Communion: A Profound Act of Worship and Unity
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we gathered to reflect on the significance of worship and the incredible talent within our church family that leads us into the presence of God. We then delved into the seventh command of Christ: to take communion. This command is not just a ritual but a profound act of worship, commitment, and witness. We explored the origins and deep meanings behind the elements of communion, particularly the bread and the cup, as instituted by Jesus during the Passover meal with His disciples in Luke 22.
The unleavened bread, which traces back to the Exodus, symbolizes the purity and haste of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. This bread, free from leaven, represents the body of Christ, broken for our redemption. We also discussed the tradition of the Afikomen, a piece of matzah bread that is broken, hidden, and then found, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
The cup, particularly the third cup of the Passover meal known as the cup of redemption, signifies the new covenant in Jesus' blood. This new covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31, promises a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins.
As we prepare to take communion, we are called to self-examination and reconciliation. We must ensure that our relationships with God and with one another are right. Communion is not just an individual act but a communal one, reflecting our unity in Christ. After taking communion, we are reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus and to be witnesses of His gospel to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Significance of Worship: Worship is not just about the talent of the musicians or the beauty of the music; it is about entering into the presence of God and proclaiming His truth. Worship leads us to a deeper connection with God, lifting our voices to the highest heavens because our God is worthy of our praise. [34:18]
2. The Symbolism of Unleavened Bread: The unleavened bread used in communion traces back to the Exodus, symbolizing the purity and haste of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. This bread represents the body of Christ, broken for our redemption, reminding us of the quick departure from slavery and the purity of Jesus' sacrifice. [43:56]
3. The Tradition of the Afikomen: The Afikomen, a piece of matzah bread broken, hidden, and then found, symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This tradition, celebrated during the Passover meal, points to the hope and promise of redemption through Christ, who is the centerpiece of our faith. [52:01]
4. The New Covenant in the Cup: The third cup of the Passover meal, known as the cup of redemption, signifies the new covenant in Jesus' blood. This new covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31, promises a deeper relationship with God, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins, offering us greater freedom than the Israelites experienced in their exodus from Egypt. [59:02]
5. Self-Examination and Reconciliation: Before taking communion, we are called to examine ourselves and ensure that our relationships with God and with one another are right. Communion is a communal act that reflects our unity in Christ. After taking communion, we are reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus and to be witnesses of His gospel to the world. [01:03:45]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [33:31] - Grateful for Worship
3. [34:18] - Entering God's Presence
4. [35:10] - Seven Commands of Christ
5. [36:15] - The Seventh Command: Communion
6. [37:19] - Luke 22: The Last Supper
7. [38:19] - Jesus' Anticipation of Passover
8. [39:15] - The Bread: Jesus' Body
9. [43:56] - The Origin of Unleavened Bread
10. [49:28] - The Look of Unleavened Bread
11. [52:01] - The Tradition of the Afikomen
12. [55:07] - The Cup: New Covenant
13. [57:41] - Four Cups of Passover
14. [59:02] - The Cup of Redemption
15. [01:03:45] - Self-Examination and Reconciliation
16. [01:10:59] - Preparing for Communion
17. [01:19:04] - Taking the Bread
18. [01:26:36] - Taking the Cup
19. [01:27:13] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Luke 22:14-20 - "When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.' After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"
2. Jeremiah 31:31-34 - "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,' declares the Lord. 'This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,' declares the Lord. 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,' declares the Lord. 'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'"
3. Exodus 12:14-20 - "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do. Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread."
### Observation Questions
1. What does the unleavened bread symbolize in the context of the Exodus and in the context of Jesus' Last Supper? ([43:56])
2. How does Jesus describe the cup during the Last Supper, and what new meaning does He give it? ([39:33])
3. What is the significance of the Afikomen in the Passover meal, and how does it relate to Jesus' death and resurrection? ([52:01])
4. According to Jeremiah 31, what are the key promises of the new covenant that God will establish with His people?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the symbolism of the unleavened bread enhance our understanding of Jesus' sacrifice? ([43:56])
2. In what ways does the new covenant described in Jeremiah 31 differ from the old covenant made during the Exodus? How does this new covenant impact our relationship with God? ([59:02])
3. Why is self-examination and reconciliation important before taking communion, and how does this practice reflect our unity in Christ? ([01:03:45])
4. How does the tradition of the Afikomen during the Passover meal serve as a foreshadowing of Jesus' resurrection? ([52:01])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal experience of worship. How can you ensure that your worship is focused on entering God's presence rather than just appreciating the talent of the musicians? ([34:18])
2. The unleavened bread represents purity and haste. In what areas of your life do you need to seek purity and be quick to obey God's commands? ([43:56])
3. The Afikomen is a symbol of hope and redemption. How can you keep the hope of Jesus' resurrection alive in your daily life, especially during challenging times? ([52:01])
4. The new covenant promises a deeper relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. How can you cultivate a more intimate relationship with God this week? ([59:02])
5. Before taking communion, we are called to self-examination and reconciliation. Is there someone you need to reconcile with before participating in communion next time? ([01:03:45])
6. After taking communion, we are reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus and be witnesses of His gospel. What specific steps can you take this week to share the gospel with someone in your life? ([01:06:44])
7. How can you make the practice of communion more meaningful in your life, ensuring it is not just a ritual but a profound act of worship and commitment? ([36:43])
Devotional
Day 1: Entering God's Presence Through Worship
Worship is a profound act of entering into the presence of God, transcending the mere talent of musicians or the beauty of music. It is a spiritual practice that allows believers to connect deeply with God, lifting their voices and hearts to proclaim His truth and worthiness. Worship is not just a performance but a heartfelt expression of adoration and reverence, drawing us closer to the divine. It is a time to focus on God's greatness and to be reminded of His love and grace, which leads us to a deeper connection with Him. [34:18]
Psalm 95:1-2 (ESV): "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"
Reflection: How can you intentionally enter into God's presence through worship today, beyond just singing songs? What steps can you take to make your worship a true expression of your heart's adoration for God?
Day 2: The Purity and Haste of Deliverance
The unleavened bread used in communion traces back to the Exodus, symbolizing the purity and haste of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. This bread represents the body of Christ, broken for our redemption, reminding us of the quick departure from slavery and the purity of Jesus' sacrifice. The unleavened bread is a powerful symbol of the urgency and purity of God's deliverance, calling us to remember the swiftness of His salvation and the sinlessness of Christ's offering. [43:56]
Exodus 12:39 (ESV): "And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace the purity and urgency of God's deliverance? How can you reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice as you partake in communion?
Day 3: The Hope and Promise of the Afikomen
The Afikomen, a piece of matzah bread broken, hidden, and then found, symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This tradition, celebrated during the Passover meal, points to the hope and promise of redemption through Christ, who is the centerpiece of our faith. The Afikomen serves as a reminder of the transformative power of Jesus' resurrection, offering us hope and assurance in the promise of eternal life. [52:01]
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
Reflection: How does the tradition of the Afikomen deepen your understanding of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection? What specific aspect of this tradition can you meditate on to strengthen your faith in Christ's redemptive work?
Day 4: The New Covenant in Jesus' Blood
The third cup of the Passover meal, known as the cup of redemption, signifies the new covenant in Jesus' blood. This new covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31, promises a deeper relationship with God, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. It offers us greater freedom than the Israelites experienced in their exodus from Egypt, inviting us into a more intimate and transformative relationship with God through Christ. [59:02]
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Reflection: How does the new covenant in Jesus' blood change your relationship with God? What steps can you take to live more fully in the freedom and intimacy offered by this new covenant?
Day 5: Unity in Christ Through Self-Examination and Reconciliation
Before taking communion, we are called to examine ourselves and ensure that our relationships with God and with one another are right. Communion is a communal act that reflects our unity in Christ. After taking communion, we are reminded of our commitment to follow Jesus and to be witnesses of His gospel to the world. This practice of self-examination and reconciliation is essential for maintaining the integrity and unity of the body of Christ. [01:03:45]
1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ESV): "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to reconcile with before taking communion? How can you ensure that your heart and relationships are right with God and others as you prepare to partake in this sacred act?
Quotes
1. "I am grateful that there is worship that leads us to just another time and space. Not because of the talent of the people in the room, not because of the giftings, but because the presence of the Lord has entered in as we proclaim his truth to one another, lifting our voices to the highest heavens because our God is worthy of our praise." [34:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Believe the gospel and we will be saved. That first step, being baptized. We saw a number baptized several weeks ago. We got more to come in the next few weeks. To share the gospel. If this gospel has so radically transformed our lives, we ought to be proclaiming it to the world that is around us." [35:30] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And that in taking communion, it would be an act of worship that leads us to commitment and then leads us to witness because of what Jesus has done for us." [36:43] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "My prayer throughout the week is simply that the weight and significance would wash over our hearts, not our head. That we would understand what Jesus has done for us. Make no mistake about it, the goal as we think about the symbolism of the Lord's Supper is not to give you more knowledge. It is not to inform us but rather that we would be transformed by the truth of God's word." [42:21] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The primary purpose of God's word is not information. Let me say it to you this way. You might know Scripture well, but the primary purpose of God's word is not simply information. It's transformation. That we might live out this life the way God has called us to as followers of Jesus." [01:02:32] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "For those who are believers in Jesus, can I simply say this: simply being a believer in Jesus but not being right in our life before Jesus, Paul gives us a warning to not take communion until we have repented of sin and are right in our relationship with God." [01:05:02] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The practice of communion is not only an individual act but it is a communal act. We are one body. We're to be unified and united in Christ, called together in a collective commitment to live out the teachings of his love and his grace." [01:05:45] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "After taking communion, we recognize that we are called to be committed to following Jesus and to be witness to the gospel of Jesus to the world who needs the grace of Jesus like we have experienced as we gather around the table of communion." [01:06:44] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Don't let commotion in the room distract you from the one in the room who's most important. That's the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let fear dissuade you from acting in obedience because Jesus is worthy. Continue to allow the word to lead during this time as we celebrate this communion, this Lord's Supper together." [01:10:59] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "It is our cup of redemption because of the blood of Jesus Christ. And for that, we praise you. As we take the cup this morning, may you continue to work in our lives through the power of your Holy Spirit, helping us to live according to your ways and to witness for your glory." [01:27:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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