Communion & Our Purpose

Alan is back and began his spring/summer teaching by giving a message on Communion and Our Purpose. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and link to Scripture he references.

Communion & Our Purpose

• Intro: The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a tradition that was to be used by fathers to teach their children the important parts of the faith. It can still help us understand our purpose today.
  • What is the chief end of mankind?
    • to glorify God & to enjoy Him forever
      • we glorify Him by enjoying Him
      • what & who do we love most in life?
      • to glorify God is to love Him/to enjoy Him more than anything else in life
• John 21
  • Peter had denied the Lord 3x; this story is now post-resurrection
  • v. 10-17
    • v. 15 – what are “these”
      • maybe the other men
      • maybe more than the other men do
      • maybe the fish (Peter’s profession/career)
      • Peter says that he has phileo (brotherly affection) for Jesus
    • How does Jesus ask Peter to show love?
      • Feed the sheep – serve
      • Peter served by becoming the leader of the Roman Church
  • v. 18 -25
    • serve, follow, sacrifice
      • how we glorify God
    • how much will you sacrifice for Him?
• How do we glorify God & enjoy Him?
  • serve, follow, sacrifice
  • can’t do it of our own accord
    • doing it on our own is outward show – Pharisaical
    • empowerment through Christ living in you is the only way you can function in the image in which you were created
      • like a glove – without a hand in it, it has no purpose
• When we take communion, we say we are taking in Christ.
  • The only one who ever lived as mankind was intended to live is Jesus.
  • Christ in us is the only way to live as God intended us to live.
  • common – union / communion teaches us that Jesus is the hand in the glove that leads us to function as we are supposed to function
    • the cup
      • Matthew 26:36-46
        • prayed 3x
        • what is the cup?
          • Isaiah 51
          • Jeremiah 25
          • Habakkuk 2:26
          • other places in the OT
        • Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath upon Himself
          • spiritual death is separation from God
          • Jesus was separated from God so we could be reunited with Him
      • Luke 22:20
        • the New Covenant in My blood
        • the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) – the Law
          • sacrifices to temporarily atone for sin
          • Jesus was the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10)
            • we don’t have to sacrifice animals or do penance
            • repentance (new covenant)
            • the law is written on your heart (Jeremiah 31:31-40)
• John 17:3 – Eternal Life is to know Jesus and the Father who sent Him
  • what is to know Him?
    • not just knowing about Him
    • communing with Him
• John 6:53-65 – the visual of communion
  • Our purpose in life is to love Him above all else but we can’t do that without having Him in us – that is the point of communion.