Body of Christ

What is Communion?

Message begins around 30:00

What is Communion?

Dave Riddle • 07/27/2022

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 11:24-28

Communion: A Jesus-ordained ceremony 

  • Baptism is the other “ordinance” that we regularly practice

  • Matthew 26:26-28

An Act of Commemoration 

  • Remember

    • 1 Corinthians 11:24

      • Remember who Jesus is, and what he has done for us.

    • Exodus 12:2-3, 6-7, 12-14

      • A permanent statute

      • A lasting ordinance

      • Jesus fulfilled the old Passover and, in a sense, instituted a new Passover.

A Gospel Proclamation 

  • Proclaim

    • 1 Corinthians 11:26

      • Communion preaches the Gospel.

An Opportunity for Contemplation 

  • 1 Corinthians 11:28

    • dokimazō - to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not). To recognise as genuine after examination.

  • Galatians 2:20

  • Romans 6:11

A Way to Celebrate Unity

  • koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association, community, intimacy, joint participation (the share which one has in anything), communion.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

    • One body (the Church)

    • One loaf of bread (Christ)

  • John 17:9-11

A Cause for Hopeful Anticipation

  • 1 Corinthians 11:26

    • “…until He comes”

  • Matthew 26:29

Jesus Prays for Us

Message begins around 26:30

Jesus Prays for Us

Dave Riddle • 07/10/2022

Key Passage: John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays for Our Unity

  • John 17:20-21

    • Not just organizational unity, but a deep, abiding, spiritual unity.

  • Philippians 4:2

  • Growth and maturity cannot exist in isolation from one another.

  • Perfectly united just as God is perfectly united.

    • John 17:22-23

  • Our unity is a priority to Jesus.

    • 4 times in this prayer

Why?

  • So the world will know that Jesus was sent by God (v.23)

    • ginosko: to know in a deeply experiential way.

We have to care about each other.

  • We have to show concern

  • We have to be affected

  • Our hearts have to break for each other

We have to be involved 

  • we have to have relationships

  • We have to be present

We have to accept one another

  • We have to accept our brothers and sisters in Christ despite our differences.

  • Unity in diversity

We have to contribute

  • Our faith is not a quest for individual blessings and happiness.

  • We belong together in the church of God.

  • “The Bible knows nothing of an individual religion” - John Wesley

Ask yourself: “Am I an agent of unity in the body of Christ?”