Communion FW

4.2.25

Good morning church!

This morning we are going to be partaking in communion— If you do not have the bread or cup then please head back to the back of the worship center and grab them.

Here at FW we practice open communion— meaning that you do not have a to be a partner here to partake in communion but you must still have relationship with Jesus.

If you do not have a relationship with Christ I would ask you this morning to not partake.

As we enter into a time of communion I want to share a little about this past week.

4 team members and myself embarked on a missions trip to Panama.

We joined another team from Georgia.

And over the past week we went met some incredible people and we also got to share the Gospel with lot of people as well.

People on our team shared their story of how they came to faith.

We sang songs, and told of Bible stories, we helped with english club, we had so many conversations.

It pushed us out of our comfort zone.

We saw many seeds planted for the kingdom.

We also saw some seeds harvest— and some individuals come to faith.

We built some really good friends with Tim and Tina, and Adam and Jessica the missionaries on the field in Panama, our translators, and the other team.

And you can ask Brandon, Brad, Dean or Michelle and I bet each of them will tell you that they hated to leave.

Because in many ways we will not see them again this side of heaven.

It is sad but it is also so beautiful.

It is beautiful because the Gospel is global.

I think is hard sometime to remember that.

That heaven is going to be full of all types of people, from every tongue and tribe.

And the people we were with this past week we will see again.

And there may be people that we share the gospel with who did not accept it last week but maybe someday will.

It is incredible to think about.

It is humbling to think about.

I am excited to see those people again but I realize that it will most likely not be on this side of heaven.

But it makes we eager for Jesus to come back.

It makes we pumped for what God is doing here in Jefferson City, in Panama, and around the world.

It makes we reflect on the life of Jesus and how he made all of this possible by his life, death, and resurrection.

And one day we all will be together with fellow believers.

Those who have already passed away, those we met once but had a common faith, those who we moved away from.

It is the one things that unites us all— It is Jesus.

So this morning as we partake in communion.

We often look back as a reflection of what Jesus was doing durning the last supper.

Yet this morning we want to look forward at the second coming of Jesus.

The reason why we continue to partake in communion is yes a reflection of Jesus stepping in and being our forever passover lamb.

But it is also to look ahead to the day when all believers will be gathered around the grand banquet and we will feast together in the new kingdom.

When Jesus comes back.

We partake with a reflection but also trust in a promise that Jesus will return and we will be with Him one day in paradise.

In Luke’s account of the event of Passover it says:

Luke 22:14–18 CSB

When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Jesus is in heaven waiting to return to build his kingdom and all believers will partake in together in what will be a grand banquet.

And until that day let us look forward with eagerness and much anticipation as we take and remember this morning.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 CSB

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 CSB

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Church this morning we have proclaimed the Lord’s death’s and we look forward to his return.

Let’s pray: