Sunday Sermon: Communion and Work in the World
“20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat,
21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.
22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
Anniversary Sundays are significant for any church—they offer us an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness in the past and look forward to His plans for the future. Let us give thanks to God for these 19 years of His guidance and grace.
In light of this anniversary, I want us to reflect on the story of Moses and the Exodus, a journey that began with an encounter with God. In Exodus chapter 3, God appears to Moses through the burning bush and calls him to deliver the Israelites from oppression in Egypt. God says, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry." Yet, when God calls Moses to this monumental task, Moses hesitates, pleading with God to send someone else. Moses' reluctance stemmed from two major reasons—his difficult past in Egypt, where he had been rejected by both the Egyptians and the Hebrews, and his personal fear of public speaking.
I can relate to Moses' feelings of inadequacy. Moses was an outsider who struggled with identity issues, much like many of us who have faced cultural differences, identity crises, and the fear of not belonging. When God called me to ministry, I, too, felt inadequate. I was introverted, shy, and uncomfortable with public speaking. Being a 1.5 generation immigrant, neither my Korean nor my English was perfect. Like Moses, I asked God to send someone else. But God reassured me, just as He reassured Moses, saying, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say."
What is remarkable is that God uses our weaknesses to accomplish His purposes. Moses felt unqualified to confront Pharaoh, yet God chose him to lead His people out of Egypt. Likewise, when God calls us to do His work, it’s not about our abilities; it's about His power working through us. As 1 Corinthians 1:27 states, God chooses the foolish and weak things of the world to shame the wise and the strong. He does not leave us alone but provides help along the way, just as He sent Moses' brother, Aaron, to assist him. God has placed people in our lives and in this church who are here to help us fulfill our calling.
As we celebrate 19 years of this church’s ministry, let us remember that it is God who started this work. Despite our weaknesses, God calls each one of us to join in building His kingdom. Let us also recognize the people around us, our "Aarons," who support us in this journey of faith. As we reflect on the past, we also look to the future with hope, trusting that God will continue to do incredible things through this church.
Let us pray: Father God, we thank You for Your faithfulness over the past 19 years. As we look back on Your goodness, help us to move forward with faith and hope. Thank You for calling us, despite our weaknesses, to be part of Your redemptive work. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)