Sacrawhat?
Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!
The Lord’s Supper
How can we now celebrate the Lord’s Supper well?
1 Corinthians 10
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 11
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses 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 commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
As I come to Holy Communion I get to believe and act like...
1) Jesus brings His Presence!
The Lord’s Supper is a very personal and gracious connection between a big, Holy God and a little sinful person like me! Jesus is present in, with and under the bread and wine!
2) Jesus brings His Gifts!
Where the risen Jesus is His personal grace, truth, love, hope, forgiveness … abound!
3) I bring a “real” Life and a “real” Faith!
I believe I am a sinner and need what Jesus gives. I come repenting of my sins and trusting He gave His body and blood for me!
“...that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins’!” M. Luther
4) I leave “restored and renewed” in relationship with Jesus and with Others in my church family because He is who We share.
“Because there is one loaf (Jesus) we are one body, although we are many individuals. All of us share one loaf.” 1 Cor. 10:17
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS
Monday: 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 11:27-34
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Friday: John 6:35-40
Saturday: Psalm 22:1-5