The Table Part 1

This is the first Sunday of February! Month 2 of 2020! Time is flying by us and of course the first Sunday of the month means two things for us: Missions Sunday and Communion Sunday! This morning I will make reference to the table and the importance of that, but I also want us too look at the table in another light. I love the table, I love all the references in scripture about the table of the Lord and how the table brings us together, helps us gleam perspective, teaches us, so many things happen at the table.

I find it a bit comical at times and this is not intentional about how almost everytime I have been speaking lately something comes about in reference to food. Seriously, I am not trying this but there you go.

We like food right? I like food. I like trying new foods, restaurants, it is a social aspect that I enjoy as well. This morning let me share a story with you:

Illustration:

We were in a restaurant waiting for our order. The whole family sitting there and had just ordered chicken sandwhiches. There was another waitress going around the restaurant with samples, giving them out to the restaurant patrons, wouldn’t you know it? The samples were smaller chicken sandwhiches. But we declined the offer because we already had that coming.

The waitress was going around the restaurant when outside there were droves of people passing by whom she should have been feeding her samples to in order to entice them into the restaurant. Those outside were really hungry and would have gobbled up those samples. But instead she stayed inside where they were eating or had items coming to satisfy their hunger.

That waitress could be serving samples to hunk of humanity who have not been served yet. There were many who were hungry and needed to be fed. See where I am going here?

Here this morning I have a table set up, a lovely table all ready to enjoy together. Nothing looks prettier than a nice inviting setting where you can spend quality time together with your family and friends.

This morning indluge me in this illustrative type sermon where I make some comparisons to aid my point.

The church is a table where people come to get fed.

There are so many references to the table throughout scripture:

The Shewbread Table in the Old Testament -

The Table

The Table

-It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.

-It was 2 cubits long, 1 cubit wide and 1 1/2 cubits high. (the ark was the same height).

-It had a gold molding (crown) all around.

-The molding was the width of a hand (to secure the bread)

-It had a gold ring at each corner leg for the staves (wood overlaid with gold).

reference is made about the table - the Lord will set a table in the presence of my enemies.

New Testament references the table at the last supper - the disciples are reclining at the table after eating together

- those who are followers of Christ eating with Jesus forever at the table.

It seems that with these references there is something here that we need to acknowledge and look at closer.

We feed on the bread of life - that’s Jesus.

Later on we will gather at this communion table and partake of the emblems that represent so much.

3-

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 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.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

John 6:35 NKJV

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

How our relationship begins with Christ is through:

Belief

This is where we understand him, where we appropriate it, where we digest it. That is how someone becomes a follower of Christ.

Acts 16:31 KJV 1900

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

1 John 5:14–15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Table

At the head of the table is the pastor - the shepherd - the person who presents the food because this table is the church. This is where people come to get fed.

We the leaders have the opportunity to serve the food in a creative and compelling way.

The gospel should never be a half baked presentation.

We have to think about the invitation

Matthew 11:28 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Mark 1:7 NIV

And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

We have to think about the preparation

Luke 21:36 NIV

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

1 Corinthians 16:18 NLT

They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

We have to think about the participation

James 5:12 NIV

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Col. 3:

The Food

The food gives us the fuel to push away from the table and to do and to be what the Lord wants us to be.

How many churches are there in CBS?

How many churches are in this area?

Let’s not look at the denominations now for just a moment. There are a lot aren’t there?

What happens when you eat and eat and eat and eat?

You pack on the pounds, you become obese, it is detrimental to your health.

Well let me help you see a perspective here.

What happens when you come to the church, you come to the table, then you eat and eat and eat. And you don’t push back from the table and do and be what the Lord wants us to be?

Spiritual obesity

We have our spiritual bellies hanging over our belts.

We can talk a good game but are we really believers?

Just because we say we believe do we really believe?

There is such a thing as faux faith people and I believe it is an epidemic we need to address.

We have a bunch of unchurched people out there and we need to reach them.

We also have a bunch of people who say they believe but are not regular in tithing, church attendance, and not willing to give in areas of leadership and areas of the church are suffering.

Where are the believers?????

What does it mean to be a believer?

A believer is one who knows God, who have surrendered his/her life over to God. Someone who has asked God to forgive them of their sins and cleanse them, someone who is on a new path, who has a fresh start, a clean slate.

The table is where you come to know what God is about and when you leave this table there’s gotta be a place that will continue your growth, sustain your appetite and allow you to serve.

We need to stop living off the crumbs or on one meal a week.

Let me switch gears for a minute.

Anyone like hosting people are their homes?

When you host you take the time to care for those who are coming, you clean up the house make things look nice, you may even put out the good dishes. You try to find out the things they like, consider any allergies, you accomodate their time schedule. You want them to feel comfortable, welcome, at home as much as possible.

Here this morning we come to this place.

We have the ultimate food - the bread of life.

The ultimate food deserves the ultimate preparation to the hungry hunks of humanity filing by.

So here we go:

I am the pastor - the person with the food

The table is where we come to get fed

The food is the fuel that gives us nourishment

And it allows to push back and digest it so we can be the people that God wants us to be!

The table is the central part of the home.

It is where we:

entertain

play games

show love

entertain all classes of people

share Jesus

disciple

discipline

share food, love and life

Conclusion: Musicians come back

The table is also the epicenter of the church.

This morning as we come together I want us to think about this:

Where are you?

Are you outside looking in starving for a taste of the food that you desperately need?

Are you counting the costs?

Are you trying to figure out how you can make the aisle shorter to get there?

This morning it doesn’t matter what people think, what kind of past, or any of that. He wants you just as you are. Come and feast on the bread of life.

John 6:35 NLT

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

You will never be hungry, you will never be thirsty. He is more than enough to fuel you and sustain you. This morning before we go into our communion service take time to consider where you stand, evaluate your life, are you walking in faux faith? Are you spiritually obese and not doing what you are supposed to do?

We need to be real before God and allow the Holy Spirit to expose the things we need to dig out and allow Him to fill you up with Him.

Before our board members come we are going to sing a song and while the song is being sung get to this altar and make things right with God.

Do not wait one more second and do not reject him any longer. Embrace Him with your whole heart.

Come as we sing