November 2, 2008
Morning Worship
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; 14-17
Subject: Communion
Title: We’re In This Together
What a joy it is to see God bringing new people into the church and then for those people to take a step of faith and say I’m going to commit myself to this church and to what God wants to do through me in this church. That is what church membership says, “I am on board with the vision for the church and will do all that I can to see that vision come to pass.” One of the great things about a Holy Ghost anointed church is that we can all get on board and work together as we move forward with the same goal in mind and moving in the same direction towards that goal. I have talked to some pastors who tell me that it seems like the church has the same goals but everyone is going in their own direction to get there and they end up struggling against one another. But this church is unified in its purpose and direction and we will see the will of God and the promises of God fulfilled because we are all in this together.
This sermon will lead us up to a time of communion. The word communion has many companion words that define it; commune, union, unity, communication… Webster’s dictionary says that communion is an intimate or sublime exchange or communication of thoughts and feelings// a body of people with common faith. That is what I want you to see today. What God has called this church to is something that we must move towards in unity as a church in order to attain it.
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?"
Charles Schultz.
That’s a pretty good description of what God wants the church to be like.
I. THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN COMMUNION (17-22) In 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to correct mistakes and answer questions that have arisen. One of the complaints against the church that had come to him was the way that they were celebrating their “Love Feasts” or the Lord’s Supper. In the early church communion was a time of fellowship and a meal. It was intended to be a time of unity in the church. But look at what Paul says was happening in the church at Corinth. 17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. Problem #1, There are divisions in the church. Paul had already addressed that problem early in this letter. In chapter 1 10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas“; still another, “I follow Christ.” Now Paul never says that there wouldn’t be differences in the church. The problem is that each one thought they were right. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. Problem #2 They are not showing proper respect to the Lord. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat… That is what it was supposed to be. But the pattern that Jesus gave at the Last supper was a pattern of servant hood – placing everyone else above self. John 13:12-15, 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Problems #3 They weren’t showing respect for one another. 21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? By their lack of concern and respect for one another they had lost the true meaning of the meal that they were sharing. Problem #4 They brought reproach upon the church by placing themselves above one another. Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! What is the church supposed to look like? Look around you. Some are dressed in suits and ties and nice dresses. Others are more casual. Does that make one any better or less than another? No better or less – just different. As a matter of fact we welcome those who are not the same as the rest of us. 1 Samuel 16:7, But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
II. THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN COMMUNION (23-26) Paul now reminds his readers what the mal is really about. 1) What Paul says now he didn’t learn from men but from Jesus Himself. 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: Galatians 1:11, I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 2) Jesus willingly gave His body up for us. The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Philippians 2:5-8, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 3) Jesus blood instituted a New Covenant. 5In 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.” Isaiah 53:4-5, Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Paul confirms what Jesus told His disciples on that last Passover supper. When they partake of the meal do it in remembrance of Him. The elements are a reminder – a symbol of the work that Jesus has done. Jesus said that He would be with us even to the end of the age. When we come together as the body of Christ to celebrate this meal we know that He is right here with us. And as long as we do so we not only celebrate His death and resurrection but His second coming. 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
III. THE POWER OF GOD IN COMMUNION (27-32) Verses 27-32 tell us about God’s power to judge. 27Therefore, 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. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. God doesn’t just judge you in your relationship with Him. He judges your relationships with other believers. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. Using reverse logic doesn’t it sound like when you do partake of the bread and the cup in a proper way that sickness and death are cast aside? 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
IV. THE PATIENCE OF GOD IN COMMUNION (33-34) 33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. The meal that the Christians of that day were enjoying was very much like our “carry-in” dinners. Everyone would bring something to eat. The real problem was that those who got there first wouldn’t wait for the others. They just started eating without them. This reveals the attitudes of their hearts. They weren’t concerned about real communion with the body of Christ and in essence the Lord Himself. They were just worried about their own bellies. “I want to be first in line so I can get the good stuff. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 4:2-3, Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace… We should have the same kind of patience that the Lord has for us. 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a "gratitude lunch." With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as "just a friend." They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn’t stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys. When you’ve got something great to be thankful for, having a "gratitude lunch" is a great way to celebrate.
Today in the Word, November 14, 1993.
The early church loved to get together and fellowship. It was communion, unity, communication. It was the way they came together to celebrate what the Lord had done for them. As we prepare to celebrate in our traditional way I want you to do something. Before we commune with the Lord I want you to go to someone who is not a relative and take just a couple of minutes to tell them something about yourself that they don’t know and they’ll do the same with you. That’s communication. That’s communion. That’s the celebration of love that we have for one another. It is the preparation of what we are about to do with Jesus.
Commune with one another.
