August 6, 2000

John 6: 24-35  (p. 928)

Before the text:   (wonderful text for our summer communion service)

Context = right after the feeding of the 5000.

Jesus senses that people are following him for the wrong reasons.

They’re following him just to see another miracle or just to get some more bread.

Jesus has to redirect their attention to the things of God.

He does so by making a distinction between bread that perishes -- earthly bread . . .

And bread which does not perish -- bread from heaven.

Please read the Passage.

Let me start by asking you this question:

What is Christianity?

What is Christianity to you?

Some would say, It’s a set of Ideals?

- kindness, love, compassion, honesty, being a good Christian

Is Christianity a set of ideals?

Or is it a philosophy?    - a belief system that informs your life.

-- the principles of this philosophy might include such things as

 -- service is the road to a meaningful life

 -- forgiveness is the pathway to joy

 -- and because of your belief in a Higher Power, never give up hope.

Is Christianity a philosophy?

Or is it a lifestyle?

"I try to live a good Christian life."

"I don’t curse or get drunk.

"I try to help others & be honest."

Christianity as a way of life.

This view usually includes a fairly specific list of do’s & don’t that comprise a

Christian lifestyle.

Is Christianity a set of ideals, a philosophy, or a lifestyle?

Or is it something more?

I believe that the answer is found in our text this morning.

"I am the bread of life," says Jesus. "He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he

who believes in me shall never thirst."

"I am the bread of life."

The statement begins with a personal pronoun -- "I"

That’s where our faith begins, not with a philosophy or set of principles,

but with a person . . . . Christ.

That's why we’re called "Christ - ians."

Jesus indicated this right from the start of his ministry -- "Come, follow Me."

Notice he didn't say, "Come, follow my teachings. Come, follow my example.

 "Come, follow my principles for Kingdom Living."

He said, "Come, follow Me."

All those things (doctrine, principles, teachings) are part of it, but they’re

not the heart of it!

"Come, follow me."

In fact,  Mark’s gospel even says, "And he called those whom he desired to be with him.

And they came to him. And he appointed 12 to be with him."

At the heart of our faith is being present with Jesus . . . and acknowledging that

He is present with us.

That’s why our faith is unapologetically mystical & spiritual, and not just philosophical.

The heart of our faith is a person, Jesus Christ, not do’s & don’ts and principles,

although he teaches us those things.

-- they’re just not at the heart of it.

"The Purpose of our Church is to create a fellowship that celebrates & reflects the

presence of Christ."

We gather around a person, not just principles or a philosophy.

ILL. Last Saturday night on the mission trip we had our closing campfire.

I wish I could secretly video tape it for all of you to see & hear, because the sharing is

amazing & inspiring.

There were over 40 of us around the fire, but it felt like there were 10 of us.

The kids were sharing how God was at work in their lives during the trip.

-- where they saw God at work.

-- how they saw God answer prayer.

-- and how they grew in their faith - devotions twice & day, evening worship

And one of our kids said this, "Prior to this week, I believed in God. I believed all the

right things, but God wasn’t very real to me. But now God is in my heart.

Now I know he’s real."

"I am the bread of life," says Jesus.

She’d been to the table.

ILL. I started going to church during the Cart

er Administration.

The reason I remember that is that my pastor used to talk about Jimmy Carter

during his sermons.

I remember him saying that to his knowledge Carter was the first president to be

referred to by his common name or nickname, instead of his formal name.

He even signed his letters, "Jimmy Carter." Instead of "James Carter."

President Kennedy didn’t sign his "Jack Kennedy," nor did Roosevelt sign his "Teddy."

But Carter did.

The President of the United States was just "Jimmy."

Then my minister would say, "Do you realize that you can be on a first name basis

with God."

"The President of the Universe, God Almighty, Creator of all that his, has a first name:

his name is Jesus, the Christ, the Savior."

"You can be on a first name basis with God."

And so my first introduction to God was very down-to-earth and yet spiritual,

because Jesus was just an historical person from the past, or a great religious

teacher & martyr from long, long ago.

He is here today.

You can be with him and live in him & he in

you . . . today.

"I am the bread of life," says Jesus.

"If you come to me you will be fed. You will not leave hunger or thirsty."

"I am the BREAD."

Let me say a few quick things about Bread in this statement.

Obviously it has to do with nourishment.

Christ’s presence nourishes us & strengthens us.

Christ is spiritual food for our souls, and that food strengthens us in every way --

spiritually, emotionally, even physically.

But the analogy of Bread here also has to do with importance.

Bread was a main staple in their diets even more so than in ours.

So when Christ says he is the Bread, he’s saying he’s to be an everyday, significant

part of our lives.   - not just an occasional snack or treat.

On the food chart pyramid, he’s to be at the foundation of our lives.

That’s implicit in this analogy.

And finally He is food for this life.

"I am the Bread of LIFE."

He’s the bread of Heaven, but the meal starts now.

You see, you can eat before you get home.

ILL. When I was a child my Mother & I used to go grocery shopping at a placed called

Hennings Market.

And I would watch what my Mother placed into the shopping cart.

And when we'd get to the car I’d say, "Can I open the cookies now?" or,

"Can I have a pretzel?"

And she would always say, "Wait until we get home."

Some people think God is like -- that you can’t really feast on the Bread of Life until

you get home, to your eternal home.

But that’s not what the text says.

The Bread is for this life, not just the next.

Vs. 33: "I am the bread of God which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world."

He is the Bread of this Life and the Next.

So, what is Christianity?

It’s so much more than a set of ideals.

It’s so much more that a philosophy or a set of beliefs.

And it’s more than a lifestyle of trying to be a go

-od Christian.

What is Christianity?

It’s a meal.

It’s a life-giving, life-saving meal -- where your life is fed, nourished & sustained by the

Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

Usually I end a sermon with a story or with a challenge.

But today let me end the message with an invitation, an invitation to partake of the

Bread of Life.

Let me make the invitation in this way.

First of all, Come & See.

See Christ in this life giving meal.

-- see his love poured out for you.

Secondly, Come & Believe.

Believe that He is who He said He is -- the Savior.

And that he wants to befriend you.

He wants to be on a first name basis with you.

And that he comes to love, to cleanse, to forgive, to empower, & to fill.

Come & Believe.

Come & See. Come & Believe.

And finally, Come & Receive.

- receive the Bread of Life.

Let us pray:

 Our Savior we come here to celebrate you in this meal. Fill us with your power--power

to cleanse, forgive & heal us. Power to shape us into your image. Power to motivate us

into your service. Power to unite us as your body upon this earth.

 Come, Bread of Life, feed us now. In your name. Amen.

John Calvin said about communion -- "I would rather experience it than understand it."

Maybe the same should be said for the Bread of Life.

We need to experience it.

We need to experience Christ within us.

 Rich Knight