Why Communion
What happens when we don’t feel like worshiping?
My self-perception, in part, depends on my ability to remember experiences
My identity in Christ depends, in part, on my memories with God.
Deut. 8:13-15 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
Passover
Deuteronomy 16:2-3 Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for his Name. Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.
The Lord did not check who was worthy inside the house. He checked for the blood on the doorposts. None of us is worthy.
Matt. 26:17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
Matt. 26:18- 29 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
The Bread
The Cup
The Cup of Sanctification: “I will bring you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.”
The Cup of Judgment: “I will deliver you from their bondage”
The Cup of Redemption: “I will . . . redeem you with an outstretched arm
The Cup of Praise: “I will take you for My people, and I will be your God.”
1 Cor. 11:23-26 I passed on to you what I received from the Lord. On the night the Lord Jesus was handed over to his enemies, he took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it. He said, “This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do it in memory of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Every time you drink it, do it in memory of me.” When you eat the bread and drink the cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
What about Communion?
Keeping the main thing the main thing.
Take communion seriously
1 Cor. 11:27-30 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
Slow down and connect with Jesus
1 Cor. 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Communal, together
1 Cor. 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Remember/ Thank You/ Confess/ Look Around/ Look Forward