WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.440 Today we're looking at the covenant that we renew with God. 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:07.960 And I wrestled with this term a little bit. 00:00:08.179 --> 00:00:14.040 Because actually when we do communion, this is not about, it's not actually fundamentally about what we do. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.160 It's about what's been done. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:17.960 And it's about receiving. 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:26.100 And I think so often our Christian walk can be full of doing and not doing enough. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:33.439 And actually the communion reminds us actually what the most significant thing that has been done for us. 00:00:33.820 --> 00:00:35.460 Was done for us. 00:00:35.800 --> 00:00:36.780 And that was the cross. 00:00:37.760 --> 00:00:39.660 But there is more to it than that, right? 00:00:40.300 --> 00:00:41.340 There is more to it. 00:00:42.900 --> 00:00:44.480 I want to tell you a story. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:49.480 Because I think that Jesus does something quite interesting in our passage today that we read earlier. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.560 He does something quite interesting with a very old tradition. 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:59.240 And I had a similar mindset when I was a younger youth worker. 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:00.560 Way back when. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:06.020 Where I decided that I would try and help young people understand communion in a way they'd get. 00:01:06.740 --> 00:01:09.520 And so I thought, how do I make bread and wine? 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:14.120 Things that young people only really are forced to eat bread. 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:17.540 Or when there's nothing else that's easy, they make some toast. 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:18.840 That's their understanding of bread. 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:21.320 And wine is something that they're not meant to have. 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:24.600 But a bunch of them, you know, they know a little bit about wine. 00:01:25.880 --> 00:01:31.820 How do I pick where the majority of them will get what this is about? 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:33.280 And I thought, they like Coke. 00:01:33.820 --> 00:01:35.000 Young people like Coke. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:36.960 And they like dairy milk chocolate. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.219 And so I thought, this is brilliant. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:40.939 This is a genius idea. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:46.500 Here, I'm going to show them how communion works using Coke and dairy milk. 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:47.959 And so I laid out the table. 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:49.400 Got my dairy milk. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:50.200 Broke it. 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:51.519 Got the Coke. 00:01:52.759 --> 00:01:54.439 I don't know how to make that holy. 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:57.840 But there's the Coca-Cola. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:00.500 Actually, it was hilarious. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:02.599 A bunch of young people loved it. 00:02:03.019 --> 00:02:04.479 Like, yeah, Coke and chocolate. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:06.380 But, yeah, we get this. 00:02:08.580 --> 00:02:14.960 A couple of them, you know, the more theologically trained young people, had a few gripes. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:19.360 And I said, away from me, you clever people. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:20.020 Stop thinking. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:20.659 Right? 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.039 There's something genius here. 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:24.939 And we did it. 00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:25.539 We did communion. 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:27.420 I was in a Baptist church at this point. 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:32.519 So if you are, like me now, a starboard Anglican, then don't worry. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:34.159 I wasn't at that point. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:35.699 So it's okay that I was naive. 00:02:37.239 --> 00:02:38.639 I still love my Baptistness. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:41.819 And we did communion. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.239 And I went home quite pleased with myself. 00:02:43.359 --> 00:02:45.239 For a start, all of it was taken, you know. 00:02:46.259 --> 00:02:47.079 All of it went. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.439 That's always a good sign in communion, you know. 00:02:49.979 --> 00:02:50.539 It all went. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:52.839 And I went home and I sat down. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:54.139 I was quite pleased with myself. 00:02:54.779 --> 00:02:55.799 And it was like it hit me. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.880 It went, what did you actually just teach them? 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:07.100 I was like, well, I think I might have just taught them that you can find Jesus in Coke and dairy milk. 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:12.460 And I realized that that's probably not what I wanted to do. 00:03:13.460 --> 00:03:14.939 It wasn't quite the plan. 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:21.720 And I actually realized I probably just confused them more than I wanted to. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:34.460 I think when Jesus does the Passover with the disciples in our passage, he does something similar. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.340 He messes with the Passover. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.259 He does it better, but he definitely messes with the Passover. 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:46.599 We're going to ask these questions, really. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:48.500 What was Jesus doing when he did that? 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:51.500 And what are we doing when we do communion today? 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:54.159 This is really quite high. 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:56.000 I might just commit. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:57.020 Sorry. 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:03.039 So initially, when we look at the passage, there's nothing that stands out. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:04.979 The disciples wouldn't have been fazed by anything. 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:10.139 When we read it, we can see that they were eating together, which is a sign of fellowship and solidarity. 00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:14.259 We can see that each part of the meal had a symbolism for them. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:16.459 You know, these guys were well-versed in Passover. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:17.599 They did it every year. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.240 And every part of the Passover meal had a significance. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:24.500 And it pointed back to them, to Egypt and to the exile. 00:04:24.719 --> 00:04:28.599 It reminded them of their time in slavery and how they were freed. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:32.180 You can read the story in Exodus if you don't know what I'm saying. 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:37.420 It's just a regular ritual that they did. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:38.279 They knew it. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:39.740 It was just a pattern, a habit. 00:04:39.740 --> 00:04:44.340 But then Jesus, he messes with it. 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:47.560 He picks up the bread. 00:04:48.960 --> 00:04:55.060 And for the disciples especially, over time, this bread that he picked up has actually started to represent Messiah. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.960 The hope of the Messiah. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.220 And he breaks this bread. 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:01.340 And he says, take and eat. 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:03.860 This is my body. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:05.780 Take and eat. 00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:08.519 These are imperatives, commands. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:12.319 Jesus the Lord declares his status. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.799 This bread is symbolic of me. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:18.899 Jesus is that long-awaited Messiah. 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:26.620 I kind of want to read into the passage a little bit and try and gauge the faces of the disciples as they heard that. 00:05:27.359 --> 00:05:28.560 We've been waiting for the Messiah. 00:05:28.979 --> 00:05:30.120 We kind of thought he was. 00:05:30.979 --> 00:05:31.620 He's all in. 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:32.919 This is me. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:33.759 Take and eat. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.219 And he takes the cup. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:38.339 Probably the third cup of the meal. 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:39.899 The cup of blessing. 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.920 And commands again, drink from it. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:44.039 All of you. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.159 This drink of blessing is for everyone. 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:50.139 It is a blessing of forgiveness from sin. 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:55.459 It's symbolic of the sacrifices of Exodus 24 where blood is shed for the sins of the world. 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:58.419 I love the intimacy of this concept. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.680 We're not going to get into ontological change and what actually happens in communion today. 00:06:03.239 --> 00:06:08.399 But what is interesting is that in the Exodus passage, blood is sprinkled. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:10.939 It's basically just sprinkled around. 00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:13.079 It's a bit like when Clive gets the water gun out. 00:06:13.359 --> 00:06:14.719 Just everybody seems to get covered. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:18.019 It's the same thing here with the passage. 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:25.439 In Exodus 24, the priest would sprinkle the sacrificial blood over the people to say that actually this is for you. 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:28.740 But Jesus takes this a step further. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:30.759 It's not just a covering. 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:32.939 Take, drink it. 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:35.099 This is to become you. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:37.259 To become part of who you are. 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:39.099 It's no longer temporary. 00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:42.000 It has to be done to be saved. 00:06:42.299 --> 00:06:44.279 It is something that you remember as permanent. 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:50.659 It's something really intimate about drinking that wine and remembering that inner symbolism. 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:55.939 And through the bread, Jesus shows them that he's the Messiah, their salvation. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.059 Through the cup, he's their blessing and their forgiveness. 00:07:00.799 --> 00:07:04.559 In this traditional meal, the disciples have reimagined Passover. 00:07:05.239 --> 00:07:06.759 Whereby the wait is over. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.619 The Messiah has come and they will soon learn the cost of that redemption. 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:13.239 It's not just symbolic acts. 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:19.219 It's not just like the sacrifices of old and their symbolism and their representation. 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:22.399 Now is the time. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:27.039 The real body and blood of Jesus on that cross. 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:30.079 God makes a new covenant with his created beings. 00:07:31.059 --> 00:07:37.699 A new collective being is made in this sacramental act. 00:07:38.859 --> 00:07:42.739 Through the sharing of the cup, Jesus creates a new people. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:45.960 It's not just about their individual status. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:47.560 They're saved and forgiven. 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:53.319 Though this, for this act, he takes Israel's story to the next chapter. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:54.900 The new covenant. 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.120 No longer is this about a covering. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:07:59.639 This is about a proclamation. 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:01.139 A status. 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:04.060 A permanent change in the people of God. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:08.800 They become the first people of this new covenant. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.180 In taking the bread and taking the wine. 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:15.100 And they will soon learn that this new people have a mission. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.980 In bringing in this new creation. 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:22.759 For Israel, the story of Passover teaches them who their God is. 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.879 Who they were and who they are now. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.219 In Jesus reinventing the Passover. 00:08:27.219 --> 00:08:29.019 Around himself, he does the same. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:31.540 The believers were lost. 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:32.960 They're now found. 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:34.879 We're slaves. 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:35.759 Now free. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:38.700 Because their God has come again and delivered them. 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:44.799 This meal would become the way in which the people of God would know Jesus and each other. 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:48.080 Something so significant in the symbolism. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.000 And sometimes we worry about talking about it like that. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:55.820 We worry that we might be getting a bit more, a bit too mystical. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.500 And oh, what's happening in it? 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:00.559 But there is something significant about it. 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:05.179 If you remember in Luke 24, on the road to Emmaus. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:07.440 When the disciples are walking and they're a bit miserable. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:09.720 And Jesus rocks up and starts walking with them. 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:12.279 And they're saying it's all over. 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:14.779 And he starts to show them the passages. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:17.059 And how what's happened was meant to happen. 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:19.440 And they still don't quite get it. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:20.820 And then they sit down. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:22.679 And Jesus breaks the bread. 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:26.200 And they realize they're with Jesus. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:30.820 And they say, weren't our hearts burning the whole time? 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:36.500 This act that Jesus gives us as a command to take and eat. 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:39.519 There's power in it. 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.379 Not magic. 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.320 And I'm not trying to get all mystical. 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:44.259 But there is power in it. 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:47.220 Weren't our hearts burning? 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:48.700 Jesus was with us. 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.500 In an intimate way. 00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:53.160 So that's what Jesus was doing. 00:09:54.660 --> 00:09:57.399 So what are we doing then when we recreate this event? 00:09:57.399 --> 00:10:00.899 I think we're doing three things. 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:03.860 The Baptist roots coming back in there. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.299 Remembering. 00:10:07.199 --> 00:10:07.679 Declaring. 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:09.899 And we're committing. 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:10.059 We are remembering. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:13.479 We are remembering that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.620 And that he is the salvation. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:20.379 I wonder how good your memory is. 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:23.200 I'm going to test mine now. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:28.639 Alexander the Great knew every name of his soldiers in his army. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.199 30,000 people they reckon with in his army. 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:34.460 It's pretty amazing. 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:38.000 Mozart could hear a song once. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:40.199 A bit like my brother here. 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:42.340 And be able to play every note. 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:43.299 And write it down. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:49.220 Winston Churchill knew pretty much all the works of Shakespeare off by heart. 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:55.980 And Bill Gates can remember predominantly all the code he wrote slash invented. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:11:00.379 That's incredible memory, right? 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.480 I look at these people and I think, that's genius. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.899 In fact, they think that our brain, actually the capacity for memory is limitless. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:10.500 Wow. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.120 That's amazing. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:20.360 But maybe, like me, that's not quite you. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.279 Maybe you're more like my family. 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:26.279 Maybe you're more like my family. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:26.779 Maybe you're more like my family. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:31.379 Where Zachary Niblett, no matter how many times I tell him to put on his shoes, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.720 seems to forget that I've told him to put on his shoes. 00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:37.179 And Laura Niblett wonders why she married me. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.220 Just because something is important doesn't mean we remember it. 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:51.440 When we take communion, we are invited to remember the most significant reality of our life. 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:55.420 That we are saved by grace and are loved and forgiven. 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:59.740 Life can be full of things that make us doubt that. 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:02.700 So we must partake. 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:06.220 And remember that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:08.580 And he is the salvation. 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:11.560 And second, we declare. 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:14.480 We are declaring that we are the people made into one body. 00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:16.240 The body of Christ. 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:20.620 We say in some liturgical services, we say, 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:25.040 though we are many, we are one body because we share in the one bread. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:29.920 My question is, when you take communion, are you aware the others around you? 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:36.299 Tim Keller said, you can't have communion with God without first having communion with each other. 00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:42.860 When Jesus offered the bread and cup, he had no intention of making this act an individual one. 00:12:44.319 --> 00:12:46.639 Yes, we all receive God's grace as individuals. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:50.379 But we are made into a one holy body. 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:56.179 When we take communion, we declare that it is no longer I, but we. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:59.620 And we are responsible for each other. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.539 And we belong to each other. 00:13:03.959 --> 00:13:05.740 God did not just save you. 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.379 He saved us. 00:13:08.459 --> 00:13:10.979 And yet, how well do you know the others around you? 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:14.419 Do you know who's suffering right now in this community? 00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:17.459 Do you know who's celebrating? 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.699 Do you care? 00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:25.740 When you take communion, you acknowledge us as a family. 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:30.519 When you take communion, you claim to be family. 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:34.659 Are you willing to be family? 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:37.719 And our third point. 00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:43.279 We are committing, when we take communion, we are committing to be the mission. 00:13:44.219 --> 00:13:46.339 We are committing to the mission. 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:52.200 To be the people of God in the world, living as light and life in dark places. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:58.720 Through the Eucharist, heaven touches earth. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.680 The word Eucharist is a Greek word. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:03.120 And it means to give thanks. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:09.680 And that's why, especially in the Anglican liturgy, there's an emphasis on that. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.700 That this is something really significant. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:13.000 That Jesus gave thanks. 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:16.139 The Eucharist was established. 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:19.740 That this thing is an edict. 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.240 It's a thin place. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.399 I'm a bit wary of that phrase sometimes. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.720 Because we can get a bit mystical again. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:29.240 But it's a thin place. 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:34.159 Where something about who God is pushes us out. 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:35.960 To do. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.679 To the mission. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:44.459 I was thinking about how Jesus at the end of this says, 00:14:44.599 --> 00:14:46.039 He will not drink the fruit. 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:49.379 And from now until the day, I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:52.059 And I think there's two ways to look at that. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:53.599 Firstly, there's to look at that. 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:56.620 And to think, well that's on about the end, right? 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.739 That's right at the end. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:00.000 You know, when we're all in the glory. 00:15:00.599 --> 00:15:01.899 And we're in the kingdom of Jesus. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.359 And new creation has happened. 00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.219 And we celebrate. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.759 And I think that's true. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.179 That is definitely the end game. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.319 But there's also that reality. 00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:16.719 That Jesus, when he resurrected. 00:15:17.859 --> 00:15:19.559 He went to be with the Father. 00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:24.259 And he's with the Father now in that place. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.120 That permanence. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.039 That heaven. 00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:29.939 And when we take communion. 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:31.919 We tap into that promise. 00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:33.099 That he will be with us. 00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.939 There's something about it. 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:36.779 That's really powerful. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:40.719 We share the cup and the bread with the resurrected King. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.379 He's championing us. 00:15:43.859 --> 00:15:45.379 But as we know, when we do that. 00:15:45.479 --> 00:15:47.500 When Jesus meets with us. 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.459 He never meets with us to leave us where we are. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.779 He takes us somewhere else. 00:15:51.459 --> 00:15:52.779 He puts us on a track. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.239 He realigns us. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.439 He challenges us. 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.439 He grows us. 00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:57.759 He sends us out. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.980 And so when we do this. 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.360 When we take communion. 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:05.059 A part of what we're doing is we are committing to that mission. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.220 We partake. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:09.840 And we commit ourselves to the mission. 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:12.740 Remembering that what he has done for us. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.840 Declaring that we are his people. 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:17.340 Are committed now. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.980 To share this grace. 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.780 And this good news. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.780 With the world. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.639 Through communion. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.160 We renew our covenant with God. 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.580 We receive. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.440 We remember. 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.180 We declare. 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:35.360 We have received. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.659 God's goodness. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.379 And we are now his new creation. 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.180 His new people. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.220 His new covenantal body. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:49.019 And we then commit to be the people of God. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.200 We don't just say it. 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.960 We commit to be it. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:55.340 And we get involved in God's mission. 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.240 The Missio Dei. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.060 The mission of God. 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.300 To see the world renewed. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.080 Restored. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:02.139 To see Revelation 21. 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:04.160 A reality where there is no more injustice. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.019 No more suffering. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.799 No more sin. 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.639 The old order is passed away. 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.500 And we are part of making that happen. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.220 We are the messengers of the good news. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:19.059 Part of me would like to have done this before. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.400 We took communion. 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.940 But that was hindsight. 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:26.460 When you take communion next. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.599 I want to challenge you. 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.740 You could be like the disciples. 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.839 And it could be a ritual. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:35.659 You have no idea what's about to happen. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.659 Or you could be. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.480 People. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.659 Who receive. 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.359 This goodness. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.359 Receive it. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.079 And remember. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.399 What it means. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.099 Receive. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.039 This goodness. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.919 And declare. 00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:53.659 That you are acknowledging. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.139 You are the people of God. 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.480 And receive. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.360 And commit. 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:57.460 And commit. 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:59.400 To be the people of God in the world. 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:01.340 And maybe. 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:01.980 Just maybe. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.920 As you come to communion like that. 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:07.020 You may have a moment. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.920 A significant moment. 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:12.060 God can do it in anything. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.519 But there is something significant. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.339 About communion. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.559 Maybe we could challenge ourselves. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.220 A little bit. 00:18:17.659 --> 00:18:19.200 Say God meet with me in this. 00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:22.019 Let this not just be a ritual. 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.759 Grow me through this. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.160 Take a deep breath. 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.160 Let this not see you next time. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.640 Bye. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.700 Bye. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.859 Bye. 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:30.640 Bye. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.220 Bye.