Communion, A Time to Remember

Adapted from Sermon "The Reminder of Communion" shared on 01 July 2012, just before the Celebration of the Lord's Supper.

The word, COMMUNION in its earliest form it came from the Latin for common.  It was used by Saint Augustine and it is believed that the word derived from com- "with or together" + unus "oneness or union.”

If we take this idea seriously we arrive at the purpose of our time together, that is with or together with many. In particular we look at Communion as being with Christians from all places throughout all the ages of church history. We look than at Communion in the sense of Communing or we might say fellowship.  

Look then at Paul's instructions about this spiritual meal that we share.  When we do we see the example, the examination, and the expectation of the Lord's Supper.  Remember now that though we speak in terms of the physical experience of communion, this is indeed a spiritual matter and must not be taken lightly!

I.     THE EXAMPLE OF THE COMMUNION - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26  

A.     There is the AUTHORITY FOR COMMUNION—the writer received these instructions from the Lord and delivered them to the congregation in the City of Corinth

B.    There is the call to REMEMBER— Remember the bread or body of Christ and that for which it stands. Remember the wine or blood of Christ and that for which it stands.

C.    There is the PROCLAMATION Just by sharing together in Communion you are testifying that you believe that indeed Jesus lived and that He died--that indeed Jesus death was with purpose—it accomplished some things. The word for Proclaim comes from the word for messenger and also keeps company with such words as declare, preach, show, speak of, teach.   The Lords Supper was a visible sermon that proclaimed ‘the spiritual message of the Cross

D.    There is the HOPE   Just by sharing together in Communion you are saying that I believe that Jesus is coming again—to me it is a certainty!

II.      THE EXAMINATION OF THE COMMUNION - 1 Corinthians 11:27-32  The question becomes what is unworthy manner?

A.    This is A CALL TO CHRISTIANS, those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

B.    This is the CALL TO REMEMBER what has been said previously. What is the “therefore” there for?

C.    This is the CALL TO SELF EXAMINATION - The call to self examination is the call to self test. 
Have an honest look at yourself. Are you different than you were before you became a Christian?
Are you different than you were yesterday, last week, last year? In other words are you a growing Christian?

D.    This is the CALL TO BEING WORTHY. The word for “unworthy” is the word, “unfit.”
E.    This is the CALL TO JUDGMENT To not take this seriously is to tempt judgment.  If we fail to judge or we might say grade ourselves the text is saying that we then tempt the possibility of becoming guilty of the death of Jesus Christ.

III.      THE EXPECTATION OF THE COMMUNION 1 Corinthians 11:33-34

A.    There is the EXPECTATION OF OTHERNESS The problem was that the Corinthian Christian were coming to Communion for selfish reasons.
B.    There is the EXPECTATION OF UNIQUENESS This was not just another meal, place to satisfy physical hunger.  Make Communion something special—don’t make it a common but a spiritual experience
C.    There is the EXPECTATION OF MORE Apparently there was more to say but Paul held back until he could come and personally share the concerns with his brothers and sisters in Christ.

As we come to share the Communion let us remember that
There is the EXAMPLE OF COMMUNION—The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in correcting the Christians at Corinth give to us how we are to share Communion
There is the EXAMINATION OF COMMUNION—we are to have a look at our own hearts and lives and how we measure up.
There is the EXPECTATION OF COMMUNION—there is the expectation of His coming but there are other expectations such as setting aside the self, focusing upon others, and not taking for granted the Communion.