Communion (Luke 22:14-20)
Gary McManus, 02/24/2013Part of the DCC Basics series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
At almost 160 years of age we
special challenges in addition to
providing blessings. Because we are old,
we are subject to the same
problems that the elderly are subjected to:
--we loose dear friends and some family
--we can easily get focused on our body
—our structure
--we may find communication more difficult;
receiving and sending
Again today, a new church looks to things
that are of God at Daleville Christian.[focus!]
Communion is of God. Communion is from Jesus Christ.
We celebrate communion every time we gather.
So, the church is identified by its gathering which
is it’s worship. One of the most defining moments
in our worship--a moment that sets us apart from
almost every denomination and many
non-denominational churches is communion.
Two questions
Who gave us communion? answer: Jesus
Why do we do communion? answer: Jesus
Communion is not a Bible word;
but it is a word that everyone understands..
Communion means what it sounds like;
a common union. We intend,
just as Jesus intended, to proclaim our
common union with Jesus Christ AND
our common union as those who are saved
by Jesus Christ. We are saved by the covenant
that was made in Jesus’ blood.
This is a covenant meal. (Exodus 12:1-28)
There are FOUR reasons to do this:
1) Jesus did it. We keep doing it
because they did it. It is in IMITATION.
2) Jesus intended us to do it; a sign of His
invisible presence until the Kingdom comes
in fullness. We do it at His INSTIGATION.
3) The Passover meaning of covenant remains,
newly understood. It is an INSTITUTION.
4) It is the symbol of Jesus death (broken/bloodied)
which liberates us. It is SALVATION to us.
(Isaiah 53:5,1 Peter 2:24, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
Jesus used the institute of Passover.
Parts of that institution have new meaning.
THIS is JESUS’ institution.
This meal retains its passover meaing.
Apostle Paul calls Jesus our Passover lamb
(I Corinthians 5:7-8)
Exodus 12:1-28: the blood of the lamb
protected Israel from death. A covenant
required blood.
Of the whole Passover meal, this is all that
is recorded for us; the bread and the cup.
This meal is for our salvation
Paul says, when you come here,
you have turned away from every other
source of help or sustenance.
Doing things halfway WILL NOT HELP YOU.
The commandment states. . .serve the Lord
your God and HIM ONLY. . .SERVE God alone
If you don't get that. . .(I Corinthians 11)
then this table can't help you.
We decide in our own hearts whether to
eat and drink or not. The church does not decide for you.
The only question is: do you see Jesus here?
Ex-communication has the purpose to get the
Believer BACK to the table—for salvation. Amen
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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