Better Together at the Table

Title: Better Together at the Table

Text: 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:23–31

Big Idea: Jesus gave us His Table to show us that remembering Him, proclaiming Him, and loving Him and each other is better when we do it together.

Introduction

Special morning — families, baptism, Lord's Supper

ordinance Teach the word — Jesus told us to do it

You know how sometimes your mom or dad tells you to do something, and they want you to keep doing it because it matters to them? Jesus did that with his church. He gave us two things to do — two special things he told us to act out so we would never forget what he did for us and what he means to us.

Two ordinances: baptism (picture of salvation) and Lord's Supper (picture we keep doing together)

This Table Was Made for Together

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 KJV 1900

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.

Communion = koinōnia — real, active sharing together

Paul says we — we bless, we break, we are one, we partake

Kids: One loaf, broken, shared — many pieces, one bread, one body

That is a picture of us.

We are many people sitting in these pews this morning. Different ages. Different faces. Different stories. Some of you have been saved for fifty years. Some of you got saved last month. Some of you are children who love Jesus with your whole heart. Some of you are grandparents who have walked with him for decades.

Better Together is not just a slogan — it is the theology of the Supper

This Table Tells a Story We Tell Together

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 KJV 1900

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: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Paul received and delivered — the language of passing something precious from one hand to the next, from one generation to the next, a precious chain of tradition

Delivered / betrayed — same root word (means being handed over) — Jesus, on the night of His greatest giving when He was handed over to His enemies, He gave us or handed over this ordinance so that we might remember.

Kids: Picture the Upper Room — dark night, Jesus knows what is coming the arrest, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the nails driven into His hand, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, sits down with his friends

Remembrance — not mere recollection but bringing the past into the present with full force

This morning, we get to tell this story together — and it never gets old

This Table Preaches — Together

1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV 1900

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Shew = kataggellō — to proclaim publicly

The bread and cup preach without words: Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus is coming back

Till he come — the Table spans from the Upper Room to the Second Coming

Kids: Every time we do this we are saying together — Jesus is coming back

Two thousand years of proclamation — we are part of that chain this morning

This Table Asks Something of Each of Us

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 KJV 1900

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Unworthily = not asking for perfect people, no, talks about the the manner of coming, not the person's merit

The Corinthian problem — not discerning, not truly seeing or even obeying the Lord’s table, and not recognizing that everyone around them, young and old, rich and poor, are the Lord's body

Examine = dokimazō — test yourself honestly, like a jeweler examining a stone

Kids: Might be too young to take the bread and cup, but not too young to examine your heart. Stop and ask — Is my heart right with Jesus right now?

Three honest questions for everyone this morning:

Is there unconfessed sin?

Is there someone I am holding something against?

Is my heart fixed on Christ?

Not a perfect heart — an honest one

Conclusion

One bread, one cup, one body — together until he comes

Restate Big Idea

"This do in remembrance of me" — move directly into the Lord's Supper

ALTAR CALL

Before we come to the Table this morning, I want to pause for just a moment.

In a few minutes I am going to ask the deacons to come and serve the bread and the cup. But before they do, I need to speak to every person in this room.

What we are about to do is not routine. It is not a formality. It is not something we do because it is on the order of service.

We are about to proclaim the death of Jesus Christ — together — and every person in this room is going to have to decide what to do with that.

So let me ask you a direct question.

Do you know Him?

Not — have you been in church your whole life. Not — were you baptized as a child. Not — do you know the right answers.

Do you know Him? Has there been a moment in your life when you recognized that you are a sinner, that Jesus Christ died in your place, and that you trusted Him — and Him alone — to save you?

If the answer is yes — I want you to come to this Table prepared. We just talked about what that means. Take a moment right now. Examine your heart. Is there unconfessed sin? Lay it down. Is there someone you are holding something against? Let it go. Fix your eyes on Christ — on what He did, on what this means — and come ready.

But if the answer is no — if you are sitting here this morning and you are not sure that you know Jesus — then this Table is not for you yet. And I mean that as an act of love, not exclusion. The Table is for those who belong to Him. And what I want more than anything is for you to belong to Him — starting today.

You do not have to leave here lost.

The same Jesus whose death we are about to proclaim is the Jesus who is alive right now and able to save you. If you want to trust Him this morning — if something has stirred in your heart during this service — I am asking you to do one simple thing. Before the elements are passed to you, slip out of your seat and come find me right here at the front. I will step away from the Table for as long as it takes. Nothing that happens in the next few minutes is more important than your soul.

Every head bowed, every eye closed.

Is there anyone this morning who wants to trust Jesus Christ as Savior? Just slip your hand up right where you are.

I see you. God sees you.

Come and find me at the front — right now, while every head is bowed.

Allow a moment of silence.

Now let us come to His Table.

SENIOR PASTOR’S COMMUNION SCRIPT (KJV)

I. THE CALL TO THE TABLE

Pastor: "As the music plays, I ask our Associate Pastors and two of our deacons, Lyn Lipscomb and Neal Marrs, to come forward to the Table of the Lord."

(Hand out the trays. As the team moves to their aisles, the pianist plays softly.)

II. THE BREAD (THE BODY)

(Once the team has returned, you have served the leaders, and everyone has a packet in hand:)

Pastor: "As we come to the Lord’s Tabel, we follow the pattern set forth by the Apostle Paul, who wrote to the church at Corinth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:"

Scripture:1 Corinthians 11:23-24

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 KJV 1900

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: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Logistical Instruction: "Please peel back the top layer of your packet to reveal the bread. I will now ask Brother Lyn Lispcomb to lead us in a word of prayer, thanking God for the broken body of our Savior."

(Deacon/Server Prays)

The Act: "The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us partake together."

III. THE CUP (THE BLOOD)

Pastor: "In like manner also He took the cup, signifying the New Testament in His blood."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:25-26

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 KJV 1900

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Logistical Instruction: "Please carefully peel back the second layer for the cup. I ask Brother Neal Marrs to lead us in prayer for the shed blood of Christ."

(Deacon/Server Prays)

The Act: "The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for the remission of sins. Let us drink together."

IV. THE CLOSING

Pastor: "Having partaken of these elements in unity, let us go forth as the body of Christ. Gentlemen, thank you for your service; you may return to your seats."

(Wait for the team to be seated before moving to the final hymn or benediction.)