Holy Habits: Come to the Table
September 20, 2024
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
Target: We don’t come to the table of communion with Jesus because we are deserving, but only because He invited us.
I. Time of Commemoration: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,” and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:23)
A. He left heaven to be born in a human body (Phil. 2:5-6)
B. He became poor that we might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9)
C. He bore our sins in His Own body on the tree (1 Pet. 2:24)
D. He willingly took our place on Calvary (Isa. 53:4-6)
E. He shed His blood for our redemption (Rev. 1:5; Rev. 5:9, 1 Pet. 1:18-19)
F. He conquered death for us forever (Matt. 28:1-6; Rev. 1:18)
G. He ascended back to Heaven to serve as our High Priest forever (Heb. 7:25)
II. Celebrates Reconciliation: “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24-25)
A. Old Covenant: (Exodus 20:1-26)
1. Obey God: (Deut. 28) (Blessing/Curses)
2. Keep the Law: (Exodus 24:3)
a. Ceremonial: feasts, festivals, dietary.
b. Moral: holy conduct, respect for people, sexual purity.
c. Judicial: justice, order, and civil government.
B. Forgiveness: “so the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them” (Lev. 4:20)
C. New Covenant: (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
1. Spirit Gives Life: (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
2. Love God and Love People: (Galatians 5:14)
3. Once and for all Sacrifice: (Hebrews 10:4)
III. Proclaims Anticipation: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor. 11:26)
A. Return of Christ: “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him“ (Hebrews 9:28)
B. Banquet with Christ: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Rev. 19:9)
IV. Requires Examination: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11:27-28)
A. Save my Soul: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor. 13:5)
B. Search my Heart: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24)
C. Surrender my Life: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
Takeaway: The Lord’s Supper is more than a tradition, it's a testimony!