Come to the Table

Each week I write an article for our worship guide. What follows is my article for this weeks worship guide (09.18.16). Last week and again this coming week, I preached on the Lord's Supper (or communion). I have been stunned at the number of people who have come to me and said they have never heard a sermon on this topic. 

The following article is a very brief summary of the content of the two sermons. I just thought (hoped?) it might be helpful to some...

Today we observe the Lord’s Supper. This is one of two ordnances that the Lord left us, the other being baptism. The Lord’s Supper is a beautiful ceremony that reminds us of both the body and the blood of Jesus Christ. His body was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5) and His blood shed for the remission of our sins (Hebrews 9:22). As we come to this time of remembrance, I pray that it will be a powerful time for both you personally and for us as a church.

There are three things that you need to keep in mind this morning as we participate in this ceremony. First, look back at what Christ has done for you. Jesus told us that this was to be done in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19). What are we to remember? We are to remember that we are sinners and that sin requires a sacrifice. However, instead of us having to provide this sacrifice, Jesus became the sacrifice for us.

Next, we need to look within. We are told in 1 Corinthians 11:28 that we are to examine ourselves. We must deal with any sin that is within us. This is the time to lay those things before the Lord and to quit hiding them. We are given strong warnings about approaching the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27, 30).

Finally, we are to look ahead. It is with a sense of anticipation that we approach the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said that He would not eat this meal with us again until “it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). In other words, we will dine with Him only after His victorious return. One commentator called this meal that we look forward to the “great eschatological banquet.”

I trust that today will be a meaningful day of worship for you. I pray that you are reminded of the depth of Christ’s love for you. If you have come into this place struggling, I pray you will find victory. And finally, I pray that you will leave here with the greatest expectation of all, the great expectation of the glorious return of Christ.