Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Unusual Doxology

Sometimes we do thng based on tradition

Exp

.Many times we end up doing things for the wrong reasons• Because no one ever stopped to ask why.•

We develop habits and traditions sometimes based on nothing more than false information.•

Each Sunday here at Franklin Christian Church we have a time of communion where we partake of the bread and the wine that remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.•

As I thought about our church and the possibility of new friends worshipping with us,• I thought it would be a good time to explain why we take communion every week here at Franklin.

says, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.”•

Early historians document that the early church observed communion every week.•

Smaller groups (House churches) possibly took communion every day,• But the church as a whole took communion every Sunday.•

Following that precedent, we also provide communion every week.•

We simply want to practice what we see the church in the 1st Century practicing.One of the complaints I hear about taking weekly communion• Is that it becomes too common.

(Losses it’s meaning)• If you take communion every week it isn’t as special.•

With that in mind, I want us to look at why we take communion.First of all, we take communion because…JESUS STARTED IT• I don’t mean for that to sound like a little kid saying “he started it!”•

What I mean is that the origins of communion come from Jesus Himself.In fact, communion is also called “The Lord’s Supper” because of the fact that Jesus started it.Paul writes in1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.”

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”God,

Who created us, knows that we don’t have the greatest memories.•

Throughout the entire Bible we see that God was always setting up memorials for His people.•

Whenever a significant event would happen, the patriarchs would build an altar.•

When the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River they set 12 stones by the river bank to serve as a memorial to that event.•

Whenever their children walked by and saw the stones the parents would tell them about God’s miraculous entrance for them into the Promise Land.A significant memorial for the Israelites was Passover.•

Passover was a meal celebrated to remember their escape from Egypt.•

During the meal they would eat bitter herbs to remind them of their years in slavery.•

They would also eat sweet honey to remind them of how good the Lord is.•

It was during this celebration that Jesus met with His disciples and started the Lord’s Supper.•

Every family would set an additional place setting for the Messiah.•

This was a reminder that they were looking for the One coming from God.•

It is from this place that scholars believe Jesus took the bread and the cup.•

Strong significance.The primary purpose of communion is…A SYMBOLIC REMINDER OF CHRIST’S DEATH• Two times in these verses Jesus said to do this, “In remembrance of Me.”•

We have all been frustrated or embarrassed at times by forgetting something.•

It is embarrassing when someone knows you by name but you can’t remember his or her name.

We need reminders.But it is probably a good thing that we don’t remember everything in vivid detail.•

If the memory of a bad accident stayed in our minds perfectly,• we would never get back in a car.•

If the memory of failure didn’t fade, we might not be willing to try again.How terrible would it be if the memory of a loved one that died• Didn’t fade a little with time?•

We never forget them,• But if some of the immediate pain didn’t leave us the grief would be unbearable.The Lord’s Supper is the most meaningful memorial ever established.•

You can see the wisdom of God written all over it.•

It is so simple.

Any culture can participate.It is vividly symbolic.•

The unleavened bread reminds us of Christ’s sinless body.•

The juice is blood colored and easily reminds us of the blood shed for our sin.•

It is portable.

You don’t have to travel to some special cathedral to participate.•

It can be observed anywhere.•

It is interactive.

It is not just something we look at.

It is something we do.Communion is so much more than a religious tradition.•

It is more than a mid-service snack.

It is a memorial.•

It’s a picture of remembrance.•

It focuses our hearts and minds on Jesus.•

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.Every time we participate in the Lord’s Supper,• It’s a sermon without words about the cross.•

Jesus left us with a picture so we would never forget.Another reason we take communion is because it…DEMONSTRATES UNITY OF THE CHURCH• I know a little about cars.•

I know the basics like how to put gas in the tank, clean the windshield,• I know a few other more complicated things like brakes, exhaust, suspension• But other than that I am ignorant about what it takes for engines to run.•

When I have a serious car problem I know to take it to Ray• Because cars and there repair is his specialty.Here at Franklin, we have many people in our church family• who are experts with technology, experts in construction, experts in music, and experts in production.•

We have people with mechanical, athletic, and artistic expertise.•

These people are an incredible encouragement to me,• But at the same time there’s that little part of me that feels inferior.It’s not always easy to be around someone who is better at something than you are.•

And isn’t it even worse when it seems like a person is better at being a Christian than you?The Lord’s Supper erases all of that.Let’s go back to1Co 11:20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else.

One remains hungry, another gets drunk.

Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in?

Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this?

Certainly not!In the Corinthian culture,• it was common practice to show favoritism at mealtimes.•

Those who were higher on the social and economic ladder got to go first,• Sometimes leaving nothing for those who weren’t rich or prestigious.•

The Christians at Corinth had allowed this practice to creep into the church.•

The haves were jumping ahead of the have-nots.So Paul encourages them in verse 33,1Co 11:33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.He instructed them to wait for each other• Because, when it comes to the Lord’s Supper, we’re all on the same level.•

Social and economic distinctions disappear.

(Elab)• Our spiritual inferiority complexes disappear as well.•

Jesus died for each of us because we are all sinners• We are all hopelessly lost except for the grace of God.That’s what we remember at the Lord’s Supper.•

A brand new Christian and a believer of 50 years are on the same level at the Lord’s Supper.•

It’s level ground at the foot of the cross.In fact, listen to verse 27-291Co 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Communion requires serious self-examination.Communion forces us to be real with God.• It’ through self-examination that we realize none of us are worthy to take communion.•

None of us are perfect.•

We are all sinners.•

But we are sinners saved by God’s grace.•

And because of that grace we are part of Christ’s body, the church.When Paul was talking about recognizing the body of the Lord,• He is referring to it in two ways.•

First of all, remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.•

This is why we have the emblems.

(Bread and the Juice)• But secondly, we are to remember our fellow church members.

"This do in remembrance of me."

Remember what was going on in Corinth?

• They were not considering each others needs.

With these words ringing in our ears, we regularly celebrate communion.

As we drink the cup and eat the bread, we reflect on Christ's sacrifice and look forward to his return.

Yet communion is more than a memorial.

Our continued participation in this powerfully symbolic ceremony molds our thinking and brings to life deeply spiritual truths in very concrete ways.

It shapes our identity as a people of God and provides the truly blessed assurance that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

The "message" of communion is important and deserves our full attention.

• There were divisions in the church.

An Unworthy Manner?

• If you have a problem with someone in the church,

From what has been said, it follows that believers should share communion at every reasonable opportunity.

Yet, often believers abstain from sharing in this rich experience.

They allow the bread and the cup to pass them by as they sit in guilt and shame, wishing they were more worthy.

There was a time when I myself would abstain if I were struggling with some sin.

What is it that drives believers from their Lord's table in these spiritually intimate moments?