I have loved this sculpture ever since I saw it first-hand in 2006. I was with a peace delegation of Disciples’ seminary students in Bosnia, and it was the last day of our 2-week trip. We spent that last day and night at a monastery known as the “House of Peace” in Scit-Rama Lake. The monastery sits in a beautiful setting in the middle of the lake, and it is adorned with many wonderful religious sculptures. I have a copy of the famous “Rama Cross” in my office, but it was this sculpture of The Lord’s Table that captivated my consciousness. 

At first glance, I thought that either the artist left the work unfinished, obviously leaving out one of the disciples. But my guide instructed me that was not the case. Rather, the vacant spot at the table was the spot left for me! And you! And for absolutely and unconditionally anyone else in the world! All of us, just as we are, invited to join the other disciples at the table with our Lord Jesus. 

It still astounds me that Jesus was God’s answer to all of us sinful people in the world today. Jesus never rejected anyone. He never said “No” to anyone. He never said you are not welcome to be part of my following. And despite what so many of our misled religious denominations say, he never ever said, “I’m sorry, but there is no place for you at my table.” 

You see friends, as hard as it is to admit for so many of us, Jesus came to us and sacrificed himself for us “so that the whole world might be saved.” (John 3:17) In case you can’t or won’t acknowledge it, that simply means that God loves all people (even the worst of us) unconditionally, and that all of us will be welcomed home with God … in God’s time and according to God’s will. There are no exceptions to this. 

Now, I know many of you have been trained in the ways of a judgmental God that will “separate the sheep from the goats” and send the sheep to heaven and the goats to hell. But that is not the message nor the spirit of Jesus’ teaching. For example, the “sheep and goats” story is from Matthew 25, and it’s a story of how we are supposed to live here on earth – today. In essence, Jesus is teaching us that we can create our own “living hell” based on how we live … not after we die. Jesus came to open the gates of eternal life for all of us, here and now – never qualifying that salvation based on religion or doctrinal beliefs or earning our way there. Jesus came and delivered “grace” to all of us – a free gift from God that shows us what unconditional love looks like when it meets imperfect humans. 

The Lord’s Supper is the perfect replication of this unconditional sacrificial love offered to all of us by grace alone. There is nothing you have to do to earn it. All you have to do is receive it! And I believe that ultimately all of us will receive it, some sooner than others. For me, based on my life experience, the sooner the better! Because living a life for God is soooooo much better that living a life for me. In fact, that life for God today is my salvation – here and now! That life is my “Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

We Disciples are known as “The People of the Table.” The Communion Table is almost always at the center of the altar in a Disciples church. The serving of Communion is the centerpiece of our worship service. And, we come to the Table of the Lord every single Sunday – and sometimes more often than that. 

Let us NEVER let the Table of the Lord become routine or blasé for us. Take another look at the picture of the sculpture of the Lord’s Supper. 

Focus on that vacant spot at the Table. Imagine yourself, being there, seeing the other disciples at the Table. You even recognize some of them. And then Jesus motions you forward. He tells you that there is nothing you could do to ever separate you from His love. And then He points to the open spot … which you solemnly move into. He tells you that His body will be broken for you and His blood will be shed for you. And then He feeds you. The Bread of Life and the Cup of the New Covenant. And you become filled with His glory and His grace. 

And right then and there, in that very moment, you make a promise to yourself and a covenant with Jesus – that you will never ever again take Communion as a matter of routine or be even the slightest bit blasé about it. That vacant spot is yours now … eternally. Claim it and own it. And salvation is yours!

Meet me at the Table this Sunday!

LET US PRAY!  

This week we celebrate our sermon series on Spiritual Disciplines by focusing on the discipline to PRAY! Adele Calhoun begins her chapter to Pray with this proclamation: “Prayer is a word that describes a relationship.” 

Have you ever thought of prayer as a way to maintain and attend to a relationship in your life? 

And not just any relationship – but THE most important relationship you have! Think for just a moment of the things you do throughout the day … the week … the month … the year … to maintain and attend to your most important relationships. Now … think if you spend that much time and make that much effort in your relationship with God. 

I like to say, to pray is to say to God, “I welcome you into my life today – just as it is. And I give all power over my life to you – just as you are!” In doing this, you can access the most mighty power on earth – that of God. 

An ancient quote from Theophan the Recluse puts it this way: “To pray is to descend with the mind into the heart (remember Pastor Bob saying the longest hardest journey for any human being is from the head to the heart!), and there stand before the face of the Lord, ever present, all-seeing, within you.” Wow! I love that quote! Don’t you? 

I know this sounds cliché, or even corny, but it is absolutely true – prayer is the answer for your life today! Whatever is going on with you today – the good, the bad, and the ugly … prayer is the answer. You may ask how I know that: I know that because I believe that prayer is simply the answer for all of life. 

And yes, I know that other much more “practical” things often “solve” the problems way face on a daily basis – but where do you think those things came from? How do they even exist? How do you think your life connected with them in your moment of need? And friends – let’s be honest: Why is it that we’re so quick to blame “outside forces” (yes, even God!) for the bad stuff that comes upon us, but yet so hesitant to praise God for all the good stuff? Truth is we’re more apt to credit ourselves for the good stuff!  

One thing prayer does is help us overcome this dominance of self-will in our lives. Prayer helps us learn to humble ourselves before God and helps us understand that God is the primary force working in our life today and that ALL good things come from God. 

So YES! Prayer is the most important act you can take for the most important relationship in your life. Any questions? Well – the truth is we have a lot of questions about prayer, don’t we? 

This Sunday – join us at Vine Street Christian Church as we attempt to answer some of the questions we all have about prayer – and help to turn our lives a little bit more toward God, the most mighty and amazing power on the face of the earth! 

Come pray with us this Sunday!