210926 Communion: Unity of the Body

Please take a moment to remove the cellophane wrapper and the foil covering your communion cup before we begin so as not to be a distraction to others.

I want to talk about unity today. During last weeks’s message we discussed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We looked at Acts 2 and what took place at Pentecost 2,000 years ago. It was at that time that church was born. Remember all the disciples were there as well as a few others.

When the Holy Spirit came the room was filled with the sound of a violent rushing wind and then tongues of fire rested on top of each one. They were all simultaneously baptized into Christ by His Holy Spirit and with fire as John the Baptist had prophesied.

The infant church was born into Christ at this time. Bought by His death and sealed by His Holy Spirit. When that happened all who believe were united in Christ. The Church is described as being Christ’s body, unified in purpose under her head, Jesus Christ.

So although all those disciples were different, have different backgrounds and have different spiritual gifts they were to be known for being united in love under Christ. The Church of God, the Bride of Christ, is to be known for unified love for one another. Jesus said in John 13:35 after communion had been ordained

John 13:35 | 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I mention this unity in Christ because Paul has it in mind when he writes to the Corinthian church. If one thing can be learned about the Corinthian church is that it was not unified. PAUSE

Typically, we read from 1st Corinthians 11:23-26 as the elements are distributed but we are going to back up to verse 18.

1 Corinthians 11:18–22 | 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

Time prevents us fully digging out the context of this piece of the letter. For now, let’s be satisfied with the explanation that they were not unified in love. This disunity can be a tremendous problem. Unfortunately, the implications of disunity is incredible harm to the testimony of the church. Self-seeking, greediness, pride, ego, selfishness they do not disappear when a person becomes a believer but must be actively sought after. They must be acknowledged and confessed whenever they crop up. Pride, conceit, boastfulness is not what we, as the church, are to be known for but for grace, kindness and love.

So today, as we go to our time of communion I want us to remember Christ’s words. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let us now take a minute and evaluate ourselves if any of us have anything less than perfect Christlike love for one another.

PRAYER

God You are compassionate and careful with us. You love us and proved the magnitude of Your love by sending our Savior, Your Son, to pay for every sin. We have confessed our sins and now we rejoice that we can once again have perfect fellowship with each other and communion with You. Magnify our testimony today. Let our faith in You be self-evident as we proclaim our Lord’s death until He comes.

Dan Brown_________ will you ask the blessing on the bread?

...the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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.” 1 Corinthians 11:23–24

Pastor Taylor_________ will you ask the blessing on the cup?

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:25

PAUSE 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

LETS PRAY