"The Joy of Remembering"

1. In our celebration of the Lord's Supper we experience the joy of proclaiming the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 11:26; Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:15-18; Philippians 1:18.

2. In our Communion service we are called to actively remember Christ and the events surrounding His death, burial, and resurrection, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; Luke 22:19.

3. The Lord's Supper is a feast of grace, a communing, by faith, with Christ; it nurtures spiritual life and gives strength, John 6:37, 40, 53; 15:5; 1 Corinthians 10:16.

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Elsewhere Jesus used organic imagery to describe our vital relationship with him— “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). His very life flows through us, and the Lord’s Supper displays this vital union with Christ. We call this meal the Lord’s Supper, and in it we “commune” with Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16). Evangelical Convictions, (Kindle Locations 4085-4088). Free Church Publications.

4. As we partake by faith, we experience anew the fresh water of the New Covenant. It brought us forgiveness, new hearts, a belongingness to God, new life, glory, and happiness to our souls because we now know God, Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:1 - 4:6.

5. The co-searching of our hearts commanded before partaking of the Lord's Supper is a critical component in confession, repentance, joy-filled grace, and personal proclamation, 1 Corinthians 11:27-34; Psalm 32:1-11; 51:1-19; Psalm 139:23-24.

"Lessening the severity of the sin denigrates the gloriousness of the Lamb who was slaughtered. Lessening the abundance of grace and forgiveness lessens the seriousness of the One sacrificed."

6. The context of the meal must be a caring, loving, and all-embracing church community. The existential unity of the body is necessary to partake of the spiritual realities of the Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:27, 20, 22, 29.

"For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly." 1 Corinthians 11:29 ESV

7. The Lord's Supper, is a sharing of and fellowshipping with Christ, together as the body of Christ. Grace is poured out when we are living and partaking of the Lord's Supper in fellowship with each other and the Lord, 1 Corinthians 10:15-18.

Questions for group discussion

1. Share your conversion to Christ story in 2 minutes or less. This may be hard to condense, but in order for everyone to be able to share, you will have to be brief.

2. Is the fellowship and participation in our local church body closer for you than your own biological family? Should it be? Note Jesus' words in Luke 14:26; Mark 3:31-35.

3. Why would discord in the body of Christ not sit well with Jesus? Why would it be so seriously dealt with in 1 Corinthians 11:27-34? What should someone, who has difficulties with others at church, do before taking communion?

4. Comment on this statement, "Lessening the severity of the sin, or the grace and forgiveness offered denigrates the gloriousness of the Lamb who was slaughtered."

Here is a summary of TACC's practice in our celebration of the Lord's Supper

1. Communion is to be administered under the authority of the elders -they know of and approve of the officiant and the occasion for celebration.
2. The eating and drinking of bread and grape juice or wine are symbolic of Jesus' body and blood - it is not salvific, grape juice will be the norm unless specifically ordered.
3. The Lord's Supper is a means of proclaiming and remembering Jesus's death and coming again. Participation in the Lord's Supper is a means of nurturing and confirming grace. This will be the central emphasis of the celebration each and every time.
4. Communion is a community rite meant for the body of Christ, or portion of the body at TACC.
5. The Lord's Supper should be celebrated with decorum and joy.
6. The Lord's Supper should consist of prayer, contemplation, confession, repentance, and instruction/warning according to the teaching in 1 Corinthians 11.
7. Communion is to be celebrated by only true Christians who are not in conflict with other believers.
8. Communion is a unifying rite. We have humbled ourselves before our King who died for humbled sinners and is coming again.
9. The celebration should not be rushed.
10. It is not necessary to be a member at TACC to participate.
11. Children should follow the instructions of their parents.
12. We typically celebrate the Lord's Supper the first Sunday morning of every month in our worship service. We allow for other times of celebration as deemed necessary.
13. The elders will work to ensure that the Sunday morning Lord's Supper remembrance is done with care to ensure that all believers are included in the community aspects of the celebration and prayer.