1 Corinthians 112426 2006
5/14/2006
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:24-26
The Lord’s Supper is a complex, rich and full picture of the grace God offers to us. For us the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance. “In the Judeo-Christian spiritual tradition, remembrance is intentional and deeply spiritual: We choose to remember. In so doing, we are enabled to live in the truth, assuring that our present is not disconnected from but deeply informed by the past.” This remembrance is not just a nostalgic remembering. It is a retelling of an event of the past that matters to us in the present. It instructs us, informs and encourages us to live in the present in light of the past. N.T. Wright puts it this way. “When you have been at one of these meals it seems the whole world’s a different place. You don’t want to go and get drunk or fool around with those of the opposite sex. And you don’t want to go out and cheat in business, or take bribes, or treat the poor like dirt. It’s as though Jesus himself is somehow now living in us… And its not that he’s a bully or beats us up with a big stick if we don’t do what he wants. It’s more as though he loves us so much that we just want to be like him, to do things his way. It’s as though he has put his breath inside us.” This is the impact the remembering has on us. So let us review what we believe and the why we observe the Lord’s Supper.
1. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the death of Christ. “In our remembering, we are entering into the most vital and life giving event of all: the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In our remembering, the crucified and risen Christ is in our midst.” When the bread is taken we are affirming the giving of his body for us. When the cup is taken, it symbolizes the pouring out of Christ’s blood for us. In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul writes, 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
2. By observing the Lord’s Supper we are participating in the benefits of Christ’s death. Those benefits are redemption, adoption, a new family, the presence of God within us, forgiveness, cleansing and wholeness. We hold to the promise of his return. We also acknowledge that whatever trials and sufferings we experience because of our faith, identifies us with our Lord who suffered for us. So, we give a symbol to the fact that we participate or share the benefits for us by Jesus death.
3. By observing the Lord’s Supper we are receiving spiritual nourishment. Just as we take in food in order to nourish our physical bodies so to we in a sense are receiving spiritual nourishment when we take the bread and the cup. In John 6:53-57 Jesus said, “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. 55 For my flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. 56 All who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. 57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna.”
Jesus is not speaking of a literal eating of his flesh and blood. He is speaking of spiritual nourishment which is symbolized and experienced in our participation of the Lord’s Supper. We are reminded that we need Christ and our spiritual growth depends on our feasting on his Word and the presence of the Spirit of God within us.
4. By observing the Lord’s Supper we are making a statement of unity. In 1 Corinthians 10:17 Paul writes, And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body. It reminds us of our oneness with Christ and with all who follow Jesus Christ.
These four points help us to understand the richness of the Lord’s Supper. When we participate, we come into the presence of Christ. We remember he died for us. We participate in his death (symbolically). We are spiritually nourished (symbolic). We are united with all other believers who also observe this ordinance.
In the Lord’s Supper we remember the event that, more than any other event in all of history, shaped the course of human history and identifies who we are as followers of Christ. “This act of remembrance is one in which the past shapes, informs, and penetrates the present.”
5. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper we are reminded that Christ affirms his love for us. It is a visible reminder that Jesus loves us. This is our assurance.
6. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper we are reminded that Christ affirms that all the blessings of salvation are reserved for us. He promises blessings to those who are his; those who follow his teachings and have surrendered their lives to him. We are remind that one day we all will be gathered together, with all who have proclaimed Christ, in heaven and we will be seated at a great banquet in the presence of God.
7. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper we are affirming our faith and trust in Christ as our Lord and Redeemer. We are saying that we need and trust Christ. We need his love and forgiveness for our sins. We are saying that we need him in order to have life for our souls.
When we take of the bread and the cup we are saying that our sins were part of the cause of Jesus suffering and death. In this way sorrow, joy, thanksgiving, and the deep love for Christ are richly intermingled in the beauty of the Lord’s Supper. (Grudem)
How do we observe this ordinance?
It should never be entered into lightly. It is mixture of reflection, somberness, thankfulness and joy. Only those who have surrendered their life to Christ are to take of the elements. For by taking of the elements you are saying that you belong wholly to Christ.
It should be entered into after a period of self-examination. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, Paul says to the Corinthians, So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
We are to confess our sins and to ask God to forgive us for our failures in being faithful servants of Christ. We need to reflect on whether our relationship in the body of Christ is reflecting the character of our Lord whom we meet and whom we represent. We need to forgive those who have hurt us or offended us so there will be no barrier between God and us and between one another. Having right relationships is crucial for a healthy community of faith.
This morning we are going to have a period of self examination before we observe this ordinance. As a church we will enter into prayer, and each one of us is to confess our sins before God and to ask for his forgiveness and healing. If there is one who has offended us here this morning we are to forgive and to no longer hold our grudges against them. If we are struggling with doubt we are to confess that doubt to God and to lay it before his feet. If we are spiritually lukewarm or even cold we are to confess that to God and ask for a change of heart and attitude. If we are filled with insecurity, selfishness, anger, or a controlling attitude and a judgmental spirit we are to confess and ask God to remove these sins from us and to replace them with the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, and goodness.
After a period of self examination I will lead us in prayer.
Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Period of Prayer and self-examination (silent)
Our Father, forgive us for thinking small thoughts of you
and for ignoring your immensity and greatness.
Lord Jesus, forgive us when we forget that you rule
the nations and our small lives.
Holy Spirit, we offend you in minimizing your power
and squandering your gifts.
We confess that our blindness to your glory, O triune God,
has resulted in shallow confession,
tepid conviction, and only mild repentance.
Have mercy upon us.
In Jesus’ name.
Transition Prayer
With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us—
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who by his life, death, and resurrection
opened to us the way of everlasting life.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name. Amen
Invitation
All who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord has prepared his table for all who love him
and trust in him alone for their salvation.
All who are truly sorry for their sins,
who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior,
and who desire to live in obedience to him,
are now invited to come with gladness
to the table of the Lord.