One Bread, One Body

World Communion Sunday
1 Corinthians 10:16–17; Galatians 3:28

St. John’s United Church of Christ
3815 W. 20th St., Greeley, CO 80634
Pastor Juvenal Cervantes
October 4, 2026

Theme: In Christ, we are one body, sharing one faith, one table, and one hope.

Introduction

Today is World Communion Sunday—a day when Christians around the world gather around the Lord’s Table.

We may speak different languages. We may worship in different traditions. We may come from different cultures and nations. We may sing different hymns and have different customs. But when we come to the table, we remember something greater than our differences:

We belong to one Lord, and we are one body in Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is not simply something we do as individuals. It is a visible reminder that God is creating a people who belong to one another.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:17:

“Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

There is one bread—and many people. There is one Christ—and many members of His body. There is one table—and people from around the world are invited to it.

1. The Table Is Bigger Than Our Church

Sometimes we can think of the church as the people who worship in our congregation.

But the church of Jesus Christ is much larger.

There are Christians worshiping today in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Some gather in beautiful cathedrals. Some meet in simple chapels. Some gather in homes. Some worship outdoors. Some worship with only a few people.

Yet they all belong to Christ.

World Communion Sunday reminds us that God's family is bigger than our local congregation. We are not alone. When we take Communion, we are joining a worldwide chorus of faith.

2. The Table Crosses Human Divisions

Human beings are very good at creating divisions.

We divide ourselves by race, nationality, language, economics, politics, education, and social background.

But Jesus calls us to something deeper.

Galatians 3:28 says: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is not saying that our differences disappear.

Instead, he is teaching that our differences no longer determine our worth or our belonging in Christ.

At the Lord's Table, the important question is not: “Where did you come from?”

The important question is: “Do you belong to Jesus Christ?”

The Table reminds us that God's grace is offered to people from every nation and every background.

3. Communion Reminds Us of Christ's Sacrifice

The Lord's Supper is not merely about fellowship. It points us back to Jesus. The bread reminds us of Christ's body given for us. The cup reminds us of Christ's blood and the new covenant.

We remember the cross. We remember the love of God. We remember that salvation is not something we earned. It is something God has given us through Jesus Christ.

Every time we receive Communion, we proclaim: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And because Christ gave Himself for us, we are called to give ourselves in love to one another.

4. One Table Calls Us to Love One Another

Paul's teaching about Communion carries an important responsibility. If we share one bread and belong to one body, then we cannot remain indifferent to one another.

When one member of Christ's body suffers, we should care. When one member rejoices, we should celebrate. When someone is lonely, we should reach out. When someone is hungry, we should respond. When someone feels forgotten, we should remind them that they are loved.

Communion calls us beyond simply receiving God's grace. It calls us to live God's grace. The Table becomes a mission.

We come to the Table to receive Christ's love, and then we leave the Table to share that love with the world.

5. There Is Room at God's Table

One of the most beautiful messages of the gospel is that God's invitation is wider than we sometimes imagine.

Jesus welcomed people others rejected. He touched those others avoided. He ate with people others judged. He called ordinary people to become His disciples. And He continues to invite people to His table.

The church must never forget that the invitation belongs to Christ. We are not the owners of the table. Jesus is the host.

Our calling is to welcome others in His name. There should be room at the table for the stranger. Room for the searching person. Room for the brokenhearted. Room for the person who has questions. Room for the person who feels far from God. Room for every person who comes seeking the grace of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Today, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, let us look beyond the walls of our church.

Imagine Christians around the world receiving the bread and cup.

Different languages. Different cultures. Different traditions. Different circumstances. But one Lord. One faith. One baptism. One Savior. One body. One hope. And one table of grace.

The world often tells us that our differences must separate us. The gospel tells us that Christ can bring us together. So when you receive the bread today, remember: You are part of the body of Christ.

When you receive the cup, remember: You are held by the love of Christ.

And when you leave this table, remember: You are called to share that love with others.

May our church become a living picture of the prayer Jesus prayed: “That they may all be one.” — John 17:21

Today we come to the table as many people. But in Christ, we are one body. One bread. One cup. One Lord. One people. One hope. Amen.