Sacrawhat? The Lord's Supper - Celebrating Well!

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

Sacrawhat? The Lord's Supper - What's the Story?

Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

The Lord’s Supper

How did this celebration begin?

Luke 22 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”…..  13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer……... 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 

Matthew 26 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus started the Lord’s Supper while celebrating the Passover the night before He would die!

What is the Passover?

Exodus 12 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it…..

11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

In the original Passover event all who are covered with the blood of the Lamb would be saved from the judgment of death!

The Old Celebration

In the ongoing Passover Celebration the people could have a “real physical” connection with the greatest “salvation event” in their history when God saved His people from the “angel of death” and the Egyptians.  When they had the Passover celebration every year it is like they were connecting with the same God that had  delivered their ancestors. 

The New Celebration

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples about 1300 years after the original Passover event.  He changes things.  He is God – He gets to do that.  He gives them a New Salvation Promise based on a New Salvation Event! 

 Jesus made use of the Passover celebration by changing it into a celebration and participation of His Presence and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins.  We still get to celebrate the Jesus’ Presence in our lives and the forgiveness of our sins as we receive the bread and wine which He called His body and blood!

Jesus changes the ceremony with the words “This is my body” and “This is my “blood”.

 Now people celebrating this supper “connect” with the salvation event of the Cross and Empty tomb!

1 Corinthians 10 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? 

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 26:17-28
Tuesday:         Exodus 12:6-14
Wednesday:    Acts 2:42-47      
Thursday:        John 15:1-5
Friday:            1 Corinthians 10:14-17
Saturday:        Psalm 51

Sacrawhat? Unpacking the Gift of BAPTISM!

Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

In BAPTISM God is at work giving us a new “in Christ” identity!

Today we will seek to unpack the gift of baptism through a Q and A interview format! 

The scripture verses below may be referenced to during the conversation!

Matthew 28  

  18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Galatians 3

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ….. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 6

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life….. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

Colossians 2 11 In him (Christ) you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead…….13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins

Acts 2  38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Luke 18  15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Matthew 18 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 

1 Peter 3  21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Titus 3 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Teaching on Baptism from Martin Luther

What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matthew 28:19]

What benefits does Baptism give? It works the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [Mark 16:16]

How can water do such great things? Certainly not just the water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus chapter three:“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Christ, our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” [Titus 3:5-8]

What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written? St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” [Romans 6:4]

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Acts 2:36-41
Tuesday:         Luke 18:15-17
Wednesday:    Matthew 18:1-6      
Thursday:        Acts 16:25-34
Friday:            Psalm 22:7-11
Saturday:        1 Peter 3:18-22

Sacrawhat? Baptism Part 1

Sacrawhat?

Sacrament— A Sacred Mystery where God is graciously active through tangible means for our good!

BAPTISM ????????

(You are welcome to email in questions about Baptism to pog@pointofgracechurch.org)!

Matthew 28  

  18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Galatians 3

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 6

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life….. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

Colossians 2

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead…….13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,….15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

God is the key actor in Baptism as I play a passive “receiver” role!  Salvation is really one-sided!

In Baptism He gives “in Christ”, “clothed with Christ”, “children of God”, “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, “buried with Christ”, “raised with Christ”, “circumcised by Christ” – IDENTITY! 

In Baptism God drives our identity stake in the ground therefore we can completely trust It.   

Luke 18

 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

Monday:         Matthew 28:18-20
Tuesday:         Romans 6:1-11
Wednesday:    Colossians 2:9-15      
Thursday:        Galatians 3:26-29
Friday:            Titus 3:4-7
Saturday:        Psalm 18:1-6