A sermon for communion Sunday
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Introduction
Holy Communion is the most sacred event in the Christian Church. When people receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ during Holy Communion, we know that this is a most sacred time. A holy time. A blessed time. Mysterious and unexplainable.
But why? Why is Holy Communion so consistently sacred and moving to so many Christians? What is there about Holy Communion which is so special? Why does Holy Communion consistently touch lives so deeply? I think the gospel lesson for today speaks to these questions.
Main text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 (More verses would follow)
1. What is ‘Holy Communion’?
i. It’s a mandate (v. 23-24, Luke 22:19)
iii. An emblem of salvation
a. The broken bread is Jesus’ broken body.
b. Jesus spoke about the ‘new covenant’ (v. 25, Luke 22:20)
c. If there is a ‘new covenant’ where’s the ‘old covenant’
2. The Old covenant
a. God commanded Israelites to do 2 things
b. They were ordered to kill a lamb and apply its blood on the door posts so that God will not judge them along with the Egyptians. Afterwards He ordered them to celebrate the Passover. (Exodus 12:6-11)
c. This was a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice that came to pass many years later.
d. This is the old covenant
3. Why do we celebrate holy communion?
i. By remembering Jesus’ suffering and death we claim fellowship with Him .
ii. We renew our covenant.
iii. It’s a blessing.
4. What is the correct method to keep the holy communion ?
i. St. Paul has given clear instructions
a. Each person must examine themselves. V.28
ii. Failure brings consequences
a. Some get sick and grow week. V. 29-30
b. Some fall asleep (die).
iii. But there is no judgment if we seek our selves v.31-32
a. We will not be judged with the world
b. We will receive mercy and be forgiven
5. Conclusion and application
i. The Holy Communion is not a tradition
ii. It is the symbol of our salvation.
iii. It represents God’s covenant with man.
iv. If we deny to take part in Holy Communion we deny that Jesus died for our sins. (Hebrews 9:26)
v. Holy Communion is a command. It’s biblical and compulsory for all Christians. It’s not optional.
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You said:
Failure brings consequences
a. Some get sick and grow week. V. 29-30
b. Some fall asleep (die).
That view appears to be wrong. Paul did not say that failure to partake the Holy Communion lead to sickness and death.
Paul said, if one does not partake of it with *proper respect* for importance of the Holy Communion, then these ill consequences will happen.
The sickness and death do not come upon people who eat it with unconfessed sins. They fall on people who partake of it without due respect.
Your view appears to be widespread conventional teaching, but wrong nonetheless.
Hope you don’t mind an honest comment.
Blessings.
Please read my sermon outline very carefully.
I did not say that failure to partake the Holy Communion leads to sickness and death.
I rather said, these consequences will befall the believer if he takes part of it in an unworthy manner as it is said by the apostle Paul in verses 27-30.
The apostle doesn’t say here that you have to confess your sin to another human being. (Neither I have made such a statement in this sermon). But he indeed says that who ever takes part in it must search his own heart first (allowing the Holy Spirit to confront, then confess unto God and receive forgiveness).
Yes, we have to take part in Holy Communion worthily. Are we worthy to take part ? Thats a different topic. What I mean is we need to examine, correct ourselves and then God will forgive us, then we have to take part.
Thanks for the good sermon sir.
I agree with you Abednego. You have got the point…
What is brother Chang’s translation of respect? Is it clasping your hands together with head bowed down and walking gently to partake in the communion? Or total self inner examination with the help of Holy Spirit, acknowledging your short comings and asking for His mercy?
Though my comment is coming late, I’m of the opinion that Bro.Yohan has done justice to the issue based on Biblical references. God bless.
Bro. Yohan said that failure of not examining himself with the help of Holy Spirit brings consequences but Bro.Chan Wang Tak understood that failure of partake causes the consequences, when I was going through this sermon I did not find any defficulty to understand the opinion of Bro. Yohan Perera and the Holy Spirit helped me to meditate more on this, thanks to Bro. Yohan Perera for his wonderful sermon.
“Unworthy manner” speaks not of the actor but of the action.
“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” 1 Corinthians 11:29 (KJV)
We are advised to examine whether we have sin, but if we know what we are partaking and why? The “worthy manner” is to discern the Lord’s body.
“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
and failure to do so causes weakness,sick, and death. It’s all about JESUS and HIS FINISHED WORK. Not about us.
I stand corrected:
We are advised not to examine whether we have sin, but if we know what we are partaking and why?