The Transforming Power Of Communion: Maundy Thursday Remembering Christ's Sacrifice Series

The Transforming Power of Communion: Maundy Thursday Remembering Christ's Sacrifice

Introduction:

As we gather tonight for our Maundy Thursday Communion Service, we come to remember and reflect on the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. It's a time to pause and contemplate the transformative power of communion, where we partake of the bread and the cup, symbols of Christ's body and blood, given for us.

Point 1: Remembering Christ's Sacrifice

Luke 22:19-20 (NLT) - "He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.' After supper he took another cup of wine and said, 'This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.'"

In these verses, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, instructing His disciples to partake in remembrance of Him.

He takes bread, blesses it, and gives it to His disciples, symbolizing His body given for them. Then He takes the cup, representing the new covenant sealed with His blood. Through this act, Jesus initiates a ritual of remembrance, urging His followers to partake in communion regularly to remember His sacrificial death and the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity.

Communion serves as a tangible reminder of Christ's sacrificial love and the new covenant established through His blood.

Charles H. Spurgeon reminds us, "The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was never intended to be a dead thing which we go through as a matter of form; but it is intended to be a living thing."

Point 2: Experiencing Spiritual Renewal

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) - "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes."

Paul reiterates the significance of communion in this verse, emphasising its role as a proclamation of Christ's death. Each time believers partake in communion, they declare the Lord's sacrificial death until His return. It serves as a solemn reminder of Christ's atoning work on the cross and anticipates His second coming.

Communion is more than a mere ritual; it's a spiritual act of proclamation. As we partake, we declare Christ's death and resurrection, experiencing spiritual renewal and refreshment in our souls.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, "Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes."

Point 3: Embracing Unity and Fellowship

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NLT) - "When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body."

Paul highlights the communal nature of communion in these verses. As believers partake in the bread and cup, they participate in the body and blood of Christ, symbolising their union with Him. Furthermore, the act of sharing one loaf of bread signifies the unity of believers as one body in Christ.

Communion fosters unity and fellowship among believers. As we partake together, we affirm our common faith in Christ and our bond as members of His body, the Church.

C.S. Lewis writes, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."

Communion

Let us remember the profound significance of the bread and cup.

Let us partake with reverence and gratitude, remembering Christ's sacrificial death and the new covenant established through His blood.

May this act of communion unite us as one body, proclaiming the Lord's death until He returns. And as we leave this service, may we carry the spirit of unity and remembrance into our daily lives, living as faithful witnesses of Christ's redeeming love.

Conclusion:

As we conclude our Maundy Thursday Communion Service, let us remember the transformative power of communion. Let us carry the memory of Christ's sacrifice in our hearts, experiencing spiritual renewal and unity with fellow believers. May this communion service inspire us to live lives worthy of the Gospel, proclaiming Christ's love and grace to a world in need.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.