7 reasons why we take communion

Communion fulfilled the deep longings that we all had, indeed that every human heart knows, for mystery. The Passover was a remembrance of when the Israelites were in Egypt as Moses was seeking to free them from Pharaoh. Celebration. 3. Passover was one of the most important celebrations observed by the people of Israel. Communion is about a holy relationship with God through Christ and a holy relationship with other followers of the Lamb of God. John H. Armstrong is president of ACT3 Network in the Chicago suburbs and editor This is when He also informed them about His impending death and betrayal that He knew was coming. While we debate the finer doctrinal points of the Lords Supper, we often forget and even violate one of the most important aspects of the meal: church unity. This change is known as transubstantiation, a view officially adopted by the Western church in 1059, though the term wasnt used until the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. The disciples, including Judas, were in Upper Room with Jesus celebrating the Passover feast. We are in the midst of our series, Why Do We Do That? The difference between Calvin and Luther centers on where Christs physical body is. Lets begin by turning to 1 Corinthians 11:23-29. Its not about the ritual or the method; its about listening to Jesus and doing what He says. All Rights Reserved. Luther took Jesus words this is my body . Throughout the process they were very attentive to our requests and the final product was very high quality. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. It is also called the the Lords table (1 Cor. It is to Remember Christ our Savior dying on the cross for the sin of humankind Proclaim his death Give thanks Examine our hearts Commune with God and fellow believers Acknowledge our covenant with him Anticipate Therefore, Christians go to church to sip on some wine or grape juice and share a piece of bread while remembering Jesus sacrifice on the cross. It's a meal that often divides us. Its not about a ritual to revere, but a person to worship. Terms of Use As I grew older, I discovered some churches took the meal weekly. Sacraments symbolize and guarantee Gods promises to us. Grow your mind alongside your plant. Besides being born again in Christ, a healthy body and mind are the greatest blessings anyone can have. Its not about the ritual or the method; its about listening to Jesus and doing what He says. He instructed His followers to use bread and wine to remember the sacrifice He was going to make when He died for our sins on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). But we so easily lose sight of this in our day-to-day lives. PO Box 1407 Do this to remember me as often as you drink it. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lords death until he comes again.. However, God gave his people the opportunity to be saved by putting the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. WebCommunion Teaching Guide - Bellefield Presbyterian Church Replies were quick and they even offered us some great suggestions with design. We are the Body of Christ partaking of the one body and blood of Christ in communion. Honestly, today I do not know if I could do that. What is the Purpose of Communion? Can I Take At a basic level, communion also called the Lords Supper is one of two sacraments that Jesus instituted. It reminded them of the broken bread and spilled wine, and Jesus spilled blood that would wash away all of the sins of those who believe in Him. Calvin rejected Zwinglis memorialism and Luthers monstrous notion of ubiquitythat Christ could be physically present everywhere, all the time. The Passover was the most sacred feast of the Jewish religious year. In this unique time of worship, believers commemorate the Lords death through prayer and meditation. God wanted to free them, so He sent Moses as His messenger. They quickly created a design that was perfect for our event and were able to work within our timeframe. I was raised in a tradition where you had to get in a long, LONG line and walk up to the Priest who would put this wafer in your mouth and would give you a drink from a large cup of WINE! 11:2426). Communion is not an obligation, but a celebration. Its not about the ritual or the method; its about listening to Jesus and doing what He says. Communion is not an obligation, but a celebration. We are told in Matthew 26:26 that the night Jesus was betrayed, He and the disciples ate a last supper. Scriptures: Kenneth Copeland Ministries Blog; 5 5. More consequential debates focus on what the meal means, how often it should be taken, and who should partake in it. [PDF] Communion: The What, Why and How Amazon S3; 6 6.7 Reasons For Communion Is a Symbolic and Festive Family Meal. This was also His final meal with them. Highly recommend Live Love Bean. Zwingli believed the idea of Christs physical presence was contrary to sense experience. When we move beyond Christs command and debate various theological nuances about the Supper, we move toward disunity. No doubt the disciples around the table had the Israelites freedom from slavery in mind. For the first 1,500 years of church history, believers held a fairly common understanding of the Lords Supper. Every lash of the whip was a provision for healing. On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus ate His last supper with His disciples. . Churches throughout time have fought over the type of bread used, the number of cups used, how often are we called to take it, as well as the age old question, juice or wine. What is the Purpose of Communion? Whatever inspiration, motivation or spiritual wisdom you're in need of, there's a bean with a message just for you. Communion is a time of just that: communing. I was raised in a tradition where you had to get in a long, LONG line and walk up to the Priest who would put this wafer in your mouth and would give you a drink from a large cup of WINE! And since then, Christians have been doing exactly that for nearly two thousand years. Jesus gave the disciples bread, saying, This is my body (Matt. Next, hold the bread, and read Luke 22:19 out loud, He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. (The other is baptism.) You are above only and not beneath. Such sacraments help solidify Christians beliefs and encourage them to continue following the path of Christ. For those reasons, many of them desire to receive the meal more often. This is also why Jesus calls Himself The bread of life because we are nourished through Him, and He is the main reason why we survive. 3 Main Christian Views of Communion. Whatever the event, everybody appreciates plants with words on them. Taking part in Communion is highly sacred for Christians as it entails following a commandment given by Jesus and allowing them to remember Him. After this final plague had run its course, Pharaoh finally relented and let Israel go free. Live Love Bean saved the day by delivering the beans in record speed after another supplier provided last minute information that they were unable to deliver. Summary: In a desire to not treat common what is sacred this sermon gives seven reasons from Scripture as to why and how we as believers are to partake rightly in the Lord's table. I was raised in a tradition where you had to get in a long, LONG line and walk up to the Priest who would put this wafer in your mouth and would give you a drink from a large cup of WINE! Christian/Church Of Christ. And who can eat it? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The meal reminds us that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. (John 6:2259 is one debated text.) None of you may go out the door of his house until morning. Having trouble logging into your account? P- They remembered the Passover sacrifice, the exodus from Egypt, the new beginning for covenant people. The Lords Supper tangibly reminds us of what Christ has done for us: He has reconciled us to God and to one another. Its simply a matter of believing and receiving this provision of God. 16,675 views Feb 27, 2019 343 Dislike Share Save Time of Grace Ministry 73.5K subscribers Communion can bless or hurt you. They saw that every time they gathered around a table to eat and drink, it was a chance to recognize Jesus and thank God for all Hes done. Rock RMS, Privacy Policy We read all the feedback given, but it often helps to follow up with questions. Communion acts as a command for all Christians to remember. Or maybe there's a big event coming up. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine. Sacraments symbolize and guarantee Gods promises to us. He told them that this bread is His body while the wine is His blood. Communion Is a Symbolic and Festive Family Meal. All Rights Reserved. 26:27; 1 Cor. Once in the soil, a magic bean plant can grow for up to 12 months or more. We will ensure that the Gospel is proclaimed weekly, irrespective of the sermon. Jesus told them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (The other is baptism.) It is taken in remembrance of His bruised and beaten body on the cross and His blood that was spilled. Thank you - can not recommend enough, Oh chris, the beans are amazing thank you so much and thanks for making it happen. Unplanted, magic beans will last 2-3 years as long as they are kept in a dry, cool place. Reprinting & Reposting. We should note that the early church often celebrated communion after the original Apostles passed away. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine. Last, communion at the close of each service has a way of tying the service to the gospel. If you want to learn more about how this important Jewish feast came to be, check out Exodus 12 which recounts the final plague and Israels release from Egypt. Communion is largely connected with Passover. At a basic level, communion also called the Lords Supper is one of two sacraments that Jesus instituted. Jesus broke the curse from our lives, which allows us to live in THE BLESSING. This was a holy event in response to the commandment by Moses to memorialize an event named Passover.. Through it, the forgiveness of sins could be obtained. We continue to take communion as a way of honoring the sacrifice that Jesus made to redeem us from our sinful state and bring us into right relationship with Him. Taking communion is not an obligatory right for Christians, but something that they practice for a myriad of reasons. But let us unite around what we all can agree on. Yes, it sounds strange. On top of the excellent customer service pre and post delivery the beans themselves have gone down a treat with everyone from Board Directors to attendees. WebIts Meaning and Significance Charles Stanley. By the second century, Christians began calling it Eucharist, a word expressing the most characteristic element of the meal: giving thanks (from the Greek eucharisteo; Matt. 10:16, KJV), from the Greek word koinonia, which means a participation together. Thus, many Christians believe that when we receive this meal, we actually participate in the presence of Christ through the witness and power of the Holy Spirit. Jews would come from all over the world to meet in Jerusalem and celebrate their deliverance from Egypt many years prior. Summary: Here are seven reasons we feel communion is important for the church: 1. He fulfilled the requirements as set forth in Exodus 12. This was a critical tradition celebrated by the people of Israel, specifically Jews. Celebrating communion marks the story of Jesus, how He gave Himself completely to give us a better life, a new start, and a fresh relationship with God (1 Peter 3:18). That was foretold by a prophecy in Isaiah 53:5 that says, He was whipped so we could be healed., Does that mean that we should believe God wants to literally heal our bodies? It keeps the services Christ-centered instead of man-centered. We will begin with verse 23. Whether youve been a Christian since childhood or accepted Christ just recently, you likely have a story about the Lords Supper. Most beans will sprout and reveal their message after 4-10 days. It is not much about the bread and wine but rather of the body and blood of Christ. God commanded that this event be celebrated each year as Passover, so the Israelites would remember Gods great deliverance in bringing them out of Egypt and slavery. You are healed! Take communion as a group, and dont use it to fill up on food, do that at home beforehand. In the early Church, in the passage we are going to spend the bulk of our time in this morning, had some divisions and stresses related to Communion. [PDF] Communion: The What, Why and How Amazon S3. The broken bread represented His broken and beaten body on the cross, while the wine represented the blood He would spill for all of His believers. And virtually all Christians affirm that the meal is to be taken in communion with othersthat its a core sign of our unity in Christ.