I’d like to invite our ushers forward for communion.

1 Cor 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Communion was meant to be a public proclamation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by God’s people

It is a proclamation to be made only by followers of Christ. It is not intended to be taken by those who have not yet made a decision to follow Christ.

In fact, if you have not yet chosen to follow Christ, we are so glad you’re here and please watch carefully what is happening around you during this time, but please let the tray pass by.

With that said, I’d like to ask our ushers to please pass the communion elements.

We don’t have any secrets here at Canyon. All of our doctrine and services are public.

The Lord’s supper is also meant to be observed in public. It has tremendous meaning as an act of worship by God’s people in the gathered church.

Let’s look again at that verse… 1 Cor 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

What does it mean that we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes?

Proclamation cannot happen without remembrance. When we participate in communion, we are remembering an historical fact together.

The Lord’s Supper is a direct reminder that Christianity is based in irrefutable, indisputable, undeniable historical facts. Those historical facts are simply that:

  • Jesus, the very Son of God and our creator, lived here on earth.
  • He took on a body, a heart that pumped blood and skin that hurt and bled.
  • He died publicly on a Roman cross in the place of sinners so that anyone who believes on him might be rescued from the wrath of God.

When I take the cup and eat the bread, I remember that I was once a sinner condemned to be rightly judged by God for my sins.

And then, I remember Christ’s sacrifice. I remember that Christ came to forgive me and then to set me free from the bondage of my sin.

When I take these elements, I am proclaiming to you that:

  • I remember Christ and
  • I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and
  • Christ Saved a man like me and He can some someone like you too

I remember and then proclaim the truths of John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Remembering enables us to proclaim, since you can’t proclaim what you don’t remember.

And proclaiming helps us remember that we need Jesus. Together, we proclaim, with word and bread and cup, the facts of gospel so that we don’t forget the preciousness of Jesus’ blood.

1 Corinthians 11:24 says, “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.”

Let’s remember Christ’s broken body together as we take the bread together

1 Corinthiams 11:25 says, “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.”

Let’s remember the precious blood of Christ together as we take the cup

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

As we continue in worship, let us remember and then proclaim the Lord’s death together until He return.