Sermonette - A Confession of Bread and Wine

Scripture:

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 broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 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.

Introduction:

So what is it that we proclaim? In this supper what is the primary event that is declared? What do we confess?

1. God did not become the Incarnate Word just to teach us. 

Of course the teaching helps us live – We could not live the life of a disciple if it was not for the teaching of Jesus. In Bread and Wine we do not just the life of Jesus.

2. Jesus did not walk this planet just to show us His miraculous power

Of course the miracles help us believe – We praise God for the miracles as they are signs of the kingdom. In Bread and Wine we do not just confess the miracles of Jesus.

3. Jesus did not die just to show us that He is Lord of Life in the Resurrection. 

Of course the resurrection gives us our hope – We need the resurrection, it points and gives hope to eternal life itself. In Bread and Wine we do not just confess the Resurrection of Jesus.

The miracles help us believe; 

The teaching helps us live; 

The Resurrection gives us our hope –

All these things are important but these are not the primary event that Paul points us to  here. Paul says “you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” by breaking beard and taking wine, WE the congregation declare that “Christ has died” and in doing so we confess that his death has brought us salavation

We Confess.......

4. God came to die. 

God came to die as the sacrifice for our sins, the atonement which takes away our sin. 

The sacrifice of Christ in death brings us salvation, and what is this salvation? This is the Apostle Paul's primary confession. It is also the primary confession of the early church.

The death of Christ and what that death has achieved for us.

1.      The Grace and forgiveness of God.

2.      The Conquering of Sin.

3.      A Transformed life.

4.      The back of Evil broken.

5.      The way to God is open.

6.      A free relationship with the living God is offered.

Conclusion:

So what are we “declaring?”  What do we proclaim? What is our confession in Bread and Wine. Simply this:  SALVATION. We confess that Jesus of Nazareth, God in the flesh, died -- that we might have eternal life. 

The fountain of his mercy is free and flowing fully, for all who will.  We state that every time we take the cup and the loaf.   

It is the central message of the Christian faith:  Jesus died -- for us. 

This is our confession of Bread and Wine