Dr. Tom Doubt, Senior Pastor
Four Mile Creek Baptist Church
Richmond, VA
NAKED AT THE TABLE
BACKGROUND:
A. Today, as is our monthly practice, we will observe the Lord’s Supper as part of our worship.
1. What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?
a. We may remember Jesus died for our sins
b. It is a time to recall the last meal our Lord had before His crucifixion
c. We note that the bread is a symbol of His broken body, and the cup represents blood shed for us
2. What about a broader meaning: table fellowship
a. It’s not simply about sitting around a table eating food.
b. Rather, it is true communion, the intimate sharing based on common faith
B. Table fellowship is the most basic form of worship
1. It is a personal encounter with God; He & His people are gathered together
2. From Genesis to Revelation: God sets His table in various ways
3. The very 1st table fellowship occurred in the Garden Eden, before sin ruined the communion.
a. God decided & acted; Adam & Eve joined Him
b. The Lord set the table with certain limitations.
c. He provided for every need for this couple.
Read GENESIS 2:15-25 (emphasis on verses 15-18, 25)
INTRODUCTION:
A. Often we let life get too fast paced for real fellowship
1. We rush into the house; have only a short time before we go to the next event.
2. Microwaved food was supposed to save precious time, but it hardly preserves table fellowship.
3. Look around in restaurant for evidence Biblical table fellowship. You will probably see 2 types behavior:
a. Some couples will have an entire meal and say little to their companion; or else they are busy talking on their cell phone, ignoring others at the table and annoying me!
b. Other diners are engagee in animated conversation, obviously enjoying their table fellowship.
c. Lord’s table fellowship is intended to be the latter.
B. Throughout history, since the Garden, we have struggled to have genuine table fellowship with the Lord.
1. The Lord’s Day in modern churches reflects a compact time schedule
a. Lord’s Supper is packed into worship, often as add-on at the end of the service.
b. Believers argue whether bread is really the body Christ or a symbol.
2. Jesus instituted table fellowship with tax collectors & sinners and caused quite a stir among the religious establishment.
a. Even the Last Supper had its own turmoil (John 13:8, 27). One disciple said he would never betray the Lord; another hurried off to collect 30 pieces of silver.
b. Joy turned to dispair.
3. Elijah repaired broken table fellowship on Mt Carmel (1 King 18:30). He challenged the prophets of Baal who had led people away from God’s table. Remember what happened? God intervened, the people believed, and fellowship resumed.
4. God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness for 6 of 7 days. When the table was set, God instructed them to gather enough on 6th day for Sabbath. Yet some went out on 7th day to find more for the table and you know what happened (Ex 16:27ff).
C. No such difficulties were present at the 1st Table Fellowship in the Garden.
1. Worship was an all day communion with God
2. Worship service was really all worship, all service.
3. All of creation was in perfect balance; gathered naked at His table, yet with no shame.
THEME: Original table fellowship was an intimate model of worship. It was a perfect model of communion with God, containing 3 elements of worship:
God acts; gathers us to His table (v 15)
He sets an abundant table, but with limits (v 16-17)
He provides a means of personal communion (v 18, 25)
MESSAGE:
A. GOD GATHERS US TO HIS TABLE
1. By His action we are brought together to worship
2. The Lord put man in the Garden that He had planted (v 8, 15)
a. Adam did not act to reserve spot for himself in Garden
b. Eve did not select a parcel with a view of the river
c. Where they were placed was not a matter of chance, but divine intent
3. Notice Adam was to “work” (v 15)
a. The Hebrew word “work” has a root meaning to worship & to serve
b. The Lord intended us to enjoy our labor as part of our obedience, part of our worship
4. God did not need us at His table. No “help wanted” sign hung from heaven. But He did act to gather His people at His table.
5. When gathered, God allowed the man to participate in fellowship.
a. God let Adam name all the animals (v 19-20)
b. The Lord could have named them faster & better
c. Instead, He let man name the aardvark, armadillo, hippo, zebu (Indian ox)
d. Adam was given great latitude in what he could do.
6. The same type latitude is given to us in our worship experience. How we pray, sing, greet each other. Words we choose to pray, teach, preach. Latitude is permitted in the conduct of our ministries & missions.
7. Yet we are not without divine restraint.
B. GOD SETS AN ABUNDANT TABLE, BUT WITH LIMITS .
1. Man could eat freely of every tree but one (v 16). He could even eat from the tree life (v 9) but he was prohibited from eating from the tree of knowledge of good & evil (v 17). Great abundance for the quality of life was given with minimal restrictions.
2. God also provided suitable helper for man (v 18). Woman was made by God from the rib man (v 22). Eve was meant to be a help mate, not a servant to do all the work, but to share in it. Eve was also intended to be companion so man was not isolated.
3. We all need a suitable companion so as not to be isolated. Have you ever tried to have dinner conversation with aardvark or hippo? It doesn’t work because they are not suitable.
4. Adam needed someone to communicate at his own level. He could not possibly understand the Lord’s thoughts or ways (Is 55:9). So God provided another human being for our quality of life.
5. Notice the Lord’s intent: someone of the opposite sex & monogamous.
6. God provides abundantly, yet with the idea stewardship. Man was put in the Garden not merely to work, but to take care of it (v 15).
a. In the midst of being richly blessed, we are to take care what we have been given.
b. Take care of Vacation Bible School that we share the Good News of Jesus with kids.
c. Share our table with others as we care for the homeless or minister to migrant workers.
d. Help prepare the table for new believers in places like the Dominican Republic, taking care of all corners of the garden.
6. The Lord made it easy to have what we need
C. WHAT WE ALL NEED IS PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH GOD
1. God is the perfect host, makes Himself available
a. He walked in Garden, called out to Adam & Eve (3:8-9)
b. It is easy to worship & commune with God if you are in a right relationship with Him.
2. Adam did not have to put on a tie & tell Eve to hurry or they would be late to worship.
a. There was no hassle to drive to the far side Eden to find the church. It was all around them.
b. They had no stress of parking in a favorite spot, or sitting in their customary pew.
c. Unlike us, they did not have to worry that the sermon would be too long, and they would miss lunch.
d. Rather, God was continuously present (v 19-20)
3. Life was perfect, they could be naked at the table fellowship & have no shame (v 25)
4. Then something terrible happened
a. They say you are what you eat
b. Adam & Eve ate the forbidden fruit
c. They were not simply banished from the Garden. They were separated from the tree of life .
d. Now a giant gap in table fellowship with God existed.
LORD’S SUPPER:
A. It was like that for thousands of years
1. Folks would come to garden alone, but no voice called out to them.
2. God loved us too much to let that go uncorrected.
a. He sent His Son to earth so we be reconciled, invited back to the table.
b. Table fellowship was restored after Jesus paid our penalty for sin.
c. We no longer have to be separated from God. Through our confession in Jesus Christ, we are now able to accept invitation to the Lord’s table.
3. Baptized believers are gathered to His Table.
a. Not because we are without sin or shame.
b. But because our sins forgiven by Christ’s vicarious act that also paid the penalty, separation from God.
c. Through our confession & baptism we break bread & drink with the Lord.
4. As our Deacons come to serve from His table, let us prepare our hearts by singing "In Remembrance"
ALTAR CALL:
A. We all began life outside of the Garden, outside of Table Fellowship
1. Sin makes us ashamed to be naked before the Lord
2. Good News: God offers a way to be clothed in righteousness
a. It is God’s plan to remove our shame
b. The only restriction is we must accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
c. Then we will receive the abundant blessing that God provides.
B. You may already be a baptized believer, but you have hesitated to be part of the Garden at Four Mile Creek. You are invited to be part of the table fellowship here.
C. Perhaps you think you are unworthy to accept the invitation to God’s fellowship because of some sin in your life. Take a moment to pray for forgiveness and see if you don’t experience a weight lifted from your shoulders.
