Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Receiving Holy Communion Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA June 5, 2005 Main Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. In the early church, the Lord's Supper was celebrated in the setting of a shared meal, reminiscent of the Passover seder. The warning not to eat and drink the sacrament in an unworthy manner is a reference to the divisiveness, selfishness, and drunkenness that had crept into that observance. In verse 18, Paul refers to open, unresolved divisions among them. Verse 19 makes it clear that these are not just differences, which are acceptable, but actual divisions. The result as that there was no unity in their celebration. Communion was not viewed as a group effort but an individual thing. But God intended Holy Communion to be time to celebrate together the grace of God given us in Jesus Christ. We partake of a common loaf and drink from a common cup. We are to fellowship with one another in the celebration of this New Covenant, sealed by the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live in harmony and peace in spite of our differences. So the admonition to not take the Sacrament in an unworthy manner doesn't mean that our lives have to be perfect. Indeed, the Lord's Supper is a continuing reminder that in Christ there is continuing forgiveness. The "unworthy manner" has to do with not recognizing the "Body" of the Lord. This is probably a reference to two distinct things. First: Jesus' physical body. Some were treating the Lord's Supper as any other meal insensitive what it symbolizes: Jesus sacrificing his life for their sins. Second: not "recognizing the body" could refer to the Church which is the Body of Christ, the incarnation of God in the world today. Paul has rebuked them for their general disregard for one another. This sacrament is supposed to be a corporate act in which we recognize the presence of Jesus among us. Different people in different stages of life experience the Lord's Supper in different ways. Some may prefer to be quiet and introspective while others may feel like shouting, "Hallelujah!" We must show reverence for the occasion and respect for each other. Let us partake of the Lord's Supper together, in unity and in faith, so that this holy institution can be meaningful and fruitful experience for us all. Supporting text: Galatians 3:26-29 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (20:00). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 050605a: Receiving Holy Communion. © 2005 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us