Communion Worship
September 6, 2020
We’re going to take a 1 week hiatus from the messages about our purpose in life, looking at our calling by God and what it means to serve Him. Next week, we’ll jump back on board as we look at serving God and begin to look at what it means to have Spiritual Gifts, and how we can discover what they are.
As I was moving through the week, I really felt God leading me to move in another direction this week. In fact, on Monday I was working on the message, and on Tuesday God told me, “Nah, you need to do this . . .”
So, it’s been ruminating within me all week. Because today is communion Sunday, this makes this message all the more vital. Which is why I believe God was impressing this on me. WHY now? Because of the high view we’re called to have for what communion means and when we take it as a body of believers, God has certain expectations for you and I.
Now, that sounds rather ominous. But it’s not! I’m not leading up to same great discussion on what’s wrong with us. But God was planting something in me and I need to share it with you this morning.
To start I want to read a long passage, it’s 16 verses from 1 Corinthians 11. So, it becomes easy to tune out. But ... this is really important, especially on communion.
Understand that the church in Corinth was troubled. There were lots of issues Paul was dealing with. There were factions, there was disunity, there was a lack of understanding of who Jesus was, there were difficulties letting go of their old way of living. Lots and lots of issues. They were a very divided church. Then Paul came to a discussion about communion and he addressed the fact that they were divided over this and going about it all wrong.
Let me read you this section from 1 Corinthians 11:17-32. I’ll start with 6 verses -
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
If we can stop for a moment and look at what Paul was saying. His words are pretty indicting of the people.
We can say there was a form of social snobbery at the Lord’s Table. The Corinthians were using these communal gatherings to make social distinctions between rich and poor. And Paul is really distressed.
He says there must be factions among you, because these factions will show who the genuine believers are. Those who are genuine will be recognized by God and approved by God for how they respond in the midst of this controversy.
They had a common meal. They all were to eat together, but if you came early, you grabbed the best of the food and started drinking the wine, and people were being gluttonous and getting drunk. If they were so hungry, Paul says, they should have eaten at home.
Then Paul states what communion really is about in the next verses - -
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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 also He took the cup, 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.
That sounds a little familiar to the words I use before we take the bread and the cup. That’s pretty clear. Paul then goes on to say some pretty startling words about the seriousness of communion.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. - 1 Corinthians 11:17-32
Some were actually dying and becoming ill because they were taking communion in an unworthy manner. Paul’s prescription for the people was to examine yourself. Examine your heart, judge yourself and see if you’re worthy of taking communion.
So, what does this have to do with First Baptist Church? Understand, please, please, please . . . I am not casting judgement on anyone or anything. This is not a condemnation of our church . . . or me subliminally saying ‘we’re in trouble.’ What I believe God was impressing upon me this week is in part due to what’s happening in our country could easily spill over into the church.
I think it’s pretty obvious that we are a divided country. Topics that were once dealt with in private, or in discussions with like minded friends are now public. And to make matters worse, we’re having these discussions in the name of Jesus Christ. Telling people how they need to think. The reality is it’s all around us.
Some people hold to the belief that the pastor should speak about all of the present day issues. If the pastor is really “IN and GETS IT,” some call this WOKE. But I’m not sure what that really means. I guess if I’m really up on all the latest issues, then the pastor should hold to progressive opinions on our present issues. That’s the liberal side of politics. Others would say the pastor should be about making America great, which would lead that pastor to the other side of politics.
I’m thrilled that it’s literally illegal for a pastor to preach who and what to vote for!
There is no way to win, as it seems the line moves daily for what’s considered being on the correct side of an issue. People are leaving churches not so much because of doctrine, but because of politics.
Now, add to that the varying views of people regarding the Corona-virus. Some say it’s a hoax, some say it’s worse than the black plague. Some are simply in the middle. Which way do we go with that?
Then we get issues of churches reopening. To be honest, we were the last church in Alexandria to close and one of the first to reopen. While the goal is always spiritual growth and connection with Jesus . . . a new concern is our health and well being. Some say we’re moving too fast, some say we’re moving too slowly.
I just want to go to sleep and wake up when this is all over!
Personally, for me, I’m going to error on the side of our safety. All it takes is a few folks to get sick and I’ve heard enough stories from other churches who have had funerals for loved ones because they didn’t take the virus seriously.
We may not agree on when we should open up for dinners and Sunday School and other events. I’m torn on lots of those, yet, my default is your safety and well being. You may not like it. I get it! I don’t like it. I don’t like wearing a mask! I can’t walk into most stores without wearing one.
So, what’s my point of rambling before communion? It leads me back to what Jesus said after washing the disciples feet. In John 13, Jesus told the disciples -
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35
So, that’s really our call today, tomorrow and forever. The world will know we are His disciples if we love one another. That’s a huge call for the church. It’s a daily call. Yet, that’s the reality in the church. Love, love, love! There’s nothing more powerful than love. True, genuine love!
Because when we have that . . . we can forgive, we can extend grace, we can look at one another and see the hurt, we can give thanks, we can celebrate and cry together, we can laugh and worship and serve and give together. That only happens because of the deep love we share in Christ. That’s what Jesus is talking about! It’s not a suggestion . . . it’s a commandment.
That’s what the church is called to be about . . . love! Love for one another, even if we’re different, even if we have different political, social, relational, theological views. It’s all there! We are always to be above that.
Finally, as we get ready for communion. Listen to Paul’s words from Ephesians 4. They are some of the most powerful words we can hold onto we it comes to the call of the church. Paul was writing these words from prison. He was in a Roman prisoner for preaching and proclaiming Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords. I’ve said these words many times. He wrote --
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
We’ve talked about this passage a number of times in recent weeks. Paul is calling us to live our lives in a worthy manner - - which makes our calling as Christ followers visible and powerful to the world around us. He tells us to live our lives -
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Now, he’s going to give us the why. Paul has told us how to act. Walk in a manner worthy of your calling. Do it with humility, patience, in love, eagerly seeking to maintain the unity of the church through His peace. Now, he tells us why. Because,
4 There is ONE body and ONE Spirit — just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your call — 5 ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, 6 ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-6
That’s the call for the church in the world we’re living in. Have unity. You don’t have to agree with one another. We don’t have to be clones and dress alike and look alike and talk alike. BUT - we must be unified. And we become unified because of Jesus.
Because we are ONE body, we have the same Holy Spirit, the same Lord, the same baptism, the same root faith, the same God and Father of all.
That should always bring us back to our starting point. Irregardless of what you think, irregardless of what you believe about all of the social and political issues . . . our starting point must always be Jesus Christ. He is the unifying factor.
