IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR COMMUNION


A. "I MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP THIS FEAST" - Acts 18:21
  1. We shall never know in this world just why Paul had such an urge to be at the feast of the passover:
    1. He received repeated warning that severe persecution by the Jews awaited him at Jerusalem - Acts 20:22; 21:10-13
    2. But nothing could keep him from going and witnessing for Christ, whom he loved - Acts 21:13
  2. Jesus Christ, too, was most anxious to partake of the passover with His disciples before He suffered: Luke 22:12-18
B. IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR COMMUNION
  1. The Lord's Supper is a feast:
    1. The ancient passover was, in a certain sense, a type of the Lord's Supper.
    2. Christ is our passover - 1 Cor. 5:7
    3. Bread and wine are the emblems of His broken body and his shed blood - Compare Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-34
  2. The Lord's Supper is a royal feast in the highest sense of the word:
    1. It was instituted by the King of glory - Matt. 22:1; Ps. 24:7-10
    2. It is heaven's love feast - John 3:16; Gal. 2:20; John 13:1- 6
    3. It is the Christian family feast - 1 Cor. 10:15, 16; 11:22- 29
  3. The disciples of Christ must, by all means, keep that feast:
    1. Because the Lord commands it - "This do in remembrance of me" - 1 Cor. 11:24
    2. It is the shield of the believers against the day of judgment.
    3. It is a memorial service commemorating the infinite sacrifice of the Master.
    4. They who bypass it do not realize what a blessing they miss.
    5. Had they the mind of Christ, they would never absent themselves from His memorial service.
C. WHO SHOULD PARTAKE OF THIS FEAST AND HOW?
  1. This is a pertinent question:
    1. Forty years in the ministry have convinced this writer that there are many members in the church who are unaware of the true implication of this feast.
    2. Everyone for whom Christ died should acknowledge His death in his behalf at the communion table.
    3. Everyone who professes to believe in the atonement made for our sins ought to be a happy communicant.
    4. All who want their sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ should participate in that solemn ordinance.
    5. Everyone who believes in the soon coming of our Lord will want to take part in the ordinances of the house of the Lord.
    6. Not to partake of the table of the Lord is to reject the ordinance of God, if not in theory, in deed.
  2. How should we come to the table of the Lord?
    1. With complete self-examination! 1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 13:5
    2. In humble gratitude to our Lord for His infinite sacrifice for us - Gal. 2:20
    3. In the spirit of complete reconciliation with our brethren.
    4. With complete separation from every known sin in our life - Rom. 6:16-18; 1 Pet. 4:1-5
    5. In the hope that this service is witness to our reconsecration to God, His word, and His cause.
    6. Finally, we should come with joy and gratitude to be counted worthy to share with the church the hope in the soon coming of Jesus Christ our Lord.
  3. When these few suggestions are heeded I am confident:
    1. That we, like the Master, will look forward with desire to share the blessings of the feast.
    2. By coming in this spirit we will encourage others to take part in the feast of the Lord.


Design © John Bryant 2011