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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date August 3, 2025
Text I Corinthians 11: 23-34
Pastor Paul Lehmann
Celebrations come in all shapes and sizes; birthday parties and celebrations, wedding anniversaries, family and class reunions, small town carnivals, ethnic celebrations, and National Independence Days and holidays. All of these are almost always accompanied by “feasts”—eating together, and usually plenty of food, or at the least cakes or other delicious desserts.
There is one celebration that is celebrated worldwide in a similar fashion. It is “The Lord’s Table” or what we call COMMUNION. The differences have to do with the understanding of why it is celebrated and also the way that it looks.
There are those who treat it as a sacrament which is necessary for salvation, and many others who understand it as a symbol of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
It is Jesus Christ alone who provides salvation, not the elements of unleavened bread and wine. We share these to remember what He did. But in every country where there is a Christian Church, the Lord’s table is recognized, and communion is given for all believers.
The passage that we read envisions a great banquet table.
Extending from Rome to Corinth, to Philippi, to Galatia, and so forth.
Today, that table extends to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Latin America, South America, and every island of the sea.
In many parts of the world, they are not very well dressed, and the bread is what they can buy in the open market, and is the juice of a tree that is indigenous to their country.
Some are eating hard brown bread; others are eating rice cakes or corn bread. Some are drinking wine from silver goblets, others are pouring juice of tropical plants from earthen bowls. Some are dressed in suits, some are dressed in expensive casual wear, even shorts, and some wear tattered clothing.
In this celebration, we all acknowledge a worldwide need;
That we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, (or God’s glorious standard) (Romans 3:23)
We set aside all boasting and claims of superiority. Instead of claiming goodness, we seek mercy. We share a common humanity, and so because of that, a common need. The evidence of sin is worldwide.
Hatred and injustice know no boundaries. In every major city, and in many smaller communities in the world, we see all sorts of crimes, brutal murders, theft, extortion, fraud, and unbelievable injustices
Recently, especially in the United States, we have seen a spirit of anti-Semitism against Jewish students and Jewish people in general that we haven’t seen since the days of Nazi Germany.
Jesus Himself suffered unjust treatment (actually illegal treatment based on both Jewish and Roman law), and was crucified even though he was totally innocent of the charges brought against Him. We read in I Peter 2:21, “this suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.”
It seems that everywhere in the world, there is restlessness and revolt. It is no longer just in developing nations like in Africa, but countries like Greece, Spain, and at various times, France, Great Britain, and Germany, and right now in our own country, we see mobs of people revolting in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and recently in Cincinnati, Ohio as well as other cities. Everywhere, there are attempts at suppression, manipulation, and discrimination. There are times when it seems like the persecutors are at fault, like when, for years, the Islamic Sudanese regime persecuted and killed Christians. Now, South Sudan has finally gotten their independence, but persecution continues, and has spread down into the north-eastern part of the Congo. And of course, since last Oct. Hamas started the war with Israel. There are other times when the revolutionaries seem to be at fault in disrupting things. In all nations:
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IN THE WRONG PLACES; they don’t want to know what the Bible says.
Also in this celebration of communion, we rejoice in a worldwide love.
(John 3:16)—“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God established no boundaries for His love. His love is unconditional, and the atonement for sin is not limited. There are some denominations that claim a doctrine that states—“Limited Atonement” That is, that Christ didn’t die for everyone, only God’s elect who will be saved. They only say this to try and explain the doctrine of election that scripture talks about. Whatever else it means to God, it does not mean that some are determined for eternal life and some for damnation, for such a purpose would destroy the cosmic aspect of the cross and make it something which is contrary to the great truth that we just quoted from John 3:16. An invitation to whoever believes would hardly be honest if some were unable to be among the- “whoever.”
However, if by election it is meant that God takes the initiative, then this idea is in conformity with the purpose of redemption, for man does not turn to God by himself, but is impelled by the convincing power of the Holy Spirit. This understanding of election makes man dependent on God not only for his salvation, but also for the motivation which brings him to God. It must always be remembered that God shows no partiality, for he loved the world, and
The cross raises no barriers and imposes no limitations, but its message is, “whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Rev. 22:17)
God established no boundaries for His love. His love was unconditional when He sent His son to die. His love continues to be unconditional.
There was a young boy who asked his dad one day, Daddy, how does God love us? His dad answered, “God loves us with an unconditional love!” The boy thought for a moment and then asked, “What kind of love is unconditional love? His dad said, “Do you remember the two boys that used to live next door to us, and the cute little puppy they got last Christmas? “Yeah”—“Do you remember how they used to tease it, throw sticks and even rocks at it? “Yeah,” Do you also remember how the puppy would always greet them with a wagging tail and would try to lick their faces? “Yeah”—Well, that puppy had an unconditional love for those boys. They certainly didn’t deserve his love for them because they were mean to him. But he loved them anyway. The father then said—You see, God’s love for us is also unconditional. Men hit Jesus (God’s son), and then killed Him, but Jesus loved them anyway.
Romans 5:6-8 says:…”When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man. Though for a good man, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his LOVE for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
II Peter 3:9 we read…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The text of John 3:16 doesn’t say that God only loved the Jewish world, or the Gentile world, or the white, European world, or Asian or African. It doesn’t even say He loves only the elect! It doesn’t say God loved the rich world, the poor world, or the middle-class world.
God expressed His love for all people. His love is expressed in provisions for our spiritual welfare. There is no material provision that can ensure the life of the soul. Through the gift of His Son, God has provided forgiveness, new birth, and eternal life.
As we partake of the Lord’s Supper this morning, let us again accept the love of God for our salvation.
In this celebration, we express a worldwide fellowship.
Eating together is a symbol of unity. The common meal is a symbol of loyalty, love, friendship, and unity. When people are angry with each other, they usually refuse to eat together. We should never come to the Lord’s Table with anger, or bitterness, or jealousy in our hearts towards someone.
At the time that Paul is reminding the Christians at Corinth about some things having to do with the Lord’s Supper, they would use one loaf of bread, and he says in I Cor. 10:17—that drinking the cup and eating the broken bread is a participation (or sharing) in Christ’s blood and body. “because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. That is to say, those who receive these elements, in faith, are united to Christ and, by the Spirit, to one another. They partake of the benefits secured for them through our Savior’s shed blood and crucified body. —benefits that include atonement for sin, justification through faith, and healing for the body.
Thus, both strong and weak members need to remember that the body of Christ is not divided, and therefore, we must express our unity in our relationship to each other.
We are all one in Christ. What we have in common with Christians everywhere is more important than the cultural, racial, or economic differences that separate us. We have accepted the same love and believed in the same Lord, we are united in a common purpose, and we will share the same heaven.
For safety reasons, mountain climbers rope themselves together when climbing a mountain. That way, if one climber should slip and fall, he will not fall to his death. He would be held by the others until he could regain his footing.
The church ought to be like that. When one member slips and falls, the others should hold him up until he regains his footing. We are all “roped together” by the Holy Spirit. As we unite and go forward in His power, we will affect others both inside and outside the church.
So let’s acknowledge a worldwide need.
Celebrate a worldwide love, and
Express a worldwide fellowship