May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:16,17)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: Tonight we go back to the Upper Room to spend some more time with our Savior. All our hearts and minds are on our Savior, his words to us, and the special Holy Supper he gave us that night. His table is set and his meal prepared for us. Let's all be listening-every one of us. Some of us will dine at this meal in just a few minutes. You be listening to what our Savior says about his meal and what it does for us that you might be properly prepared to receive it. Some of us will not commune tonight. But you listen as well that Jesus might awaken within you a desire to dine someday-when you are ready to prepare properly and express this special unity with those who commune here. Let's all listen for tonight from the Upper Room Jesus teaches us to EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM HIM IN THE SUPPER.

Great and wonderful is our Lord's Supper. In these chapters and verses Paul is scolding. It is with a heavy heart that he does so. The Lord's Supper, given by our Savior as a means to get his spiritual blessings to his people, was hurting these Corinthians. Why? They forgot what Communion was and what it was for; they were not preparing for it, and therefore were abusing it. God will not be mocked! Paul wrote: (1 Corinthians 11:27f).

This Holy Supper is a great and wonderful thing beyond our ability to comprehend. Listen to the Apostle describe it: Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? He speaks in such a way that he expects a "yes" answer to his question. Christ Jesus, the one who the Bible says became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14) puts himself in communion with the bread and wine. This very Jesus who has flesh and bones like us humans-he is not above the bread and wine as if I have to lift by heart up heavenward to find him; but he is under the bread and wine so that where I see these elements there is Jesus. This Jesus is not along side the bread and wine separate from it as if I need look at it and then look somewhere else for Jesus. He is with these elements so that if I have them I have him. This Jesus is God so he is capable of being in places in ways that defy our logic. He is in the bread that we eat and in the wine that we drink. Jesus places himself there-in, with, under the bread and wine. Because Jesus does this great and wonderful thing when a person eats and drinks he participates in Christ. What a great and extraordinary thing this Supper is!

Because Jesus does this great thing in his Supper, it is our responsibility to be prepared when we go. This is not just some food for the stomach but a miracle as great and wonderful as any our Savior performs. What can I do to prepare? Nothing; there is nothing in us that would make us worthy. Then what? Simply this: give God the heart that accepts, believes, and does not argue with his simple, clear, and wonderful words. Let all mortal flesh keep silence And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, For with blessing in his hand Christ, our God, to earth descending, Comes our homage to command we sing in one of our hymns. Much of visible Christianity scoffs at the idea that Christ, fully and truly present, gives himself to each communicant as bread and wine are consumed. Let all mortal flesh keep silent; believe what God says! Some consider sin a light matter and yawn through spiritual discussion. Let all mortal flesh keep silent; consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Believe what God says about yourself, sin, his wrath! Are you trying to arouse the Lord's anger? Are you stronger than he? (1Cor10:22). Repent and approach his altar in awe.

Expect great and wonderful things from it. The Supper itself is extraordinary and so are the blessings we receive from it. Jesus is here, not just a symbol or picture of him. He who said Father, forgive them...Son, your sins are forgiven...neither do I condemn you... unites himself with each believer. And he tells us exactly what he wants to give us when he unites himself with us in the meal. He does not say: Here I am so that I can give you a long and prosperous life here on earth full of all the best things you can see with your eyes. Rather he says: Here I am so that I can give you forgiveness. I who gave my body over to death and poured my blood out at Calvary am here that you might know that you have my forgiveness. In Communion I become his; Jesus becomes mine. What is mine--my sin--he takes on himself. What is his--his righteousness--becomes mine. Where Jesus belongs I now belong-in God's family, a citizen of heaven. Dare to consider yourself fit for heaven. Not because you are a fool, but because Jesus says to you: Expect that heaven is yours for it truly is for you are forgiven all your sins.

The Supper itself is extraordinary and so are the blessings we receive from it. Jesus is here, not just a symbol or picture of him. He who is stronger than Satan and who drove him out of people comes to you. Sin will not be your master. You are united with Jesus and so you are united with his power over sin and Satan. Let his love rule your actions. Trust him in every circumstance as Jesus did. Be devoted to family as Jesus was-spouses, love each other; children, listen without making your teachers and parents ask the second time; young people, be pure in heart and mind. St. Paul's, seek first his kingdom; give of yourself and resources to train our children, strengthen each other and share our Savior with those around us. How can we not? Jesus rules in us.

The Supper itself is extraordinary and so are the blessings we receive from it. Jesus is here, not just a symbol or picture of him. He who said to his terrified disciples, take heart, it is I. Don't be afraid comes to us in Communion. He says the same to us about whatever troubles us.

The Supper itself is extraordinary and so are the blessings we receive from it. Jesus is here, not just a symbol or picture of him. In this supper he unites you to your fellow Christians past, present and future. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. Picture the cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11-Abraham, Sara, Noah-wife-children, Joseph, Matthew, Mary, etc-I'm in that family. Holy Communion binds us with stronger ties than blood with those with whom we live. I have a spiritual family. What great things my Savior gives me here. Amen!

Brothers and sisters, Jesus, his forgiveness, power, and fellowship is yours. Go expecting great things. Amen.