Come To The Table (Thanksgiving Communion Message)

Come To The Table

(Thanksgiving Communion Message)

1 Cor. 11.23-29

11/20/16 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

A Thanksgiving, for many of us, is both a memory in our past and a moment we look forward to.

1 I can remember all the smells of stuffing, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes w/ marshmallows, turkey baking in the oven.

a My grandparents would straggle in around 11 PM.

aa I’d occupy myself by playing Atari 2600 while I waited to hear those four magical words, “Come to the Table.”

bb I knew the food was going to be on point, the family would be in their spots and we were going to have a good time.

b This morning, Jesus has set a table himself and has said to us, “Come to the table!”

aa 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NASB) 23 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; 24 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." 25 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." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 27 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. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

bb He’s inviting us, but He’s also commanding us.

cc IL. This Thursday we’ll be packing up the family truckster and heading to Springfield to enjoy Thanksgiving with Pam’s family. Lake doesn’t want to go, but what he doesn’t get is that he is not only invited to go to the meal . . .he’s been commanded to go to the meal.

2 With Jesus’ invitation and command to us to come to the table, there are some assumptions made on how we come to the Lord’s Table: your hands must be clean, come ready, and come to enjoy the meal.

a Jesus put a lot of work & preperation in this meal . . .sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears . . . very expensive.

aa At mom & dad’s house they made sure my brother and I were clean, hungry (no eating on the morning of Thanksgiving) and be nice to our guests so everyone can have a good time.

bb I believe Jesus has similar expectations on us as we come to His Table today.

b This morning, in about 13 minutes, you’ll have an opportunity to come to the table, The Lord’s Table, and eat from His supper.

aa What a privilege, honor, reward, blessing to be invited to sup with our Savior.

bb I want you to prepare (get ready) for the most precious of meals . . .the Lord’s Supper

cc Prayer

I We need clean hands as we come to the table.

Psalm 24:3-4 (NASB) 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.

1 We should never presume upon our host, to approach His Table without having “clean hands.”

a When I finishing smoking the turkey on Thursday morning, my hands will be covered in black soot.

aa I’ll spend about 5 minutes taking the soot off with Dawn, get out the only manicure tool a man needs and clean under my nails.

bb In a few hours I’ll be at the table and I want my hands to be clean.

b The Lord wants us to come with clean hands this morning.

2 1 John 1:9 (NASB) 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

a Confess (present subjective active: which means it must be done by the subject of the verb . . .US.)

aa And it refers to a continuous/repeated action.

bb We should never stop confessing.

b What’s confess mean? Agree with someone, in this case, we are agreeing with God.

aa Romans 3:23 (KJV) 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

bb You’re right, God. . .I have sinned, I have unclean hands/hearts.