2005-12-18 Communion Dedication – Baldwin Christian Church 

This is the time each Sunday when we take a few minutes to sit at the Lord’s Table, meditate on Jesus, and prepare our hearts to receive Him.  At this little church, we believe in the parable Jesus taught in Luke 14; that He’s searching the highways and hedges, urging folks to come and join this feast, so you don’t have to be a member of this church to receive communion here. 

Because we do this every week, we have to be on guard so it doesn’t become a ‘traditional’ or ‘mechanical’ part of worship.  If you ever want to hear what traditional and mechanical worship sounds like, just keep your eyes closed and listen after Ray finishes the prayer at the end of the sermon.  After the prayer, he gives the ‘altar call’, the invitation that we all know marks the end of the service.  Keep your eyes closed and listen to Ray’s invitation being drowned out by all the rustling around in the pews, as we get ready to leave this place.  What if someone couldn’t hear the call because of the noise?  ‘Older’ believers have to be very careful about things like that.  I was nine years old when I heeded the call to the altar, but even to this day I can remember how still and reverent the congregation was in their pews, and how clearly and easily I could hear the pastor’s voice as he invited new believers to come forward and make a profession of faith.  Think about it.  Think about all the little things we do that drown out the call to salvation. 

Worship and fellowship should be fresh and new every time we gather together.  If this ever becomes mechanical, it becomes legalism, or ‘salvation by works’, and that’s contrary to God’s word.  I don’t think anybody here actually thinks heaven awaits us because we sit in a pew on Sundays, but we have to be watchmen, never giving the devil a foothold in this church. 

Since Ray entrusted me with the communion dedications, I’ve seen my responsibility as twofold:  First, I try to help us find the heart of Jesus in a piece of Scripture, and try to help us understand Him better.  Perhaps more importantly, I feel personally responsible when even one heart is distracted from remembering Him.   Sometimes the things I say and do get in the way of communion, and I will be judged severely for that. 

Every portion of this service should be glorifying Jesus, and every portion should be fresh and new each time.  The Bible clearly states that this feast is not something to take lightly.  We should be examining and judging ourselves as we sit at His table.  That’s never an easy thing to do, but it’s very important because there are severe consequences if we just “go through the motions”.  The Bible tells us that people get sick, and people die because they don’t discern the Lord’s body.  That means I should never do this in a selfish manner; I should never do this because “everybody else is doing it”, or because I’m worried about what other people will think when I decide not to partake. 

Now is a time for us to clear all that stuff out of our minds so we can concentrate on Jesus, and take a good, hard look at ourselves.  Now is a time for all of us to see the areas in our lives where He’s been trying to deal with us, and change us, so we can grow up into the fullness of what He wants us to be.  This is a precious time when we heal and grow together, as members of His body.  We are not stagnant; we’re growing and maturing, and fitting together in this house, where Jesus is the chief cornerstone. 

If I ever sit at this table without giving Jesus every bit of the honor, it would be better for me to not partake at all.  When we take this communion, we’re proclaiming the reason He died until He comes again.  When we eat this bread, and drink this cup, we’re showing Jesus that we know we can’t live a perfect life, and we need Him if we’re going to be saved from destruction. 

We have another weekly tradition that we cannot allow to become mechanical, and that’s when we say the Disciples’ Prayer together. 

Matthew 6:9-13 

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

State out loud whom it is we’re praying to, and where He is.  There is none like Him.  Even His name is Holy, something to be held in great reverence and awe, and respected for its power; so powerful is His name, we’re commanded not to take it in vain. 

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. 

Are you ‘seeking first the kingdom of God’, or is your heart swayed more by the cares of this world?  Do you ever think about how exciting this coming kingdom is?  Do you ever allow yourself to daydream a little and think about those three little words: “Thy kingdom come”?  Jesus is looking at your faith, and what you do with it until He comes.  Do you seek to do His will, or are you afraid of what the world will do to you?  Do you hide your light under a bushel?  How important is it to you for His will to be done in your life?  Do you ask Him to teach you His will? 

11 Give us this day our daily bread. 

How thankful are you for what you have?  Do you allow yourself to rely on Him, and recognize that every provision comes from Him? 

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

Are you holding a grudge?  Do you have any bitterness in your heart?  If you can’t forgive those who have hurt you, then don’t say this verse during the prayer; don’t lie by saying, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” 

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

For your sake, for our sake, and for Jesus’ sake, please don’t take communion lightly, and don’t take the Disciples’ prayer lightly.  Let them revive you; let them be fresh and new each week, or even each day.  Communion should convict our hearts, and so should this prayer.  Do we mean it when we say it?  Let’s not fall into the temptation to take prayer lightly.  Let’s not fall into the temptation to take God’s Word lightly.  Let’s not fall into the temptation to take communion lightly.  Let’s make every part of our worship service become exciting, fresh and new each and every time we gather.