211128 Communion: Truth in Confession

Please turn with me to 1st Corinthians 11:23-29. The Recent emphasis on Communion has stirred some really great conversation. I have had more discussions on this Ordinance over the last month than I probably have ever had and it has been refreshing to see the desire in the body to do Communion right.

One of the things that came up that I thought was very important that cannot be emphasized enough is coming to the table, after examining ourselves. We want to come to the table after we have reviewed our thoughts and conduct to see if there is anything hindering our Communion with the Lord.

But what also cannot be emphasized enough is that we don’t wait to come to the table to do this.

Confession is ongoing and constant, when we sin and are convicted we turn from our sin, we agree with God that forgiveness is needed. We do not delay repentance until the last Sunday of the month but freely come before the throne of God ready to confess to the Lord what He already knows and we preach to ourselves the sufficiency and completeness of Christ’s death on the cross. If you have your Bibles open to 1st Corinthians 11:23 I will read...

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that 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.”

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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”

PAUSE

If I could ask George and Everett to join me for the distribution of the elements...

Hand the elements to the Communion Ushers

When they return ask George to 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.”

Eat the bread

Hand the cups to George and Everett

When they return ask Everett to 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.”

Drink the cup

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Close in prayer