If you\u2019re a growth group leader at New Day, here\u2019s just one way you can lead your group through taking Communion\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When God brought about a great deliverance for the Israelites from their slavery to Egypt (through Moses), He instituted a commemorative ordinance called Passover<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way, when God brought about an even greater<\/em> deliverance for us from our slavery to sin (through Messiah), it was appropriate to institute another<\/em> commemorative ordinance we now know as Communion<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1 Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul records the three things Jesus says we\u2019re to remember when we take communion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. We\u2019re to remember his <\/em><\/strong>body<\/strong><\/em>. <\/strong>We read in 1 Corinthians 11:24 that \u201c\u2026on the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, \u201cThis is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\u201d In other words, Jesus was saying: When you eat this bread, remember that it represents my body. And remember what I endured in my body for you and for the forgiveness of your sins. Ok, #2\u2026We\u2019re not just to remember his body. Secondly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. We\u2019re to remember his <\/em><\/strong>blood<\/strong><\/em>. <\/strong>We read in 1 Corinthians 11:25, In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, \u201cThis cup is the new covenant between God and his people\u2014an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.\u201d In other words, Jesus was saying: When you drink this wine, remember that it represents my blood. And remember that it was poured out for the forgiveness of your sins. Ok, #3. When we take communion we\u2019re to remember his body, remember his blood, and now thirdly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. We\u2019re to remember his <\/em><\/strong>return<\/strong><\/em>. <\/strong>Jesus also said, \u201cFor every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord\u2019s death until he comes again.\u201d (1 Corinthians 11:26) This means that when we take communion, we\u2019re not just to remember Jesus\u2019s first<\/em> coming where he came to die for our sins, we\u2019re also to remember that Jesus will one day come again! When Jesus came the first time he gave his body and his blood as God\u2019s suffering servant. He came to die for the sins of the world. But when he comes again, it won\u2019t be as God\u2019s Suffering Servant<\/em>, rather as God\u2019s Conquering King<\/em>. When Jesus comes he will rule over an eternal kingdom. This kingdom will begin on earth for 1,000 years and will then continue indefinitely into eternity. How do we find the strength to keep living for God in a culture so antagonistic towards him? We remember that one day Jesus is coming again to set things straight \u2013 to make things right \u2013 to rule with justice and mercy over his eternal kingdom, of which we are citizens forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now according to 1 Corinthians 11:27 to fail to remember these three things (i.e. his body, his blood and his return) is to celebrate communion in an unworthy manner. So as often as we take communion, these thoughts ought to be at the forefront of our minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, today we remember how Jesus surrendered his body to your will \u2013 even unto death \u2013 even unto death on a cross. Today we remember how he willingly shed his blood \u2013 so that we could be forgiven of our sins. And today we remember with great anticipation, that one day, Jesus is coming again. God, thank you for loving us so much, and thank you for all you have done for us and continue to do each and every day. In Jesus\u2019 name we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019re a growth group leader at New Day, here\u2019s just one way you can lead your group through taking Communion\u2026 When God brought about a great deliverance for the Israelites from their slavery to Egypt (through Moses), He instituted a commemorative ordinance called Passover. In the same way, when God brought about an even greater deliverance for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1020","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-volunteers","7":"entry"},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Mike","author_link":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/author\/mike\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1020"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1205,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020\/revisions\/1205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/withskillfulhands.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n