(Communion - Luke 2 [Christmas])

Communion is a special time to celebrate the sacrificial death of Christ.

And this month, we take time to celebrate that Christ was Born.

Thus, we have wedded two celebration’s -

The celebration of Christ, our Savior being born.

AND

The celebration of Christ, our savior who died for us.

So, may we celebrate God’s being born to die as our Savior.

Recall the angelic announcement of Christ Birth.

Luke 2:8–13 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Christ was born, born to be our savior.

And when we contemplate , and what we know of the Gospels

- he was born as the savior who would die for his people.

May we celebrate today both the Birth of Christ and the death of Christ.

Communion is a remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. Thus, Jesus instituted the practice of the Lord’s Supper.

We are told in the Gospels that we are to take up a cup of juice as a memorial remembrance of his shed blood. We are to take the bread up as a memorial remembrance of his crucified flesh.

Paul also gave a warning regarding the Lord’s Supper.

Warning

(ESV)

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Take time to remember the Crucifixion of our Lord and examine our hearts before God.

CLOSE COMMUNION: It is important that we honor the Lord’s death by keeping communion Holy. Based on Paul’s teachings we practice close communion.

- That is, we ask that only baptized members of our church or a like-minded church partake in communion. If you are not a Baptized member of like-minded church, we ask that you let the cup pass.

This insures that only gospel believers are partaking in our communion.

- Also, member or not, if there is a sin, known or unknown, that you need to make right. We ask that you would allow communion to pass until you have had a chance to deal with that sin.

Both of these are intended to honor the Lord by keeping His communion and our communion fellowship holy before God.

Bread

At this time we shall take up the bread. The bread represents the flesh of Jesus that was crucified on the cross.

*Pray (Deacon)

· Hand trays. Pause and Wait. (Small Tray)

In Remembrance of Christs bodily death for sins you may eat the bread.

Blood

At this time, We shall take up the cups of juice. The juice represents the blood of Jesus spilled upon Calvary as a sign of the New Covenant.

*Pray (Deacon)

· Hand Trays, Pause, Wait. (Large Tray)

In Remembrance of Christs spilled blood you may drink the cup of juice.

Pray (Pastor)