Pastor Tom concludes his mini-series on Sacraments with a message about holy communion entitled "Assured by God."

The Sacraments are those things the church sets aside as most sacred within the church. As United Methodists, we consider Baptism and Holy Communion to be those Sacraments. They draw us closer to God and one another. They help form our identity as Christians and help us become aware of the salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ.

This week we look forward to sharing in Holy Communion. We will do that against the backdrop of what Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:23-32. The church in Corinth was full of “haves” and “have nots.” Those who had a lot showed little regard for those who had very little. That was particularly evident when the church came around the Lord’s Table.

The invitation to the Lord’s Table is to all who come with an open heart ready to receive what Christ offers. Those in the Corinthian Church had also grown complacent. They really didn’t put themselves into their worship, nor did they rightly consider what was offered in the Lord’s Supper. Paul challenged them to “examine themselves before they ate the bread and drank from the cup.”