Come To The Table

"Come To The Table"

Thanksgiving Communion Service

November 18, 2001 FBC Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

1 Cor. 11:23-29

A Thanksgiving is a day we look forward to all year long.

a All the smells, great stuffing, Golden Turkey cooked to perfection, pumpkin pie...

b We can’t wait to be told "Come To The Table!"

B Tonight, Jesus has set the table himself and has said to us, "Come To The Table."

a He is inviting us..but he is also commanding us.

b We have to come to the table with a few assumptions.

1 We need clean hands.

a Growing up, we always had to have clean hands before we ate.

b Tonight, we better have clean hearts. (Confess our sin to God. Come clean.)

2 We need a good appetite.

a What would happen if before lunch/supper on Thursday you drank a 32oz. Shake, King Size Snicker and a Twinkie 3-pack. When the good stuff’s brought out, how hungry are you? You’ve tanked up on junk and lost your appetite.

b Sin is junk and it’s no good for you. If you tank up on junk you won’t have an appetite for God’s Good Stuff.

*Matt. 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

3 We need time to enjoy the moment.

a Have you ever been in such a rush or so hurried that you had to eat so fast that you didn’t enjoy the meal? (Was your burger good? I don’t know. I didn’t have time to enjoy it.)

*We’ll take some time Thursday won’t we? Time to enjoy, savor, embellish each morsel.

b Tonight, the Lord’s Table is set and we are going to take our time to enjoy it. We are going to take the time to calm our hearts. Take time to see the importance of the Lord’s Supper.

C Jesus has told us to "Come to the Table." Before you come, clean up.

a Heb. 10:17 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

*A nun went to her bishop for her confession. She told him about a vision she had about Jesus coming to her in person. The bishop was doubtful and asked her if the next time Jesus appeared to her, would she ask him about the sins of the Archbishop? The nun said, Of course. A few weeks later, the nun went back to the bishop. He asked, "Did you have another talk with Jesus?" "Yes, I did" she replied. Did you ask Jesus about the sins of the archbishop? Yes I did. What did he say? He said he didn’t remember.

b I’m going to give you time to confess and examine.

*Alter, Pew,...what ever is good for you.

*Give time for decisions.

*You’ll partake tonight only if your coming to the table with clean hands.

*Pray