Behind a Twenty-Dollar Bill

The significance of a twenty-dollar bill is not the paper, but what is behind it. The significance of communion is the same way.
 

Topics:  Communion, Jesus, Respect Materials: Twenty-dollar bill or other large bill Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

Preparation:

Place a twenty-dollar bill in your wallet or purse before class. You will compare how valuable a twenty-dollar bill is because gold and the federal reserve are behind it, to the value of communion because of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. 

What you will say:

I have something pretty significant in my wallet (or billfold). Let me show you.
(Pull out the twenty-dollar bill.) Here it is. A twenty-dollar bill. What could I  buy with it?

Well, I could buy almost seven gallons of gas, or perhaps that many gallons of milk. I could buy two tickets to the movies with a little left over, or I could buy a whole lot of hamburgers. I could even purchase a real nice set of new strings for my guitar.

However, what makes it possible to buy all those things with this little piece of green paper? The truth is, there is a whole economy and federal reserve with storehouses of gold behind this slip of paper. Because of that, and only because of that, this green pice of paper is worth something, we treat it with a certain amount of respect. (Carefully, place the bill back in your wallet or billfold.)

Now, I want you to think a moment about communion. We participate in communion all the time by eating a tiny piece of bread, and drinking about a half sip of juice, while the soft music plays. But what makes these small items, these small symbols so special? What makes them so valuable?

It is because of the love of God and the sacrifice made by our Lord Jesus. We gather as the Body of Christ during the time of communion to remember His death, His broken body, His shed blood, and to celebrate His resurrection. All of that is behind this small piece of bread and this tiny cup of juice. So when we partake in communion, let us remember what Jesus did, and do so with respect and reverence.