The 4 Points: #1: God Loves Me: Bible Story: The Last Supper. - Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

Surprise #1: Limited Information.

Surprise #2: No Lamb.

Surprise #3: A New Meaning

SERMON BODY:

Now you will not find the four points graphics hanging up in any museum,

• No art expert would ever consider them a great work of art,

• But somebody in advertising would value them,

• Because their simplicity communicates some deep and great truths.

• Over the next four weeks we are using these four points as a springboard,

• For our teaching as we countdown to Easter.

• The first symbol in this series of four, is the ‘The Heart’ which stands for love.

• And in our Bible passage today,

• We have what has been called, ‘A love feast.’ or ‘agape feast,’

• (Agape = unconditional = all were welcomed and accepted!)

• This was a fellowship meal (& communion) eaten by Christians in the early church.

• (Acts 2:46–47; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 & Jude 1:12).

• Tertullian (Christian leader in the second century AD),

• Hippolytus of Rome (Christian leader in the third century AD),

• Both wrote about communal meals, “love feasts.”

• Out of these meals together, the Church would also have a time of communion.

• Clearest example of that is found in First Corinthians chapter 11.

This morning, we are going to look at how Jesus instituted this type of meal,

• What Christians call, Communion, Breaking of Bread, The Lord’s Supper,

• The Lords table, Sacrament or Eucharist,

• A variety of names, each containing its own nugget of truth.

• i.e. Breaking of Bread (Acts chapter 2 verse 42)

• This describes the act of "taking bread and breaking it".

• i.e. Communion (1 Corinthians 10 verse 16).

• Greek word translated ‘Communion’ or ‘Participation’ is "Koinoia”.

• Meaning "fellowship” or “Sharing together"

• i.e. The Lords Table (1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 21)

• This title is actually used in both the Old & New Testament.

• The expression "Table" was symbolic of God's provision:

• i.e. The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11 verse 20&26).

• In contrast to the ‘Lord's table’ which is a spiritual one that cannot be seen, it's symbolic,

• The ‘Lord's Supper’ can be visibly seen, you can smell it, touch it & taste it!

• It is a literal loaf of bread & a literal cup of wine.

• The emphasis in these verses is proclamation, declaring, speaking out.

• "You proclaim the Lord's death, until he comes".

• i.e. Sacrament - which comes from the Latin word "Sacramentum".

• This is not a biblical word, a word found in the Bible,

• Something sacred.

• This word, sacrament is a good reminder that our priority is first to the Lord,

• i.e. Eucharist (Greek 'thanksgiving'),

• It is a word we rarely ever use because of its association to other denominations.

• But the word itself is a good one!

Now as I looked at this topic this week,

• I was taken up with a number of surprises.

• And I thought I would share those things that surprised me in my studies.

Ill:

Famous paintings Trivia

(a).

• ‘The Mona Lisa’ (Leonardo da Vinci, c.1503-1506)

• In 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris.

• Amazingly, in the year after the theft more people went to gaze upon the empty space,

• Then, had visited the work of art in the year leading up to its disappearance.

(b).

• Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ (1889)

• The Starry Night depicts Van Gogh’s view from an asylum. He left out the iron bars.

• The value is reportedly about $900 million.

• Sadly, Van Gogh was unable to sell it!

(c).

• Most of us are familiar with Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The Scream’ (1893).

• But what you might not know is there are five versions of ‘The Scream.’

• The most famous is the 1893 version in the National Gallery in Oslo.

• Joke photo/cartoon,

• The reason why he screamed was he stood on a piece of Lego.

• TRANSITION:

• One of the biblical scenes that artists have tried to portray more than any other,

• Is the Last Supper scene.

• The most famous being Leonardo Da Vinci's painting ‘The Last Supper’.

• In 1980, a 19-year restoration effort of the artwork began.

• But sadly, very few of Leonardo da Vinci’s original brushstrokes remain.

• Leonardo Da Vinci may have been a great painter,

• But his was a poor theologian – let me explain!

• e.g. Meals in Jesus’ day were eaten from a platform that stood 18 inches above the floor.

• Not a very long table.

• e.g. The men would have laid on the ground,

• Their weight supported by their left arm while they ate with their right hand.