Sermon March 29th
“This week our Sermon was from 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN? We sacrifice our money, our time, our reputation and our comfort. We choose to lose like Jesus. He lowered Himself to become a human. He suffered. He died. Why? “for the joy set before Him.” What joy is there in suffering? We gain more than we lose. In death we find life. Matthew 16:25, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.” THIS IS DEMONSTRATED IN PHYSICAL FORM IN COMMUNION. The Greek word: “KOINONIA” means DEEPLY CONNECTED. THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER/COMMUNION IS: RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD; THE CHURCH. The Corinthians were doing the OPPOSITE of unity/oneness/communion. They were divisive. They were proud. They were humiliating. They were exclusive. They were selfish. Verse 27 says, “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” If you don’t take communion seriously you are in DANGER of sinning against the Lord. Taking communion the right way means starting with a self-examination.When you take communion with wrong motives or unforgiveness you are not remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… you are bringing judgement on your own head. Many people have gotten sick and even died because they did not take this seriously.
Discussion Questions
1. How do you examine yourself before taking communion? What is your normal practice? In light of this Scripture do you need to change the way you prepare yourself? How?
2. How would you rate the Lord’s Supper/Communion service at Trinity Church? Do you feel like our congregation is achieving right relationship with God and with each other during this time?
