Sunday, March 24, 2024 AM
BECAUSE HE LIVES: The Commitment of the Cross
Mike Teel, Pastor
Focal Passage:
20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this! 23 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 24 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 to remember me.” 25 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 to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 27 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. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 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. —I Corinthians 11:20-29 (NLT)
EXAMINE OUR
1. GENUINE SALVATION EXPERIENCE
–Make sure you have a genuine experience with the Lord.
2. SALVATION OR ASSURANCE OF
3. DO NOT TAKE UNWORTHILY
–Scripture indicates that if you are not a believer, you should not participate in observing the supper.
EXAMINE OUR
LIVES
1.
AND THOUGHTS
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2
–Do you have ongoing patterns of angry, critical or judgmental thoughts?
–Do you frequently engage in unclean imaginations, lustful thoughts, and habits of looking at pornography or questionable movies?
–Do you entertain jealousy or resentment toward certain persons or groups?
2. MY
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. —Matthew 12:36
–Do I have any patterns of unclean or inappropriate speech?
–Am I prone to words that are angry, critical or divisive?
–Do I have conversations I would not want everyone to hear?
–Do I have patterns of complaining, exaggeration or lying?
3. MY
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. —Matthew 5:23-24
–Is there anyone I have offended (past or present) yet I have not asked for forgiveness?
–Is there anyone (past or present) I have not forgiven?
4. SINS OF
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. —Psalms 51:3
–Am I engaging in any kind of physical, online or phone impurity?
–Am I frequently angry or harsh with people?
–Do I have persistent patterns of repeatedly confessing the same sins with no real repentance?
5. SINS OF
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? —Luke 6:46
–Do I often neglect to spend significant time in God’s Word and prayer?
–Do I rob God by withholding my tithes and offerings?
–Do I neglect to invite others to join me for worship and Life Group or witness to others?