Sacrament of Altar Part I (August 23, 2017)

Sacrament of Altar Part I
August 23, 2017
I Corinthians 11:23-24 – I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.

• Tonight we consider the nature and the benefits of our Lord’s Supper, next Wednesday the power of our Lord’s Supper and who is worthy to receive it.
• For many of us growing up, the Lord’s Supper was a big deal / story of first communion / story of cousin Merlyn and me ushering for communion/ hair cut conflicts.
• Here at Trinity1/3 of our 1200 plus communicant members receive the Supper regularly, 1/3occasionally, and1/3 not at all.
• Three good reasons to come often to our Lord’s Supper – command, promise, our need.
• Luther quote…If  a person stays away from the sacrament, day by day he will become more and more callous and cold, and eventually spurn it altogether. To avoid this, we must examine our heart and conscience and act like a person who really desire to be right with God.  The more we do this, the more will our heart be warmed and kindled ,and it will not grow entirely cold
• First question tonight – What is the Lord’s Supper? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.
• Differences regarding the Lord’s Supper are major reason for division of historic church.

1. Lutherans – Real Presence
2. Reformed – Symbolic Presence
3. RCC – Transubstantiation

• Story explaining difference between symbolic and real presence.   Glory Rose wanting to sleep with her mom in the flesh, as opposed to a nice picture of her mom.
• Second question:  What are the benefits of our Lord’s Supper? Four answers.

1. Chief blessing is the forgiveness of sins.  This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

• Apply: Story of garbage man coming to take away soiled and stinking

1. Along with the forgiveness of sins, there is life and salvation. If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things.
2. Victory over sin and hell and strength for the new life in Him. I Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

• Apply- think of a sinful habit you would like to break or a good habit you would like to form.  Perhaps it’s a drinking problem or an anger problem or a negativity problem…..tonight may be the night you take that second chance / new beginning.

1. As we partake of this sacrament together, we make a solemn public confession of Christ, and of unity in the truth of the Gospel. I Corinthians 11:26 – For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes.

​The kingdom of God is like a family where three and sometimes four generations attend their Lord’s Supper together.  As they do so, they say to anybody who is watching that Jesus Christ died for them, He rose up again for them, and they believe He is coming back again for them.  Again and again their sins are forgiven, their faults are forgotten, and their failures are erased.  It has become the high point of their family circle, and their joy in the Lord just keeps on getting deeper and deeper.