The Meaning and Promise of Communion with Pastor Larry Betz

Devotional

Day 1: Communion as a Memorial of Christ’s Sacrifice

Communion is a memorial, a sacred act that stands as a lasting testimony to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as memorials throughout history remind us of significant people and events, the Lord’s Table calls us to remember the ultimate sacrifice made for us. It is not a mere ritual or tradition, but a living reminder that Jesus gave His body and blood so that we might have life. As you come to the table, let your heart be filled with gratitude for the gift that was given, and let it renew your commitment to never forget what Christ has done for you. [35:51]

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
“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, 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.’ 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.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Reflection: What is one tangible way you can set aside time this week to intentionally remember and give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice for you?

Day 2: Christ’s Sacrifice Was Once for All

The sacrifice of Jesus was complete and final—He died once for all to bring us to God. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, Christ’s offering on the cross was sufficient for every sin, for every person, for all time. There is nothing you can add to it, and nothing you can do to earn it. The arms of God are open wide to all who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, and His grace is available to you right now, no matter your past or present. [38:34]

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are still trying to “earn” God’s favor? How can you rest today in the sufficiency of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice?

Day 3: God’s Love Is Personal and Unconditional

God’s love is not just for the world in general—it is for you personally. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating a love that is unconditional and deeply personal. It is easy to believe that Jesus died for humanity, but sometimes hard to accept that He died for you, with your name on His heart. Let this truth sink in: you are loved, chosen, and redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus. [39:18]

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Reflection: Take a moment to insert your own name into John 3:16 or Romans 5:8. How does it change your understanding of God’s love to know that Christ died specifically for you?

Day 4: Communion Is Our Testimony and Unity in Christ

When we come to the Lord’s Table, we are publicly identifying ourselves as followers of Jesus, united with all believers across every background and walk of life. Communion is not an empty ritual, but a declaration that we belong to Christ and to one another. The ground at the table is level—no one is greater or lesser, for all have come through the blood of Christ. In this act, we witness to the world and to each other that Jesus is our Lord, and we are one body in Him. [47:44]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally express your unity with other believers this week, especially those who are different from you?

Day 5: Communion Points Us to Christ’s Return

Each time we partake in communion, we are reminded not only of Christ’s death and resurrection, but also of His promise to return. The Lord’s Table is a place of hope and anticipation, looking forward to the day when Jesus will come again and gather His people to Himself. This hope sustains us and gives us confidence, knowing that our Savior is alive and will fulfill every promise. Let your heart be encouraged: Jesus is coming again, and until that day, we proclaim His victory together. [50:55]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV)
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

Reflection: How does the promise of Christ’s return shape the way you live today? What is one way you can live in hope and readiness for His coming?

Sermon Summary

Why? That simple question, so often asked by children, is one we should never outgrow in our faith. It’s important to pause and ask ourselves why we do what we do as followers of Christ, especially when it comes to the practices that shape our spiritual lives. Today, the focus is on communion—why we gather at the Lord’s table, why we eat the bread and drink the cup, and why this act is central to our worship.

Communion is, first and foremost, a memorial. Just as memorials in our communities remind us of significant people and events, the bread and cup remind us of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We do not repeat His sacrifice, nor do we offer these elements as a gift to God; rather, they are a testament to His gift to us. The table is a place where we remember that Christ died for sinners, and that His sacrifice is sufficient for all who come to Him.

But communion is more than a memorial—it is a call to remembrance. We are prone to forget, distracted by the busyness of life and the passage of time. The table draws us back to the reality of Calvary, to the suffering and love of Christ, and to the personal nature of His sacrifice. It is not just a historical event, but a deeply personal one: while He was on the cross, we were on His mind. Each time we partake, we are invited to insert our own name into John 3:16, to remember that Christ died for us individually.

Communion is also a witness—a public testimony that we identify with Christ and His people. At the table, the ground is level. All are welcome, regardless of background or role, because all have come through the blood of Christ. This act unites us, breaking down barriers and reminding us that we are one body, diverse yet made one in Him.

Finally, communion points us forward. It is a proclamation of hope, a reminder that Christ will come again. We gather at the table not only to look back at what He has done, but to look ahead to the day when we will share the feast with Him in His kingdom. Until then, we remember, we witness, and we wait in hope.

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Asking “Why” in Our Faith Continually asking “why” about our beliefs and practices keeps our faith alive and authentic. It challenges us to examine whether we still hold to the truths we first believed and renews our commitment to Christ. This spiritual inventory guards us from empty ritual and invites us into deeper understanding and relationship with God. [31:26]
2. Communion as a Living Memorial The Lord’s table is not just a ritual, but a living memorial that anchors us in the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. Like the memorial stones of Israel, communion stands as a perpetual reminder that Jesus’ death was a real event with eternal significance. We are called to never forget that the elements represent His once-for-all gift, not our offering to Him. [34:25]
3. Personalizing the Sacrifice of Christ The cross is not merely a historical event, but a personal act of love. When we remember that Jesus died for us individually, it transforms our understanding of grace and belonging. Inserting our own name into the promises of Scripture helps us grasp the depth of God’s love and the personal nature of salvation. [45:23]
4. Communion as a Unifying Testimony At the Lord’s table, all distinctions fall away—status, background, and role are irrelevant. Communion is a testimony that we are all sinners saved by grace, united in Christ. This unity is not theoretical but enacted each time we gather, reminding us that the church is one body, diverse yet reconciled through the blood of Jesus. [47:44]
5. The Table as a Place of Hopeful Anticipation Communion is not only about remembering the past, but also proclaiming the future return of Christ. Each time we partake, we declare our hope that Jesus will come again, as He promised. This hope sustains us, reminding us that our story is not finished and that one day we will feast with Him in His kingdom.

** [49:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:26] - The Power of Asking “Why”
[32:25] - Taking Inventory of Our Faith
[33:20] - Why Do We Have Communion?
[34:25] - Communion as Memorial
[35:51] - Memorials in Scripture
[37:05] - Remembering God’s Acts
[38:34] - The Once-for-All Sacrifice
[40:18] - Communion as Remembrance
[43:26] - The Personal Cost of Calvary
[45:23] - Making Christ’s Sacrifice Personal
[46:12] - Communion as Testimony
[47:44] - Unity at the Table
[49:20] - Communion and Christ’s Return
[51:52] - The Three Pillars of the Church
[54:47] - The Promise of the Kingdom
[56:03] - Open Invitation to the Table
[56:45] - Prayer of Preparation
[58:35] - Partaking Together
[63:54] - Closing Song and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Why Communion?"

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
> 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, 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.” 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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

John 3:16 (ESV)
> For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
> I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, what are the specific actions Jesus took during the Last Supper, and what did He say about the bread and the cup?
In the sermon, what are some examples given of memorials in the Bible and in our world today? ([35:51])
How does the pastor describe the personal nature of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? ([44:53])
What does the pastor say about who is welcome at the Lord’s table? ([56:03])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize “remembrance” in his instructions about communion? What does this suggest about human nature and our relationship with God? ([40:40])
The pastor says, “the table, the ground of the table is level.” What does this mean for how we view ourselves and others in the church? ([47:44])
How does inserting your own name into John 3:16, as the pastor suggests, change the way you understand God’s love and the meaning of communion? ([45:23])
The sermon describes communion as both a memorial and a proclamation of hope for Christ’s return. How do these two aspects work together to shape our faith and worship? ([49:20])

Application Questions

The pastor encourages us to regularly ask “why” about our faith and practices. When was the last time you paused to ask yourself why you participate in communion? What did you discover? ([31:26])
The sermon warns that we are prone to forget what Christ has done for us. What are some specific distractions or routines in your life that make it easy to forget the meaning of communion? How can you guard against this? ([40:40])
The pastor suggests putting your own name into John 3:16. Try doing this now. How does it feel to personalize God’s promise in this way? Does it change how you approach the Lord’s table? ([45:23])
At the table, all distinctions fall away. Is there anyone in your church or life you find it hard to see as an equal at the Lord’s table? What steps could you take to break down those barriers? ([47:44])
Communion is described as a public testimony that we identify with Christ and His people. How does participating in communion affect your sense of belonging in the church? ([46:12])
The pastor says communion is also about looking forward to Christ’s return. How does this hope shape your daily life and outlook? Are there ways you can remind yourself of this hope during the week? ([49:20])
The sermon mentions taking spiritual inventory. Is there an area of your faith that has become more of a ritual than a relationship? What is one practical step you can take this week to renew your commitment to Christ? ([32:25])

Sermon Clips

I think why it's good for us sometimes to ask why, to ask about why we do certain things that we do in the church, why we believe what we believe. I got to tell you, if you haven't done an inventory of your faith. And what you believe about the Lord and the scriptures and all of those things, you need to do an inventory. Do I still believe what I believed when I started? Why do I believe what I believe? It is good for us, it renews our understanding. [00:32:05]

We have memorial services, when people pass away, to memorialize them, to remind ourselves that they lived and had an impact on people's lives. Washington, DC is full of memorials. The Vietnam War Memorial. The Korean War Memorial. War, World War II, Washington Memorial, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, on and on the list go. And they all stand there to say, someone lived, some event happened that we need to remember and dare not forget. So communion is a memorial. [00:35:11]

We'll gather up. At the table in a few moments. And we will remember what Jesus Christ did for us 2,000 years ago. We never forget the sacrifice he made for us. It is a memorial unto him and his sacrifice for us. Elements do not literally become the body and the blood of Christ. We do not crucify Christ over again. The elements are not our gift to God. They are a testament to his gift to us. [00:37:56]

It's only as we acknowledge we are hopelessly lost without him that we can come to him and he has already paid the sacrifice. The sacrifice has been made. The blood has been shed. And the arms of God are wide open to receive all who would confess him as Lord and Savior. [00:39:55]

Why communion? Because it's a memorial of the Lord's death. But notice also, Paul reminds us, it is a time of remembrance. As often as you do this, remember. Every time you eat the bread, remember. Every time you drink the cup, remember. Don't forget. We so quickly forget, don't we? [00:40:18]

But beloved, if we're not careful, we can forget the sacrifice of sacrifices for us. That God has almighty, eternal God who spoke the universe into existence. The God who was adored and worshiped and proclaimed by the heavenly host. The God who never had sin come into his presence. The God who was holy, pure, and righteous, and just, gave up his only son that you and I might be adopted into his family. Whew. We dare never forget. [00:42:39]

We dare never forget the sacrifice that was made for us. We dare never get away from Calvary. It was not a place of beauty. Jesus did not walk down a flower-lined pathway to Golgotha. It was a struggle. In fact. He. He. He. He. It was such a struggle for him that he failed under the weight of the cross and someone else had to pick up the cross and carry it for him. It was that much of a burden upon his heart as the sins of the world were placed upon his shoulders. My sins and your sins. [00:43:29]

It was a bloody place. It was a place of suffering. It was a place of death. And it was for you and for me that Christ suffered and died that day. More than a historical event my friends, it is a personal event. It was personally for you and for me. [00:44:13]

I believe there's great truth in that. That as Jesus hung on the cross. he looked down through the centuries and he saw you and me personally and stayed on that cross that we might come to know him and become a child of God. [00:44:55]

I want you to do something for me where it says world I want you to put your name in there because it's easy to believe Jesus died for the world but he died for you personally inject your name for God so loved Larry that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever if Larry would believe in him he would have everlasting life and not perish please be to God. [00:45:30]

Communion is a memorial communion is a time of remembrance but communion is my witness my testimony notice that Jesus said as often as you partake of it is my witness I identify with Christ at his table Paul said and Galatians chapter two verse 20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live through faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me. [00:46:02]

It is at the table of the broken bread and the and the blood, and the juice that represents his blood, that I identify that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. The crucified one is my Lord. I declare I'm his follower at the table. It is not, it is not meaningless motion that we go through. It is not empty ritual that we go through. It is not, we are not strong-armed to come to the table. God does not twist our arms and say, you come to this table now. We come because why? Because we love him. Because we love him for what he's done for us. We love him for the relationship that we've developed with him. We love him because he takes care of us. We love him because he is our all in all. We love him because he has promised us eternal life with him, and in fact, it's already begun. Here, it only gets better over there. Amen? Amen. [00:46:56]

We identify as we come and take the elements. We identify with all the sinners who have come to faith in Jesus, that the table, the table, the ground of the table is level. Our table is never up on the platform. Our table is always down on the main floor. There's a reason for that. We're all one. We're on a, level plane. We're all sinners saved by grace. Whether you're a preacher or a nursery worker or a song leader or whatever you may be, we all needed to come to Christ. [00:48:03]

Church is so diverse. We're diverse in culture. We're diverse in race. We're diverse in style. We're diverse in language, but when we come here, all of that falls away, and we are one. We are one in the body of the Lord Jesus. [00:48:53]

Why communion? It's a memorial of remembrance. It's a witness, our testimony, and then it is a place of remembrance. Promise Jesus said you'll only do this till I come again if that doesn't bless your blesser we sometimes act in the church like this is it got good news he's coming again got good news this same Jesus that you have seen going into heaven the angels declared will one day come again in like manner. [00:49:19]

There seems to be to me three pillars upon which the church stands I had a my grandpa but lived up north had a had an old cow in a lot kind of a lean-to barn and grandpa had a three-legged stool and he would pull that stool up and milk that cow and you know that three-legged stool was solid as could be you put a fourth leg on it and it gets wobbly but three legs is solid and I think there's three legs to us the church you read through the book of Acts Paul's writings John's the first leg I think is this Jesus Christ died for sinners I think the second leg is he rose again on the third day that we serve a risen Savior we don't go to a tomb someone someone offered me a trip to to Israel and I said I don't think I want to go and they said you don't want to see the tomb and I said don't need to see it he's alive he's not there I know he's alive because he's in me he lives in us so Christ died for sinners Christ rose from the dead and lives forevermore and I think the third leg is he's coming again this Christ is will one day return. [00:51:07]

My hope my confidence is based upon the fact that one day he will come again just as he said he would and he's not coming gonna be born in a little stable somewhere as a little baby blessed as that was he's coming again as the Lion of Judah he's coming again as the king of kings and the Lord of lords and the world will bow before him and every tongue on earth and under the earth and over in heaven will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord until God the Father says good enough hey man that's the Jesus we gather at his table we do so until he comes again. [00:53:27]

And Jesus says in the 25th verse, I will not drink this cup again until I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. And that means he'll not drink it. He hasn't drunk of the cup until he gathers the whole church together and the whole body of Christ is with him. And we will share his table one glorious time together in the presence of the Lord. [00:54:26]

He comes, may we never forget. May we see it as memorial, as a time of remembrance, as a time of our testimony identifying with him. And a time that we see the promise of his coming again. [00:55:05]

The table of the Lord is open to all who receive Christ as their personal Savior. In the church of the Nazarene, we have what we call open communion. It is open to all God's children. And we do that because the table is not a Nazarene table. Praise the Lord. It's not an Adrian First Church table. It's Christ's table. And it's open to all of his people. So you don't have to be a member of this church. If you know Christ is your Savior, we invite you to join us. [00:55:31]

You see, the table is not a place of defeat, it's a place of victory. Jesus foretold of his death and then they sang a song and went out. [01:03:48]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of memorials in Christian faith?

Why is remembrance central to communion practice?

How does the promise of Christ's return influence believers?

The Meaning and Promise of Communion with Pastor Larry Betz

Devotional

Day 1: Communion as a Memorial of Christ’s Sacrifice

Day 2: Christ’s Sacrifice Was Once for All

Day 3: God’s Love Is Personal and Unconditional

Day 4: Communion Is Our Testimony and Unity in Christ

Day 5: Communion Points Us to Christ’s Return

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Meaning and Promise of Communion with Pastor Larry Betz

Share