TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today, we’re taking a break from our Matthew series to focus on Communion or the Lord’s Supper. In the early church, the Lord’s Supper was observed and celebrated at each Sunday gathering and also in their homes. Jesus commanded that His disciples take the Lord’s Supper as a reminder of all He did for us and as a form of communion with His presence. Communion = Sharing in Unity In Matt. 26 we see that Jesus instituted Communion/Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal with His disciples. Passover is the historical background and theological significance behind Communion. Therefore, understanding Passover helps us to fully understand the Lord’s Supper. Passover: This was a feast of remembrance to celebrate the day God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. God said in Exodus 13:9 that it would be as a sign or mark on their hands and on their heads. Elements of the Passover Meal: (Ex. 12-13) Salty Water: The taste is reminiscent of blood. Reminder of how the Israelites had to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts during the last plague. Unleavened Bread: Reminder of how the Israelites prepared unleavened bread in order to be prepared to leave Egypt quickly. They would eat unleavened bread (considered pure bread) for seven days for Passover. Bitter Herb: Shredded horse radish which would create tears when eaten. Reminder of how the Egyptians treated the Israelites bitterly (Ex. 1:13-14). Wine: Commonly used in Jewish festivals and meals to represent God’s blessings. Lamb: Represents the lamb sacrificed and blood put on the doorposts so that the Israelites’ homes would be passed over (Passover) during the last plague. The Point of Passover: Remembering how God saved His people from slavery and death. The night before Jesus was arrested, He celebrated Passover with His disciples. Not only that, He also redefined Passover as a way to remember His sacrifice and the New Covenant. ​ Matthew 26:26 ESV 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” This is my body = In John 6:48-51, Jesus taught that He was like bread coming down from heaven to bring eternal life. He claimed to be the “bread of life”. Jesus gave His body on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. His death and resurrection defeated death for us. When we eat the bread we proclaim our loyalty to Jesus and faith in His sacrifice. ​ Matthew 26:27–28 ESV 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. This is my blood = Biblical covenants were put in place with a sacrifice. Since the blood was considered the life of the body, a sacrifice signified the seriousness and finality of the covenant. Jesus bled as a sign of a new eternal covenant. His sacrifice brought us forgiveness and freedom from the power of sin and death. When we drink from the cup we proclaim our loyalty to Jesus and faith in His sacrifice. Jesus redefined Passover as a remembrance of a new covenant with all people that God is saving people from slavery to sin and death. Note: There is no mention of a lamb at Jesus’ Passover meal. While it could be because it was the night before the traditional Passover would be sacrificed, it us more likely that Jesus is showing that He would be the Passover lamb sacrificed the next day. As Paul said, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Cor. 5:7) What if I have sin in my heart? Can I still take communion? A common teaching is that we should avoid communion if we have sin. But that misses the point of communion. We are taking communion precisely because we sin and need to trust in and be reminded of the cross. However, the following passage has often been misused and has confused many. So let’s reexamine this passage and get it right. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:17 ESV 17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. According to Paul, when God’s people gather it should be for the better. In other words, gathering in Jesus’ name (church) should make things better - not worse. The Corinthian church made things worse when they gathered in several ways by: a lack of modesty, allowing sexual immorality, drunkeness, division, and other issues. 1 Corinthians 11:18–19 ESV 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. Come together as a church = When you gather as a congregation of Jesus’ body. Or when the body of Christ gathers together. Divisions among you = Paul is presenting a kind of oxymoron. The body of Jesus is gathering (unity) physically while being divided socially. Divisions = Grk. σχίσμα (schisma) - Literally, to tear or split. Refers to social dissensions. There must be factions…that those who are genuine may be recognized = Paul is saying there will always be a division among genuine and false believers. That is a natural and unavoidable occurence. Paul is implying that it should be obvious in the church who is genuine and who is pretending. Factions = Grk. αἵρεσις (hairesis) - Literally, “heresies” meaning false teachings or false believers - people pretending to be believers for personal gain. A modern example would be a local business man who joins the largest church in town, not to seek Jesus but to seek more paying customers. Or someone joins a popular church, not to seek Jesus but to be in relationships with popular people. Factions are connected to personal gain or greed that removes Jesus from the main focus. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:20–21 ESV 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:22 ESV 22 What! Do you not have houses 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 commend you in this? No, I will not. Two Problems Presented: 1) Neglecting the poor. 2) Getting drunk. This is the “unworthy manner” that Paul is referring to later in 1 Cor. 11:27. Context: Churches in the first century met in homes. Wealthier believers who had larger homes would often host Sunday gatherings in their homes. Wealthier believers would arrive earlier than day laborers who’s work was not done until evening. Paul is referring to the wealthier believers eating and taking communion before the poorer believers arrived. This left the poorer believers hungry and the wealthier believers full and drunk. The Corinthian church was neglecting/excluding the poor from the meal and communion. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV 23 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, 24 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.” Do this in remembrance of me = Paul is reminding them of the focus of communion - which is Christ and unity, not self-centered and divided. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. New covenant = Meaning that Jesus’ covenant fulfilled and replaced the Old covenant with Moses and Israel (Heb. 8:1-13). A covenant is an agreement creating obligations between the parties making the agreement. God obligates Himself to save us from sin and death, while we obligate ourselves to be loyal and faithful to Him. You proclaim the Lord’s death = Celebrating communion is preaching the gospel to ourselves and others. The reason we should do this weekly is to remind ourselves of Jesus’ sacrifice, how much we need it, and how it unifies us. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 ESV 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Unworthy manner = In context this refers to neglecting others (division) and getting drunk during communion. Selfishness/self-centeredness is the unworthy manner. Examine himself = We should spend a moment in worship and prayer before taking communion to ensure that we have no division among us and that our motives are pure. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:29–30 ESV 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. Discerning the body = Discern means to evaluate or consider. The body refers to the church as the body of Christ. Those who take communion without treating all believers (rich and poor) as the body of Christ bring judgment on themselves. Eats and drinks judgment on himself = If we are dishonoring the body of Christ by mistreating fellow believers, taking communion brings judgment. Why? Because communion is a unifying event. Division during communion is a slap in Jesus’ face. ​ 1 Corinthians 11:31–32 ESV 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. We would not be judged = If we examine ourselves and pray for right motives, we will not be condemned but rather forgiven. Disciplined = Even if our motives are not pure, we can expect discipline from God but not condemnation. God lovingly corrects us as His children, but does not condemn. The Lord’s Supper is meant to unify God’s people for communion with Jesus. Conclusion: As we end our time together today we are going to worship and take Communion together. During the worship time you can come forward and get the elements and return to your seat to pray and prepare. Toward the middle of the song we will stop to take Communion. Then we will finish singing the song.