A Thankful Eucharist
(Colossians 3:1-11; NKJV)
To title this sermon A Thankful Eucharist is risking redundancy. In the ancient Greek (eucharistia) the word eucharist literally means "gratefulness, thankfulness."
To understand a bit about the Biblical command of the Lord’s Supper is to understand how we as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has arrived at this point in history (*Emp. Constantine, Edict of Milan of 313 AD; division of the Roman Empire 395 AD = the Catholic and the Greek Orthodox; Martin Luther and the Reformation of 1517; King Henry VIII and his acceptance/declaration of Protestantism as the British Empire’s official religion – 1534; 18th century [1739], John Wesley attempted to reform the Church of England [Anglican Church]; late 18th century Wesley sent Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury to form the American Methodist Church; then, in 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church merged to form the UMC*). Where the Catholic Church accepts 7 sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick), most Protestant Churches only accept that which is Biblically prescribed – Baptism & the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper).
(Col. 3:1-11) – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. [5] Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, [7] in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. [8] But, now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, [10] and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, [11] where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”
I. The thankful Eucharist calls for an examination.
(Col. 3:1) – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is…”
(1 Cor. 11:27-28) – “Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But, let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
II. The thankful Eucharist calls for determination.
(Col. 3:2) – “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
(2 Tim. 1:12) – “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
III. The thankful Eucharist calls for subtraction.
(Col. 3:5,8-9) – “…put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” [8] “…now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds…”
(Rom. 8:13) – “…if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
(Lastly…)
IV. The thankful Eucharist calls for addition.
(Col. 3:10) – “…put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
(Eph. 4:23-24) – “…be renewed in the spirit of your mind, [24] and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
- (Former Bishop Mack Stokes) – “This sacrament awakens a holy memory of what Jesus Christ has done for us and for the whole world. It fixes our mind on the fact of our sin and on our need for forgiveness. It communicates God’s love for each soul. And mysteriously, through the bread and the cup, the Holy Spirit moves in our midst to bring home to us, both personally and in community, the effects of the great work of Christ in our behalf. Therefore this sacrament is a celebration of God’s redeeming love and empowering grace. It means our grateful acceptance of God’s gift of forgiveness and new life. It means renewed commitment and resolve.”
