The Three R's of Communion

Introduction:

Fellowsville A/G

April 3, 2016

AM Service

Introduction:

I believe Communion in the church today has easily become a ritual. In general, most churches have communion every week or the first Sunday of every month. While the initial reasoning behind it was pure, I believe it has led to many believers just going through the motions when participating in Communion. It has become another item to check off of the church person’s list. When I was pastoring, we didn’t have a set time to do Communion because I believe it should be done with purpose and focus rather than a last minute add-on to the end of a service. So, this morning I want to take the time to talk about communion and why it’s so important to the church body and to individual believers in Jesus Christ. The title of my message this morning is “The Three R’s of Communion.”

Body:

I. Remembrance

1 Corinthians 11:23b–25 NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

(NLT) says, “On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”) A. Our proper response to Christ’s work of redemption. We are going to respond to not just recall what Jesus did.

A. Our proper response to Christ’s work of redemption is to respond to (not just recall) what Jesus did.

B. We forget things and make lists: passwords, shopping, sunglasses, keys, wallet, phone. (At age 30 ur brain starts to forget more at a 1/4%)

C. records Moses warning the Israelites not to get proud and forget what the Lord has done for them even after they inherit the promised land. Just like the Israelites, we often forget about God and what Jesus did for us until we are in a difficult situation and need His help.

1. pride suppresses what God did

Mark 7:6 NLT

6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

E.

2. out of ritual and routine

1. out of ritual and routine

3. they still did the festivals and Passover celebrations!

F. Response is to trust God and thank him and surrender to Him; run towards Him

G.

Revelation 2:4 NLT

4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

1. Written to the church of Ephesus 50 years after Christ death and resurrection!

1. Written to the church of Ephesus 50 years after Christ death and resurrection!

2. They had gotten caught up in just doing what you do (religion) rather than being obedient to the Lord because of their love for Him and what He did for them (relationship)

II. Repentance

Luke 5:32 NLT

32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

B. A change of mind (gr word is ...) which results in a change of actions.

A. Repentance (Greek word is meta-nia [met a knee a]) which means a change of mind which results in a change of actions or turning away.

B. A change of mind (gr word is ...) which results in a change of actions.

B. Separate sin from our life

C. The barrier is also called an idol

C. Not feeling sorry we got caught (cf. Judas and Peter)

D. The word “repent” is used fifty times in NT

E. Feel bad it hurt the Lord and ur sorry for offending the Lord

F. If u don't kill sin in ur life it will kill u

G. Aesop Fable of crow and meat and fox

1) A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.” The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers.”

2) Don't think u r good enough yet/you haven’t arrived

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 NLT

27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.

1 Corinthians 11:27-

III. Reconciliation

3. Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

A. def: To change hostility into friendship. Taking a step to do good to someone who is hostile towards u 1. we’re reconciled to God thru Jesus Christ

A. Reconciliation defined: To change hostility into friendship. Taking a step to do good to someone who is hostile towards u 1. we’re reconciled to God thru Jesus Christ

2. we should be reconciling with each other

Matthew 5:23–24 NLT

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

3. we have to tell people who don’t know God how to be reconciled to Him ( cf )

3. we have to tell people who don’t know God how to be reconciled to Him ( cf )

Colossians 1:20 NLT

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT

19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

b.

4. Using a plastic hammer (our good works) to clear pathway after a tornado is never going to work but using a bulldozer (Christ’s work on the cross) will clear a path to get thru to where u r going. Jesus is the bulldozer who cleared the path of sin for us to get to God.

4. Using a plastic hammer to clear pathway after a tornado is never going to work but using a bulldozer will clear a path to get thru to where u r going. Jesus is the bulldozer who cleared the path of sin for us to get to God.

Conclusion:

Have people come forward to receive the emblems and stay up front

Let us take a few moments and:

1. Remember the price Jesus paid on the cross and examining our response to the work He did for us.

2. Repent from our sins/bad choices.

3. Make sure we are not lacking reconciliation with God or anyone else.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

1 Corinthians 11:23-