Receiving God's Grace
Notes
Transcript
Series Review
Series Review
Ham cut end - an example of how we can develop practice without understanding the history behind it. why we started doing these things in the first place; why they were so important in the first place; why they are important today
I could say the same thing about Thanksgiving: why do we have to eat turkey and dressing? I confess that I have not researched this important question, and I may just get an email this week with an explanation
Ham cut end
why do we do the things we do in the church? why do we walk up to this table and take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup
Develop practice with outunderstanding
(that specific practice started in the 4th century, but why communion at all?)
There is history behind the Lord’s table. Last week we talked about remembering this history when we come forward to take the bread and the cup;
remember that horrifying event where Christ died on the cross and paid that unmeasurable sacrifice for our sin - for you, for me; the bread and the cup can be tangible reminders of Christ’s body and the blood
When we take communion, we remember. That was part one of the sermon.
The same grace that poured out from cross is available to us today, this morning.
Going back in time, experience the grace poured out from cross
Remember…and
Remember
Receive
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
my experience with the tray, thimble, cracker (it was just enough to provoke my hunger and thirst, I left the church feeling hungrier and thirstier)
my experience with the tray, thimble, cracker
how does this nourish me? help me?
Receiving the body and blood. What are the benefits?
Hear the word of the Lord:
Matthew
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
1 Corinthians
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
This is my body. This is my blood. Okay, what are we saying here? Are you saying that the bread is Christ’s actual body and the cup contains Christ’s blood?
Of course not, but before we talk about what these words mean, we need to stop and have a quick doctrine lesson. Otherwise, we can be stuck in skepticism
Here we have to stop and have a quick doctrine lesson. Otherwise, we can be stuck in skepticism
How is this possible? Deity of Christ
Doctrinal: Christ has 2 natures; he is both God and man. As a man he had to walk wherever he went. He had limitations.
In his deity (being God) he had no limitations. His divine presence is in the elements.
More than symbolic: the real presence of Christ.
In his deity (being God) he had no limitations. His divine presence is in the elements.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 101
Because Christ is spiritually present in the bread and the cup, we receive the benefits of Christ’s body and blood. We participate in the body and blood of Christ.
We receive God’s grace.
This is not the only way, but a powerful way. So what benefits do we receive?
We are fed at the table
We are fed at the table
s
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
We are fed
We are fed
I’m thinking of Farming 4 Hunger, where they want to minister to everyone who steps foot on their property: non profits receiving their produce, sharing stories with incarcerated persons, being loved like no other place (sounds like what we want our church to be)
Implies that we are already hungry. We have unsatisfied desires. Jesus says, only I can fill that need.
Unhealthy v healthy desires (iodine deficiency; could tell my body needed it)
(e.g. all you can eat; so hungry, am I satisfied? stuffed, sick. that’s not fulfillment; that’s not satisfaction; that’s overconsumption)
My body may crave chocolate, but that doesn’t make it a need.
Just because we desire something means we should try to fulfill that desire
Holy Communion is a place where we can receive what we need.
Holy Communion is a place where we can receive what we need.
Forgiveness from sin. Healing from brokenness. Encountering Christ who feels distance.
(not a magic pill that we hope will solve our problems, but we can be filled - what are your needs this morning?
in ministry, I see visible (deeply moved) and invisible grace
For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
God’s grace fills us, and you can be fed at the table)
We Receive Sight
We Receive Sight
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
explain text. noticed Jesus, found clarity (confused), received grace through this meal.
explain text. noticed Jesus, found clarity (confused), received grace through this meal.
Jesus talked about spiritual blindness, and whenever he used those words he was directing them to the spiritual, the saved, those who professed a faith in God.
blind to our own sin; blind to what we really need; blind to our hurts; blind to God’s calling; (
we need grace to see, (twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fear relieved) you can find sight at the table
We are renewed.
We are renewed.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Jeremiah 31:
What is the new covenant? Why do I say this? Why should you care?
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
difference between covenants (testaments)
Old covenant (or testament) is one of written laws, God’s speaking through prophets; needing sacrifices for forgiveness
New Covenant in Christ; this covenant God writes the law on our hearts and minds. We now have more than beliefs and rules: we have direct relationship. We have forgiveness. We have grace.
Has your faith a set of rules and beliefs, or is it a relationship. Christian faith can easily become just going to church and just doing church activity. Church is God’s primary instrument
Christian faith becomes a set of rules and beliefs. Holy Communion
s
We receive the benefits of the New Covenant - the law on our hearts and minds. Christ becomes real (that’s the testimony for those of us who grew up in the church)
We receive the benefits of the New Covenant - the law on our hearts and minds.
(stop and talk testimony - farming 4 hunger will tell you about rescue from danger; also dangerous is those who grow up in the church and think they are okay because they were baptized and went to church - Christ must become real (golf course, dropped in, became real)
\We receive the benefits of the New Covenant - the law on our hearts and minds.
1 Corinthians 11:
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Holy communion is not just a recharging it is a renewal of that covenant
difference between recharging (battery gets low over time)
difference between recharging (battery gets low over time, recharge more often, something wrong with the battery) - you need a new battery, one that functions the way it is supposed to
and renewal (deeper)
Marriages need renewal (a vacation might recharge, give your marriage a lift, but a renewed marriage means making your marriage what God intended it to be
Covenant renewal - at the table, or on the golf course, means making your relationship with God what God originally intended to be.
Come to the table: Remember what God has done, but receive what Christ offers you: Feed you. Give you sight. Renew your relationship.
We receive the benefits of the New Covenant - the law on our hearts and minds.
not just a recharging
difference between recharging (battery gets low over time)
and renewal (deeper)
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:
s
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
explain text. noticed Jesus, found clarity (confused), received grace through this meal.
It is so important to know Christian doctrine, deity of Christ, Christmas