close us with one more song of worship as we celebrate some baptisms.