Communion

Welcome to another weekday podcast, where today the focus is on a profound aspect of faith: communion. Pastor Chuck talks through how Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, serves as a sacred practice that connects believers to the sacrifice of Jesus and fosters unity among them, transcending time and culture. This vital moment invites reflection on how these humble elements act as a bridge, linking hearts to the story of Jesus and the gospel. Join in the exploration of the depth and beauty inherent in this essential practice.

Transcript:

Hi everybody, Pastor Chuck here with another weekday podcast, and I want to thank you for joining me today. Today I want to talk about the very heart of communion. You know, picture this, a simple table, a loaf of bread, a cup of wine, ordinary elements, but extraordinary in their significance. This my friends is the heart of communion, also known as the Lord's Supper. I mean, it's a practice that connects believers to Jesus's sacrifice and to each other and designed to transcend time and culture. It's a beautiful picture that's a high and a holy moment and a picture of the bread, Christ's body. He said in John 6, 35, I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry. And the wine, a picture of Jesus's blood, Hebrews 9, 22, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Now, you think about it, in the quiet of an upper room on a night that would change the course of history, Jesus took bread and wine and gave them new meaning. This is my body, he said, breaking the bread. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, he declared. And with these words, Jesus invites us to a feast of remembrance that would echo throughout the ages. Isn't it just like our Savior to take the common and make it sacred, to transform a meal into a memorial, to weave the eternal into our every day? When we come to the communion table, when we come to the Lord's table, we're not just going through the motions, we're stepping into a story. We're stepping into the story of Jesus and the gospel. With every morsel of bread, we taste the broken body that brings us wholeness. With every sip of the wine, we drink in the grace that flows from his veins to our very souls. But this table isn't just about looking backward, it's about looking around. As we share this meal, we're reminded that we're part of something so much bigger than ourselves. In a world that often divides, this table unites rich, poor, young, old from every nation, every tongue. We all feast as equals at the foot of the cross of the Lord Jesus. And as we eat and drink, we proclaim. Without saying a word, we're shouting from the rooftops, Jesus has died, Jesus is risen and Jesus will come again. It's a silent sermon preached with broken bread and poured out wine. Yet this table also whispers an invitation to look within ourselves. Because before we should partake, we should pause. We examine our heart and the question is, are there corners of bitterness that we've allowed to fester in our soul, relationships that we've left in ruins? This is the moment to make all those things right, to sweep our souls clean and allow Jesus to make us whole again before we feast on his grace. As we leave the table, we carry its essence with us. The gratitude lingers, reminding us of his immeasurable price paid for our freedom. The humility stays, keeping our feet on the ground, even as our spirits soar. The sense of community persists, urging us to live as one body, diverse but united. So the next time you approach this sacred Lord's table, remember, you're not just taking communion, you're becoming part of communion. You're joining a feast that stretches back to an upper room in Jerusalem and forward to the great banquet in the kingdom to come. This is communion, a remembrance, a unity, a grace. So come to the table, my friend, taste and see that the Lord is good. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast. Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast.