We come to this Table and find that it has been set in faith, hope, and love. We come in faith because God has promised to meet us here, and we believe Him. The entire worship service crescendos at this meal. God has been present with us all along, but He is present in a …
The Food of Humility
God has designed this Table so that it feeds and nourishes our souls. But we should want to inquire into what this means a bit more. Otherwise we will come to think that the point of the sacrament is to make our souls grow “bigger,” and that’s all. But God is after more than just …
The True Victim
As we come to this Table, we are coming to the Table of the only true Victim. Only Jesus was entirely innocent, only Jesus had an absolute right to complain—which is why He didn’t. We can certainly harm one another. We can certainly bite and devour, and betray one another. There are many tragic tales …
Grace is High When Hearts are Low
This meal presents God’s answer to the problem of evil. It does this in at least two respects. The first thing God wants to do with evil is forgive it, cleanse it, wash it away. His eternal design, established before all worlds, was to populate the resurrection with untold millions of forgiven sinners. The apostle …
Humble Fare
As we look at this Table, we see humble fare. What God has set before us here is simple—it is bread for food, and wine for drink. What could be simpler? There is little that could be done to make it a humbler meal. It is designed this way—humble fare for humble wayfarers. The apostle …
Just a Taste
We are gathered here for a meal, but it is not the final or ultimate meal. We are not yet at the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are not yet ready for the feast at the consummation of all things. We are still living in the shadow lands, and the ultimate …
Little Flock, Big Kingdom
We are gathered here as a portion of the Lord’s little flock. His flock universal is a little flock, and we are just a small part of that. But what is His purpose for that little flock? He says this: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the …
An Edible Oath
The apostle tells us that every time we come to this Table we do so in order to make a proclamation. Every time we eat and drink here, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Now this proclamation is something that occurs among the Lord’s people, for we are the ones invited to this …
A Clean Conscience at the Table
As you have been told a number of times, this is not a Table of introspection and morbid confession. Confession is relevant to what we do here, but it should not be what we do here. You wash up before you come to the Table, but the Table is not the designated place for washing …
An Honor to Honor
This is a Table of fellowship, and so we call it communion. This is a table of gratitude and thanksgiving, and so we call it the Eucharist. But another important function of a meal like this is the giving of honor. This meal is a place of sacrifice, but we do not sacrifice the blood …