Communion...?
The Foolishness of the Cross • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
· Last week we celebrated communion: What happened at the table?
· Symbol (an external reminder of a deeper truth) or a ritual (a good spiritual practice)?
PAUL SHOWS US TWO THINGS THAT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS, AND ONE THING WE NEED TO DO.
I) The Lord’s Supper is Participation with Christ (10:14-22)
I) The Lord’s Supper is Participation with Christ (10:14-22)
A. Christianity Recognizes the Spiritual Realm
A. Christianity Recognizes the Spiritual Realm
i. A review: “Can you eat food sacrificed to idols?” (8:1-13)
1. A follow-up question: You can eat meat…but worship?
2. EXAMPLE: Family friend invites you to celebrate a Hindu ceremony?
ii. Sharing in the Lord’s Supper is a supernatural event: (vv.19-21)
1. Idols might just be stone/wood/metal, BUT: Paul labels this demonic!
2. Why? Worship is “participatory” w. the supernatural (vv. 16, 18, 20)
B. In Communion we “participate with Christ”
B. In Communion we “participate with Christ”
i. Participation is a “sharing with”
1. EXAMPLE: “Participation” trophies are for those who share an event
2. In worship (specifically communion) we participate in a spiritual reality
3. Is Communion merely symbolic? No! We are “participants of Christ”!
ii. Participation:
1. Christ, assures us of new covenant blessings: forgiveness (11:25)
2. Means sharing in the death, resurrection & return of Christ (see 11:26)
3. Happens by faith:
NOW, PAUL TURNS TO A SPECIFIC PROBLEM SURROUNDING THE CORINTHIANS AND THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH CHRIST.
II) The Lord’s Supper is “Coming together”
II) The Lord’s Supper is “Coming together”
A. How do Divisions Spoil the Lord’s Supper?
A. How do Divisions Spoil the Lord’s Supper?
i. A threat to the Church (VV. 17, 22, 30)
1. Paul give serious warnings about the judgement of God (vv. 17, 20)
2. (A plus?): God is using this to sanctify his church (vs. 18)
ii. The church was threatened by divisions! (vv. 20-22)
1. The wealthy were gorging the poor were getting none
2. EXAMPLE: Communion that is divisive is NOT communion!
B. The Lord’s Supper Draws God’s People together
B. The Lord’s Supper Draws God’s People together
i. At the Lord’s Supper Christ sustains his diverse body (see 10:17)
1. We all have in common: we come equally hungry, & nourished in Christ
2. EXAMPLE: Sunnyslope & our diverse church
ii. At The Lord’s Supper Christ invites us into our shared “Memory” (vs. 24)
1. Memory: Recalling facts, or retelling our story
2. To “remember” isn’t just calling information to mind but weaving our story together with Christ’s work on the cross
3. So: Jesus laid down his life, gave of himself to elevate us!
COMMUNION IS MEANT TO BE PARTICIPATION WITH CHRIST AND A COMING TOGETHER OF GOD’S PEOPLE; HOW DO WE PREPARE OURSELVES, THEN?
III) The Lord’s Supper Requires Careful Judgment (vv. 27-28, 31)
III) The Lord’s Supper Requires Careful Judgment (vv. 27-28, 31)
A. Why do we need to Examine ourselves?
A. Why do we need to Examine ourselves?
i. Some examine for…behavior
1. If we audit on the basis of good/bad behavior, we fail to see the gospel!
2. EXAMPLE: Sam’s blind spot (Beacon Light church)
ii. But Christ wants us to examine our hearts
1. To examine self is to recognize ONLY their unworthy!
2. EXAMPLE:
B. How do we examine ourselves?
B. How do we examine ourselves?
i. We examine ourselves to prepare for the table
1. Sunnyslope celebrates communion on the 1stSunday of each month
2. Recognizing the importance of this meal calls us to prepare
ii. We examine ourselves by:
1. Asking of we are relying entirely on grace
2. Asking if we are participating in the suffering, death, and life of Jesus
3. Asking if we are sharing with and promoting the unity of the body
Transition:
Conclusion
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