Gathering at the Table - A Deeper Dive
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
Editor’s note: Beginning with this edition of A Deeper Dive, we are including a link to the full content of the sermon from our worship service. You’ll find the link to the video on our YouTube channel at the end of the article.
Message Recap
Over the last few months, we have shared a number of messages focused on some of the essential elements of our faith. We’ve spoken about the early church described in the Book of Acts and how it remains a viable model for us today. During a three-part series, we dissected the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing the importance of praying it, not just saying it. Our most recent series described the journey from sin to salvation, and the essential role confession and repentance play in our walk of faith.
We reflect on these fundamental components because sometimes we fall into the trap of complacency and just “going through the motions.” We take for granted what we experience when we gather together each week and instead are distracted by the world and its culture wars and ideological disagreements. We’ve allowed division and controversy to infiltrate and poison our sacred spaces. Complacency is an enemy we have to intentionally fight against.
This week, we look at Holy Communion, another integral component of our faith and worship experience that we might take for granted from time to time. While there are aspects of Communion that cause disagreement, namely the mechanics, our goal in this message is to focus on what is at the core. When we strip away how we celebrate the sacrament, the specific elements used, and who is allowed to preside and participate, it is the table that remains - the Lord’s Table. It is at the table where we gather in unity of mind and spirit. It’s around the table that we gather to be in the presence of God.
One difference we find when traveling from one faith community to another or from one denomination to another is the name used when referring to the sacrament. It’s worthwhile to consider the various names - Holy Communion, the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper - because each one accurately describes the essence of what we’re doing.
We at Ocoee Oaks and most United Methodist congregations call the sacrament Communion, which, when not referring to the specific rite we practice, is defined as the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. So, by definition, when we celebrate Holy Communion, we share a time of intimacy. We set aside this meal from other gatherings and treat it with more reverence and reflection.
Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharistia, which means to give thanks. In today’s passage, Paul used the word eucharistēsas when he wrote in verse 24, “and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said…” So, when we are talking about the Eucharist as a sacrament or rite, we’re focusing on the idea of giving thanks. This name underscores a central theme of gratitude. It is a feast of thanksgiving that invites us to remember, celebrate, and respond to the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
Paul also uses the term “Lord’s Supper” a few verses before what we read this morning. Again, he differentiates the meal shared in remembrance of Jesus from the private meals the Corinthians ate together. In verses 20 and 21, Paul admonishes the Corinthians for excluding some while others get their fill. The term Lord's Supper highlights the unity of the church. As we partake in the bread and cup together, we signify our oneness in Christ. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of our backgrounds or denominational affiliations, we are all part of the larger body of Christ.
If we consider the three common “names” for this sacrament - Holy Communion, the Eucharist, and the Lord’s Supper - we might describe it as:
An intimate meal where all members of the body of Christ are welcome to join together in thanksgiving as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
Regardless of what we call this meal, it has a common theme and purpose across all local and denominational lines. And the common place where this meal is shared is the table.
We celebrate the communion meal with a table serving as a prominent fixture. And the table is more than just a surface to set out the elements of the meal. It represents a gathering place.
Jesus said it twice when he shared the bread and cup with his closest disciples:
“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
So, first and foremost, we gather at the Lord’s Table to remember Jesus. Our focus is on him. He is the reason we’re here.
The physical breaking of the bread is our way of remembering how Jesus suffered. The Roman soldiers physically beat him, and ultimately, he suffered the most heinous punishment imaginable: crucifixion.
The cup and its contents - the fruit of the vine - remind us of Jesus’ physical death. His blood poured out as a result of a violent death. We remember that Jesus didn’t die of old age or natural causes; he was executed for a crime he didn’t commit.
We gather at the Lord’s Table to not only remember Jesus but to celebrate God’s forgiveness and grace. If we only remember how Jesus suffered for us, then communion would be very depressing. So, we gather at the Lord’s table to celebrate our reconciliation with God. No longer are we under the old covenant and the old law. God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and we are washed clean. For that, we celebrate with glad hearts.
We also stand in awe of the lavish gift God has given us by inviting us to the table. Our salvation and our seat at the table are the result of grace. Not earned and not deserved. A holy gift from a gracious God.
We gather at the Lord’s table to share in Christian fellowship with the risen Christ and with each other. We do not eat this meal alone. Not only does the bread symbolize the body of Christ, it is symbolic of the church. One loaf because we are one body. Christ lives within each of us, so we are connected. We live in fellowship with one another.
Finally, we gather at the Lord’s Table, anticipating Jesus’ return. Reflecting again on the words of Paul, “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV)
In Luke’s account of the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples gathered, “I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” So, while the Kingdom of Heaven drew closer when Jesus came to dwell among humanity, he foretold that the arrival of the Kingdom was not complete. And only after the Kingdom comes will he drink again of the fruit of the vine. Our hope lies in knowing that Jesus will come again.
When we, this community of faith - Ocoee Oaks, gather at the Lord’s Table, we do so following the practice of an Open Table. All believers, regardless of denominational affiliation or church membership, are invited to gather at this table. By doing so, we model the open arms of Christ, inviting all to partake. We acknowledge that we are all members of the larger body of Christ, and we participate in unity. It’s not Ocoee Oaks’ table or a United Methodist table. It’s the Lord’s Table.
Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, whatever we call it, is the most sacred thing we as Christians can do. It’s a remembrance and a celebration. A remembrance of Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice. A celebration of the forgiveness and grace freely offered. It’s an opportunity to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to remember the saints who have gone before us. It provides hope for the day Jesus returns and takes us home. And at the core of all of this is the table - The Lord’s Table, where we gather together as one in Christ.
The Wine Debate
Earlier, we touched on the idea that the mechanics of Communion, such as how it is served and by whom, can be the source of debate. The composition of the elements can also be divisive, which leads to the question: should we be using wine, or is grape juice equally acceptable?
Wine is present throughout Scripture, and contrary to what some might argue, there is evidence that it had some level of alcoholic content. Consider the account of Noah being drunk and uncovered in his tent. While consuming wine is a regular occurrence at meals and celebrations described in the Bible, there are plenty of passages warning against overindulging. Paul is direct to the point in his letter to the Ephesians:
“18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”
The United Methodist Church has generally come down on the side of serving grape juice. Adopting Its use as an alternative to wine was consistent with the temperance movement in the United States during the 1800s. In the 1964 Book of Worship, we find the following:
“The use of the unfermented grape juice by The United Methodist Church and its predecessors is an expression of pastoral concern for recovering alcoholics, enables the participation of children and youth, and supports the church’s witness of abstinence.”
This position of being sympathetic to those who might struggle with alcohol addiction certainly follows Paul’s cautionary words about approaching the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-29). If someone who might have an adverse reaction to alcohol comes to the table with apprehension, are they entirely focused on why we gather?
There is no hard and fast biblical instruction about whether the Communion cup should contain fermented or unfermented fruit of the vine. Regardless of what fills the cup, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it represents the shed blood of Jesus establishing the New Covenant.