Communion

Communion September 15, 2019

Introduction:

Today we are taking part in Holy Communion.  This is one of 2 ordinances in our church.  The first is baptism by immersion and the second is Communion.  We practice open Communion here at ESBC which means that we invite all brothers and sisters who have committed to following Christ in their hearts to participate no matter their denomination.  We welcome you to fellowship with us this morning.  

Don't Take Communion, Allow Communion to Take You!

This is a Time of…

Reflection

Adoration

Confession

This is an open communion which means that all believers are welcome to participate.  However, Paul gives a warning not to do so flippantly.  

I Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV)

27 So then, 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. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

Prayer of Reflection Adoration and Confession

Scripture Reading

I Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, 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.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The Bread

It was just a little over a month ago that we all heard the terrible news out of El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Two mass shootings just hours apart that deprived more than 30 people of their lives. Anytime something like this happens, you hear the horror stories and mourn over the tragic loss of life. Yet, in the midst of the tragedy, you hear of bravery and courageous behavior that seems nearly supernatural, almost Christlike in attitude. 

In El Paso, I ran across the story of Jordan and Andre Anchondo. They were at Wal-Mart with their two year son having a normal day shopping. It was in those moments that a gunman walked into the store and began a shooting rampage. The story goes that as the bullets whizzed by, Jordan wrapped herself around her young son protecting him. Andre wrapped himself around Jordan to protect her and his son. The gunman turned his aim on them. He shot at the huddled family. The bullets passed into Andre, into Jordan, but not into their young son. It was their sacrifice that led to his life. It was their bodies that absorbed the bullets, absorbed the pain, the death, the destruction, the heartache, and the hate. Detectives said that if it were for their collective choice, if it weren’t for they way that they stacked their bodies one on another, that they would have all been killed. These parents put their lives not the line, and paid the ultimate price so that their son could live. 

When I read the story I was immediately taken to the Scripture found in John 15:13. 

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Point:

Do you see the picture being painted this morning? There was another sacrifice some 2000 years ago. A man placed His body in front of all humanity shielding humanity from wrath. His body took the shame, the guilt, the anger, the hatred, and all the sins of everyone past, present and future. Without His body covering us, we would all be spiritually dead. 

Of course this man is Jesus. He provided the ultimate sacrifice for everyone of us. Satan was unable to hit his intended target. He was unable to defeat Jesus. 

Jesus’ body being broken for me and for you is essential to our very salvation. Without His body, we are lost. 

Friends, before Jesus, that’s what we looked like.  We were lost.  We were starving.  We had nothing.  We didn’t even know that we needed Jesus until we got a taste of Him.  

Having that one experience with the Bread of Life has transformed us into a new creation.  The old has gone and the new has come.  Listen to what Jesus says in John 6:35…

John 6:35 ESV

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Friends, are you thankful for the bread?  Are you thankful that Jesus’ body fed us.  We should not hunger for the world any longer.  Are you thankful that it filled us?  Jesus’ body has provided a new family, home, brother and sisters.  Are you thankful that His sacrifice has transformed us?  

I am eternally grateful that the bread Jesus offers us will never run out.  It will never grow stale.  

His bread will satisfy ever need of your life.  

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

The Bread Passed

Luke 22:19 (NIV)

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.  

The Bread is Taken

The Blood

Let me remind you today that this cup and it’s contents represent the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  

If you’ve seen Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” you probably remember the scene of Jesus’ scourging. It’s rather hard to forget the whip with steel and bone and glass knotted in its leather striking Jesus over and over again.

There is a part of that scene that is perplexing at first glance. Pilate’s wife approaches Jesus’ mother Mary and very humbly offers her a stack of white towels. Is the family of the punished responsible to clean up this public, government building? Hardly.

On the contrary, Pilot’s wife understands that Mary has no way to gather and protect the precious blood of her son. His blood is spilled on the ground waiting for someone to walk through. His life is poured out on the ground, on the dirty tile, waiting for some unwitting servant to come and wash it up with filthy mop water and pour it into the gutter.

Mary knew that blood is precious, especially the blood of Jesus, God in the flesh, whose death takes away our sin.

For we “were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

That is what we remember at communion “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

Listen to Hebrews 9:14…

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Did you catch that?  It is the blood of Christ, he perfect clean blood, that purifies our infected blood.  

Brothers and sisters, are you thankful for the blood of Christ?  Do you remember how life was like when you embraced your blood disorder?  I am thankful that Christ’s blood has offered me healing, power and forgiveness.  

Remember Jesus’ words captured in Matthew 26:28…

Matthew 26:28 ESV

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

And They Passed The Cup

Luke 22:20 (NIV)

In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

The Cup Is Taken

Remember, Jesus Is The Answer!

Prayer

Invitation