Carin's Communion Message

COMMUNION 

WHAT

A HOLY TIME OF WORSHIP WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE BODY TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US.

COMMUNION LINKS US TO THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY BY MAKING US ONE IN CHRIST WITH FUTURE BELIVERS, BUT BY OUR TRUSTING IN THE LORD OF THE LAST DAYS, THE ONE WHO’S IN CHARGE WHEN TIME ITSELF ENDS 

WHY do we observe communion: 

• THE LORD TOLD US TO – “THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”
• REMEMBERING CHRIST AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US IN HIS LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
• TAKE TIME TO EXAMINE OURSELVES – A MAN OUGHT TO EXAMINE HIMSELF BEFORE HE EATS OF THE BREAD AND DRINKS OF THE CUP
• PROCLAIMING HIS DEATH UNTIL HE COMES – A STATEMENT OF FAITH

“FOR WHENEVER YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES”

• SHOW OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST – HIS LIFE BECOMES OUR LIFE

 

BREAD & WINE

• BREAD SYMBOLIZES LIFE. IT IS THE NOURISHMENT THAT SUSTAINS LIFE
• JESUS SAID IN JOHN 6:35 – “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. HE WHO COMES TO ME WILL NEVER GO HUNGRY”
• BREAD ALSO REPRESENTS THE PHYSICAL BODY OF CHRIST
• AT THE LAST SUPPER, JESUS BROKE BREAD, GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES AND SAID, “THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”

 

• WINE REPRESENTS GOD’S COVENANT IN BLOOD, POURED OUT IN PAYMENT FOR MANKIND’S SIN
• JESUS SAID IN LUKE 22:20 – “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU”

THE BREAD & WINE ARE USED AS SYMBOLS TO REPRESENT CHRIST’S BODY AND BLOOD, IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIS ENDURING SACRIFICE.  HIS PRESENCE BY FAITH IS MADE SPIRITUALLY REAL IN AND THROUGH THEM. 

THE LAST SUPPER 

• WE ARE AWARE OF THE STORY OF THE LAST SUPPER WHERE JESUS ATE HIS FINAL MEAL WITH HIS 12 DISCIPLESBEFORE GOING TO THE CROSS. HE TOLD THE 12 DISCIPLES THAT ONE OF THEM WOULD SOON BETRAY HIM
• JESUS TOOK THE BREAD AND THE WINE AND ASKED HIS FATHER TO BLESS IT. HE THEN OBSERVED COMMUNION WITH HIS 12 DISCIPLES
• JUDAS KNEW HE WOULD BETRAY JESUS, YET HE STILL SHARED IN THE COMMUNION OF THE PASSOVER MEAL

 

• WE ARE AWARE OF HOW MEANINGFUL COMMUNION IS, HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO A TIME OF SELF-EXAMINATION, THUS, WE NEED TO REFLECT AND ASK OURSELVES – “HOW TRUE IS MY COMMITMENT TO THE LORD?” DO I PROFESS TO LOVE AND FOLLOW CHRIST, YET DENY HIM WITH MY ACTIONS?