Sing

1 Cor. 11:23-32

1 Cor 10:16-17

As we take communion, I want to talk about four things it causes us to look at.

1. WE LOOK BACK - “you proclaim the Lord’s death” (1 COR 11:26)
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Most importantly, we look back to the cross. We are reminded of our Lord’s sacrifice; how He gave himself unselfishly and completely as payment for our sins.

 "while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8).

2. WE LOOK WITHIN - “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 COR 11:28)
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Where is your life going?

Are you taking seriously what Jesus did for you?

Are you living your life in such a way that shows someone died so you could live?

Is there sin you need to confess before you can honestly take communion today?


3. WE LOOK AROUND - “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” (1 COR 10:17)
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The third look is to the brothers and sisters around us – we give thanks to God for our Christian family.

No man is an island, we need one another. The Christian life is meant to be lived in community with other Christians.

4. WE LOOK AHEAD - “until he comes” (1 COR 11:26)
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The fourth look is to the future.

Are we looking forward to the time when He will come again. 

Because He died for us and we believe in Him, we can spend eternity in Heaven.

Let us take a minute to get right with God before we take communion.

Play song

(Have Charlie come forward to assist with communion)

Read Luke 22:7-18

Have deacons pass out the bread

1 Peter 2:22-24

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.  When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.   He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Collosians 1:21-22

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of  your evil behavior.   But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--

Wait till all have been served and then Pray for the Bread/body

Read Luke 22:19

You may now eat the bread.

Have deacon’s pass out the “cup”

Romans 5:8-10

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!   For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Heb 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,  so that we may serve the living God!

Wait till all have been served and then Pray for the cup/blood

Read Luke 22:20

You may now drink the cup.

Before we close lets say The Lord’s prayer as a family.

Matthew 6:9-13 in the KJV.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Closing song