Date: SUN 7:00 PM 6th April 2025
Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin
Bible Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:23
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Sermon Summary: The Reality of Remembering Christ
This sermon, based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, explores the significance of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, under the theme “The Reality of Remembering Christ.” The preacher draws from the biblical text to highlight four key aspects: the simplicity, symbolism, solemnity, and spirituality of remembering Christ through this sacred ordinance.
Text and Context
The sermon begins with the reading of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, where the Apostle Paul recounts the institution of the Lord’s Supper by Jesus on the night He was betrayed. The passage describes Jesus taking bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and declaring, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Similarly, He took the cup, stating, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” The preacher notes that this passage, alongside parallel accounts in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13, is central to the Communion service, emphasising its profound significance.
The sermon’s title, “The Reality of Remembering Christ,” underscores the purpose of Communion as a deliberate act of recalling Christ’s death. The preacher organises the message around four key points: the simplicity, symbolism, solemnity, and spirituality of this remembrance.
1. The Simplicity of Remembering Christ
The preacher highlights the straightforward nature of the Communion service, instituted by Jesus immediately after the Passover meal. It involves two simple acts: taking and eating bread, and drinking from a cup containing the fruit of the vine (wine), both done “in remembrance” of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The preacher poses a rhetorical question: How did Jesus want to be remembered? Not through His miracles (e.g., the 33-35 recorded in the Gospels), His teachings (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount), His mercy (e.g., His compassionate treatment of the woman at the well or the woman caught in adultery), His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry in Galilee, His resurrection, or His ascension. Instead, Jesus specifically instructed His followers to remember His atoning death on the cross—His broken body and shed blood.
The simplicity of Communion is contrasted with distortions that have crept into its practice over time. The preacher references the historical example of John Wycliffe, whose body was exhumed and desecrated in 1428, 44 years after his death, because he rejected the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. Wycliffe preached that the bread and wine do not transform into the literal body and blood of Christ, a stance that branded him a heretic. The preacher argues that the Roman Catholic Mass, which treats the bread and wine as a literal sacrifice, misrepresents the simple remembrance feast instituted by Christ. Quoting the Westminster Confession of Faith, he calls this doctrine a “blasphemous fable” and a “dangerous deceit,” as it undermines the simplicity of the ordinance.
The preacher also addresses the term “unworthily” in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, which warns against partaking of Communion in an unworthy manner. He clarifies that “unworthily” is an adverb, not an adjective, meaning it refers to the manner of participation rather than the worthiness of the participant. No one is inherently worthy to partake, but believers are accepted through Christ’s grace (Ephesians 1:6-7). Partaking “unworthily” involves approaching the table flippantly, carelessly, or without discerning the Lord’s body—failing to reflect on Christ’s death. Such an approach, the preacher notes, led to judgment in the Corinthian church, with some becoming weak, sickly, or even dying prematurely (1 Corinthians 11:30).
2. The Symbolism of Remembering Christ
The sermon delves into the symbolic nature of the bread and wine. When Jesus said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” the preacher argues that He spoke symbolically, not literally. To illustrate, he draws parallels with other biblical metaphors:
- In Genesis 40:12, Joseph interprets the butler’s dream, stating that three branches represent three days, not literal branches.
- In John 6:35, Jesus calls Himself “the bread of life,” not a literal loaf of bread.
- In John 10:9, Jesus says, “I am the door,” not a literal door with hinges.
- In John 15:1, He declares, “I am the true vine,” not a literal vine with grapes.
Similarly, the bread represents Christ’s broken body, and the wine represents His shed blood. The preacher notes that at the Last Supper, Jesus’ physical body was present at the table, holding the bread, making a literal interpretation of “this is my body” illogical and akin to cannibalism, which is forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:23-24; Leviticus 17:11). Quoting J.C. Ryle, the preacher emphasises that Christ’s body cannot be in multiple places simultaneously, reinforcing the symbolic nature of the elements.
The symbolism is further enriched by the choice of bread and wine. Unleavened bread, free of yeast (a biblical symbol of sin), reflects Christ’s sinless nature. Jesus, the “bread of life,” was born in Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread” (Micah 5:2), a fitting connection to His role as spiritual sustenance. The wine, or fruit of the vine, recalls the blood of Christ shed on the cross, fulfilling the Old Testament imagery of atonement (Leviticus 17:11). The preacher references John 6:53-54, where Jesus speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood to have eternal life, interpreting this as symbolic and spiritual language, not a literal command. This misunderstanding led many Jews to abandon Jesus (John 6:66), but the preacher urges the congregation to receive Christ by faith as the “bread of life” for salvation and daily sustenance.
3. The Solemnity of Remembering Christ
The preacher underscores the gravity of Communion, focusing on 1 Corinthians 11:26: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” The act of partaking is a solemn declaration of Christ’s death, a “silent sermon” proclaiming the believer’s faith in His atoning work. The sermon reflects on the nature of Christ’s body, described as:
- Prepared: Hebrews 10:5 cites Psalm 40:6, stating that God prepared a body for Christ, necessitating the incarnation (Galatians 4:4; Luke 1:35). As the second person of the Trinity, Christ took on human flesh through the Virgin Mary to become a sin offering.
- Presented: Christ offered Himself as a once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12), a living sacrifice to atone for humanity’s sins.
- Pure: Christ was sinless (1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21), with no sin for the devil to accuse (John 14:30).
- Pierced: The preacher addresses the term “broken” in 1 Corinthians 11:24, noting that no bone of Christ was broken, fulfilling Exodus 12:46 and Psalm 34:20. However, His body was “broken” through scourging, the crown of thorns, nails in His hands and feet, and the spear in His side (Psalm 22:14). The phrase “all my bones are out of joint” (Psalm 22:14) reflects the intense physical suffering Christ endured, with joints dislocated on the cross.
This solemn reflection on Christ’s broken body and shed blood calls believers to approach Communion with reverence, focusing on His substitutionary death, where He bore the punishment for humanity’s sins (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
4. The Spirituality of Remembering Christ
Finally, the preacher explores the spiritual dimension of Communion, urging believers to “do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). This involves actively pondering Christ’s person and work, making much of His death and shed blood. The act of eating the bread and drinking the cup is a spiritual exercise, a declaration of faith, and a means of spiritual refreshment. The preacher connects this to the first biblical reference to bread and wine in Genesis 14, where Melchizedek offered Abraham bread and wine after a battle, symbolising refreshment and fellowship.
The Lord’s Supper is described as a divine gift, instituted by Christ to counter human forgetfulness. The preacher recounts an anecdote about a professor who began lectures with a review, humorously noting humanity’s tendency to forget. Communion serves as a tangible reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, ensuring believers remain anchored in His redemptive work. It is a feast of recollection, participation, and declaration, refreshing the soul and renewing commitment to Christ.
Conclusion
The sermon concludes with a call to approach Communion with sincerity and reverence, avoiding the errors of transubstantiation and flippant participation. The preacher encourages the congregation to partake in the Lord’s Supper as a simple, symbolic, solemn, and spiritual act of remembering Christ’s atoning death until He returns. The service is framed as a gift from Christ, designed to keep His sacrifice central in the believer’s life, fostering gratitude and spiritual renewal.
Subscribe to the podcast here:
Spotify Podcasts | Apple Podcasts
Email | RSS | more information here
