Are You Coming?

A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema

on Heidelberg Catechism, LD 30b (Q & A 81-82)

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the period before Christmas the managers of some firms give a party for their employees and their families. It's a way of showing appreciation for the work the employees have done for the company that year. Now try to imagine a situation where the manager cannot attend. Before he's called away, he gives instructions to his deputy and assistants that only those who are presently employed by the company are allowed to come. All others are left out. So anyone, for instance, who worked for a while but then left, as well as those who were fired, can't come.

Then, when the party is on, all the present employees and their families come, plus some others. Among those others are a few curious, or greedy, trying to get in. And there are also those who've left their jobs, or who were fired because they weren't working properly.

When Seeing Isn't Believing Sermon on Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Days 29-30a

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:1-18

Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ...

When we considered Lord's Day 28, we saw clearly the spiritual meaning of the Lord's Supper. There we were reminded that the value of this sacrament is not in what is physical. Rather, it's what the physical represents that's important. That's why we speak of this as a sign and seal of the Word.

Throughout the history of the church, however, Christians have had difficulty seeing this. Many have misunderstood and been seriously led astray in taking the physical to be the same as the spiritual.

We can look back at the various examples of this, and wonder why. We can think to ourselves, and even say out loud such things as, "How silly that Roman Catholics believe that it's the actual body of Christ they're eating!" Or even, "Who do those Lutherans think they're trying to kid by saying that once the bread and wine has entered into their bodies that it then becomes Christ's body and blood?"