SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2025
THE EUCHARIST

SCRIPTURE

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord Himself. On 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, “This is My body, which is given for You. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this in remembrance of Me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again. So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. I’ll give you instructions about other matters after I arrive. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 (selected)

PREFERENCES OF COMMUNION

We’ve got to be careful not to turn our preferences into condemning principles.

1/ Should we have open or closed Communion?

2/ Should we use individual cups or a common cup?

3/ Should we use wafers or bread loaves?

4/ Should we use wine or grace juice?

VIEWS OF COMMUNION

1/ One view sees Communion as symbolic.

2/ One view sees Communion as spiritual.

3/ One view sees Communion as physical.

4/ Our view sees Communion as a combination.

We believe Communion contains physical elements that help us remember the work of Christ, while also engaging the actual presence of God.

WHEN TAKNG COMMUNION

Communion is a sacred moment that requires our attention & action.

1/ In Communion, we remember Christ’s work (vv.24-26).

We remember His work in the past, His work in the present, & His return in the future!

2/ In Communion, we examine ourselves (v.28).

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Psalm 139:23

Paul is less indicting their chaos & more inviting them into cleanness.

“Many of the faithful now approach the holy mysteries at random and without thought. This leads to countless sins and brings down God’s anger.” John Chrysostom

3/ In Communion, we understand the sacredness (v.29).

God is calling His people back to understand the sacred.

4/ In Communion, we unify our hearts (v.33).

Despite differences, the sacrifice of Jesus is our common bond.

5/ In Communion, we give thanks (v.24).

Paul called it the “Cup of Thanksgiving”. The early Christians called it “The Eucharist”.

I should express thanks for bad times, in bad times.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28

We give thanks, because though it may be a bad time, He is not a bad God!

I should express thanks for bad times, in good times.

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7

I should express thanks for good times, in good times.

I should express thanks for good times, in bad times.

May I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalm 103:2

A person cannot be truly thankful for anything, until we are thankful for Christ.