Communion Message
(Concern for each other)
September 16, 2001
Pastor Leighton Sheley

The Scripture say that we have a Great High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. I'm reminded of a scene depicted in the Bible where Jesus was standing outside the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus. There was business at hand. He was about to display the resurrection power of God, but the Scriptures tell us that Jesus paused and He wept. The English translations are not as precise as the original language. There are many words that could have been used in the original language to communicate the degree to which Jesus was affected that day. The word that was chosen was the most intense. It was used to communicate someone who was so deeply affected that they are literally convulsing in response. Our High Priest sympathizes with our weakness.

We have business at hand to partake in the communion, and a familiar passage to us here, because we meet each Sunday with the Lord's Supper, is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. And it begins with the words: For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. In just a moment we will read that passage, but for this morning I would like to read the surrounding passage. The one preceding says, In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!

And after that passage it says, So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other, tarry for each other, be concerned for each other. This day there are many who are suffering in our nation lost in grief. I want to invite you to bow your heads and observe a moment as we give consideration to those who are hurting this day.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

I invite you to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior and examine ourselves.

Lord, this day we acknowledge that we are a sinful people. Each of us have thought and said and done things this week that are displeasing to You. We as a nation, we as individuals, are not worthy of calling upon You for any good thing, but mercy and grace. Your word says if we confess our sin You are faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We confess our sin this day. We ask You to forgive us of our sin. We ask You to cleanse us in heart and soul and mind. Purify us Lord we pray. Make us new creatures in Christ. Thank you for the promise of Your word Lord.

Let's partake of the bread and also the cup. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Your forgiveness. Thank you Lord. Lord show us Your way. Show us Your way Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, and together we say, amen. Let's stand and welcome our neighbor.