GodReflection: Power Words

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6

“Get washed and ready for supper,” was first the call by my Mom, and later by my wife.

Rich and diverse meaning saturated the call for supper.

It always meant hot and tasty food, and a rehearsal of the day’s activities. Supper was family time. Confession took place.  Fun happened. Instruction outlined. Chores met verification. Plans shared. Discipline outlined. Fights refereed. Love grew. Announcements made. Prayer shared as traditions grew.

It occurs to me our family supper was like church without the singing and the formality. However, when a birthday appeared on the calendar—we even sang Happy Birthday at supper prior to cutting the cake.

In the days of the early church worship was communal and often. Luke leaves this description of worship:

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

Jesus is at the center of the lives of participants. Because of Jesus they meet in the temple courts. Because of Jesus they break bread in one another’s home. Because of the resurrection of Jesus they praise God. Because they are a reflection of Jesus they enjoy favor with all of the people.

What is happening in temple courts and in homes recalls another supper.

It was the last supper Jesus experienced with his disciples prior to crucifixion.

Luke records in part this description of the last supper:

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Luke’s statement is full of double meaning. It is time to celebrate the Egyptian occasion when God protected his children from the angel of death. However, even more significant—Jesus, the Passover lamb of God had to be sacrifice.

So the supper was climatically pregnant with the yet to be crucifixion and its significance in the restoration of the perfect rule of God.

 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

What do I do with the supper? How does the supper become part of my worship?

Here is what I think.

I believe the life, death, resurrection, and expectant return of Jesus so permeated early disciple that they clung together in expectation.

Each evening at supper, as disciples poured wine and as they broke and shared bread, these great symbols brought to mind the gospel story.

The obvious response was gratitude, praise, and worship. The supper with its symbols of bread and wine were daily sustenance among the disciples of Jesus.

So, back to where I started.

Supper was family time. Confession took place.  Fun happened. Instruction outlined. Chores met verification. Plans shared. Discipline outlined. Fights refereed. Love grew. Announcements made. Prayer shared as traditions grew. And, the supper was no less than worship.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on the Power Word Supper as a Catalyst for Worship.

Gary@GodReflection.org

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