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Introduction
We find the Lord’s Supper recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.
All of the Gospel accounts are quite similar, but we find the Lord’s Supper applied and taught to the church by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23–34.
This is the passage that we just read together in the responsive reading and will be our text for today...
Today we’ll be focusing on the concept of ...
κοινωνια - Communion
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?
Is not the bbread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
The word “sharing” here in verse 16 is koinonia in the Greek:
Blood
κοινωνια του αἱματος του Χριστου
koinōnia tou haimatos tou Christou
a sharing in the blood of Christ
Body
κοινωνία τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ
koinōnia tou somatos tou Christou
a sharing of the body of Christ
Translated
NASB: Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?
Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
KJV: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
We have taken the word “communion” and twisted (diluted) its meaning somewhat.
We most often use the word to designate the taking of the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
At times we nounify the word to indicate the elements themselves or we objectify the word to indicate an event.
Communion - the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level
Paul is giving us a picture of a loaf of bread (one large loaf) broken into smaller pieces.
This is a word picture that he uses to describe the body of Christ - that is to say the body of believers… (all of us).
The word koinonia is also translated into “fellowship” in English.
This is another word that we have twisted slightly in modern times.
We use the word “fellowship” to describe something that we do together… and it usually involves eating… as in our Wednesday night fellowship.
Again we have objectified the word fellowship by using it to describe an event.
But the word “fellowship” actually means something different than just a gathering for the purpose of sharing a meal:
Fellowship - friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.
Again we see this word “sharing”...
Share - have a portion of (something) with another or others.
give a portion of (something) to another or others.
use, occupy, or enjoy (something) jointly with another or others.
possess (a view or quality) in common with others.
take a part in (something)
tell someone about (something), especially something personal.
post or repost (something) on a social media website or application
Koinonia actually means all of these things at the same time:
Koinonia
Communion
Fellowship
Sharing
Paul’s point is that koinonia IS the church.
THIS is what we are to be about.
We share a common interest
We form a community by gathering together
We share a common set of interests
We share our thoughts and feelings with each other on an intimate level
We are willing to guide, exhort, correct, and rebuke each other
THIS is the church!
I saw this happen on Friday night as the Union Baronil met to share a meal and discuss scripture and talk about life experiences.
These men were all passionate about the word of God and how to apply it to their lives.
Each one had their part to say about the word of God as they shared a box of chicken and biscuits together.
THIS is the church!
I.
The Lord’s Supper is a Time to Look Back (vv 23b-24)
One important reason for the Lord’s Supper is that we recall the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sins.
He asks that we take the Supper “in remembrance” of that sacrifice.
And he uses the elements of a simple dinner to provide symbols of that sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 11:23b-25
the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Jesus is gathered with his disciples for the Passover Supper.
And, as usual, He is taking the opportunity to teach His disciples a lesson that will stick with them beyond His time with them.
A. Jesus Interpreted something old: Passover
Passover is an annual event celebrated by Jews during Jesus’ time, and is still practiced today in the form of a Seder Dinner.
While traditions differ slightly the meal is highly symbolic and intended to remind Jews of their heritage and of their plight when God led them out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land.
The traditional refrain of the Passover Meal is “next year in Jerusalem” since for many centuries the Jews celebrated Passover without physically occupying the Promised Land.
Jesus was actually giving his disciples a new interpretation of the old Passover Supper.
He was instilling this new meal with a tradition that would remind His followers of the sacrifice that He was about to undertake on the cross.
B. Jesus Interpreted something new: Communion
Jesus used the bread and the cup that were there at the table to prepare the disciples for what He was about to go through and instill a meaning from it that they should remember going forward.
In doing this, Jesus was establishing an intimate bond with his disciples.
He was using the importance and heritage of the memorial meal, the Passover Supper, to establish a new memorial meal that would be used to remind his followers of the severity of His sacrifice and it’s purpose for us today.
Jesus used the bread and the cup as an image that the disciples would later recall to point toward His death.
In fact He was establishing a covenant with us.
Let us pause for a moment and remember the death of our Savior.
II.
The Lord’s Supper is a time to Look Forward (v 25-26)
The Lord’s Supper is not just about looking back.
It is about looking forward to the return of Christ.
This is a time of celebration and anticipation as we look forward to Jesus’ return to us.
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
- 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NASB95)
While the Passover Meal was punctuated with the words “next year in Jerusalem” we are a people who celebrate the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of the Lord’s Return.
We could literally think “next year with our Lord” as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of the day we can take communion with the Lord Himself at the head of the table.
Let us take a moment for private rejoicing and thanksgiving to God.
III.
The Lord's Supper is a time to Look Within (v 27-28)
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 (NASB95)
Paul teaches us that there is a right way and a wrong way to take the Lord’s Supper.
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