(Clip) Communion and Loving Each Other Deeply in the Church
Francis Chan emphasizes that the true meaning of communion is deeply connected to loving one another sacrificially within the church, reflecting Christ's love.
This sermon delves into the profound significance of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us. It explores the reverence and purity required in partaking in communion, highlighting the sacred nature of this act that symbolizes Christ's sacrifice. The sermon challenges believers to reflect on their devotion and sacrificial love towards others, drawing parallels between Christ's love for the church and our love for fellow believers as part of the body of Christ.
Full Transcript
When Jesus instituted that first Lord's Supper, what a tender moment with his disciples. He's explaining, look, this is my body broken for you, you know? I mean, it's this idea, but then, but remember what he said during that time in John 13, he explains, like, this is my command. I want you to love each other just as I have loved you.
Right after he washed the disciples' feet, he's saying, so if it's, it's the reverence, the reverence for this act has to be, okay, then do I love you as this, in all purity, as Christ loves the church. When we take of this in communion, you know, and this, this, it's a sacred, it's a sacred thing that we do, but it's not just between me and God. It's the body, and that's why we have to recognize the body.
Where is the body of the Lord now? That we are the body, and there was something so powerful, the Lord just revealed this to me a few months ago as I was taking the Lord's Supper in my home, you know, with, with some brothers and sisters. It was like, am I really this devoted to you? I mean, I like you, and we get along, but what did Christ ask for? I'm supposed to look at this bread, and this cup, and be reminded of what he did for me, and ask myself, am I loving you like that? Would I go to the cross for you? These are heavy, heavy, sacred things that we don't just take flippantly. What does it mean to take it sacred? It's like, let me think through this command he gave along with it, and so that's, these are some of the things that I've been wrestling with that I don't think is peculiar to one church or another.
It's like, we're not pursuing the love to the extent that he commanded us to as he was instituting the Lord's Supper.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper as a tender moment
- The bread and cup symbolize His broken body and sacrifice
- Communion is a sacred act involving reverence
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II
- Jesus commands us to love one another as He loved us
- The act of communion calls us to examine our love for the body
- Love must be pure and sacrificial like Christ's love
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III
- We are the body of Christ today
- Communion reminds us to ask if we are truly devoted to one another
- Reflect on whether we would go to the cross for each other
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IV
- Communion is not to be taken flippantly
- It challenges us to pursue love as commanded by Christ
- This call to love transcends denominational boundaries
Key Quotes
“When Jesus instituted that first Lord's Supper, what a tender moment with his disciples.” — Francis Chan
“I'm supposed to look at this bread, and this cup, and be reminded of what he did for me, and ask myself, am I loving you like that?” — Francis Chan
“We're not pursuing the love to the extent that he commanded us to as he was instituting the Lord's Supper.” — Francis Chan
Application Points
- Approach communion with reverence, reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice and your love for others.
- Evaluate your relationships within the church and seek to love others sacrificially as Christ commanded.
- Recognize that communion is a communal act that calls for unity and deep devotion to the body of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of communion according to Francis Chan?
Communion is a sacred act that reminds believers of Christ's sacrifice and calls them to love one another deeply and sacrificially.
How does Jesus' command in John 13 relate to communion?
Jesus commands us to love each other as He loved us, linking the act of communion with the call to sacrificial love within the church.
Why does Francis Chan emphasize love among believers during communion?
Because communion symbolizes the body of Christ, believers must reflect on their devotion and love for one another as part of that body.
Is communion just a personal act between the believer and God?
No, it is also a communal act that involves recognizing and loving the body of Christ, the church.
What practical challenge does the sermon present to listeners?
Listeners are challenged to examine their love for fellow believers and to pursue that love with the same sacrificial commitment Christ showed.