“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 NLT
“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-30 NLT
Faithful God,
What a positive, encouraging, confirming, affirming and accepting introduction. Was that to build them up before Paul corrected their behaviour? I choose to believe it was as he saw them through eyes of faith. They just needed help to stay true in a time when there was no New Testament or clear scriptural guide lines to follow. A church with great potential and Jesus at the heart of it.
I am glad Paul wrote about the Lord’s supper as it speaks about the dignity of honouring Your Sons death. There has to be time to consider anything that may hinder us coming to You, heart open, corrected and willing. I know that whenever I struggle with unforgiveness, or something I feel I need to put right, it is the first thing on my mind when I pray or approach communion. I know You are telling me to deal with it first. So I will repent. Even when it is a small thing it is like an irritating bit of grit in one’s shoe! And will cause injury if it is left.
Other times it is easy to wander while the communion is being prepared or responses said. Why is that? Perhaps the enemy, or our restless mind is easy to be distracted . . . However the warning Paul gives leaves no room for a bit of it. Do I really need to explain to myself why I need to remember what You have done for me? Do I really need to explain why I should be thankful and worshipful to the King of Kings, my Lord God? Perhaps I should also take a moment to remember You before I take my other meals. Was that what saying grace was for?
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 30th November 2025
Oh, how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery?
Say, “take this bread, take this wine”
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive
By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You
See His body, His blood
Know that He has overcome
Every trial we will face
None too lost to be saved
None too broken or ashamed
All are welcome in this place
By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You
Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Jesus come
Chorus
Lyrics: Matt Maher and Matt Redman