The army that eats together

We are called soldiers• Philemon 1:2 – Paul refers to Archippus as

a fellow solider.• Phil 2:25 – Paul names Epaphroditus as

“my brother, fellow worker & fellow soldier.”

• 2 Tim 2:3 “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

• We are a spiritual army deployed by God to contend with evil. We are at war. We need food.

• Jesus supplies a special meal.

No ordinary meal• Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the

apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

• Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread….”

• Justin Martyr (150AD) “On Sunday a meeting is held of all who live in the cities & villages…they focused on the bread & wine and giving thanks…then the elements are distributed…and deacons carried them to the houses of the absent.”

Two reasons for communion…• Mt 18:20 - We are coming to HIS table, and

He gathers here with us. • 1 Cor 11 – Communion reminds us of our

mission, of why we’re here in the first place.• The bread & cup declare the same message:

Jesus died for you, He died for me; He died for sinners.

• 1 Tim 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”

Why Sunday?

• OT – God commanded Israel to celebrate on Saturday (last day of the week)because He wanted them to remember His power in creation.

• NT – First day of the week. God wanted His people to remember His power in the resurrection.

• Communion reinforces and reminds us of the power of Christ’s death, and resurrection, and unlike in Creation, we are a part of both through Christ.

An army comes together…• Communion – Gr Koinonia• Having in common (koinos), a

partnership, fellowship, a shared experience.

• Communion brings God’s army together to prepare for the battle outside the walls of the church building. We gain strength from our numbers & power from our unity in the spirit.

• We need each other. No one is the Lone Ranger in the Body of Christ.