1 Corinthians 11:23-26

 

Whether we recognize it or not, we all have traditions. Any large group is bound to have them Whether it's a church, a school, a sports team, or even a nation, traditions are important to us all. We might not even know the origin of some of the traditions we follow, but they have become part of our lives. This new series will explore some of the traditions in Christianity and where and why they were established, as well as why we continue to practice them. 

 

Celebrating communion helps us: 

  1. Look back as we remember Christ’s Sacrifice (vv. 23-24). … The first Lord's Supper ((or Communion) was Jesus's last supper, which itself was the Passover meal, a celebration that dates back to when God delivered the Israelite from slavery in Egypt. To convince Pharaoh to release His people, God sent ten curses that grew worse and worse. The last curse was that the firstborn of every household would die, unless the blood of a lamb was spread on their doorpost. When the angel of death came to a house with lamb's blood, it would pass over that house. Jesus is showing that He is the new and ultimate Passover lamb. His blood was spilled and His body was broken so that we might be spared. 
  2. Look inward as we examine our Hearts (v. 25). … We live in a distracted age. There is always a plethora of things fighting for our attention. Phones. Social media. Movies. Video games. TV. Books. Sports. Add all of that to everything else that always existed, like family and friends and work, and you can see why our attention is so divided. The Lord's Supper helps us slow down and examine our lives, giving us a chance to see the important things. 
  3. Look outward as we proclaim our Faith to Others (v. 26a). … When we take the Lord's Supper, we proclaim to others that we believe Jesus died for us, that we need a Savior and that Jesus is the one we need. Participating in this tradition shows others what we believe. 
  4. Look forward as we anticipate His Return (v. 26b). … These verses end with a promise: until He comes. Jesus will return to this world and fix all of the brokenness in this world, creating a new Heaven and a new Earth. 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes by Thomas R. Schreiner & Matthew Crawford
  • A Theology for the Church Edited by Daniel L. Akin
  • The Lord’s Supper in the Context of the Local Church by Greg Allison
  • Understanding the Lord’s Supper by Bobby Jamieson
  • The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace: More than a Memory by David Mathis