May 24, 2022
This week as we focus on the sacrament of Holy Communion as a means of grace. You already know that the sacrament of Holy Communion is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. It’s a sign of God’s love for us. It’s a moment to be formed into the imago Dei.
Like the previous means of grace we’ve explored, Holy Communion is about a relationship with the living God we know in Jesus. It’s an opportunity to encounter God’s love, experience forgiveness, and be shaped into the person God is inviting us to be.
Wesley reminded us Holy Communion is “the grand channel whereby the grace of his Spirit was conveyed to the souls of all the children of God” (Sermon 26: Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount")
As a means of grace, the “duty of constant communion” can bring objections from some. You’ve likely heard something like “if we celebrate Holy Communion too frequently, it will lose its power as being special.”
What if instead, the opportunity to encounter God’s goodness and grace is a moment to experience the love of God we know in Jesus? What if each time we come to the table we’re shaped to be more like Jesus? What if each encounter with God’s grace fills us with grace?
As you can probably tell, Tim and Sara are with Wesley on this one. The “duty” of constant communion may bring about objections, but the goodness of God’s love can’t be contained.
In this episode, we explore five common objections to the sacrament of Holy Communion and Wesley’s teaching on Holy Communion. All as a reminder that as United Methodists, the sacrament of Holy Communion is a means of grace to embrace.
There is hope at Christ’s Table. May you experience God's forgiveness and steadfast love each and every time you participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Missed the other episodes on the means of grace? Find them here:
Episode 227 - The Means of Grace: Where Hope Abounds
Episode 228 - Misunderstanding the Means of Grace - There’s Still Hope
Episode 229 - The Means of Grace: Searching the Scripture
Episode 230 - The Means of Grace: Prayer