A Time to Remember
Day 1: Remembering His Sacrifice
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Devotional: When God created the world, He entrusted Adam with naming the animals—a sacred responsibility. Yet even greater is the responsibility we have to remember what Christ has done. The bread and cup are not mere symbols; they are powerful reminders of Jesus' body broken and blood shed for our sins. In our busy lives, we can forget the magnitude of Calvary. Today, pause and truly remember. His sacrifice wasn't a distant historical event—it was personal, intentional, and for you. Let gratitude fill your heart. Let praise flow from your lips. In remembering His death, we proclaim His victory over sin and death until He returns. How will you carry this remembrance beyond today?
Day 2: Communing with Christ
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Devotional: There is something mysteriously powerful about gathering at the Lord's table. Just as we commune with God through prayer and worship, we experience real spiritual fellowship with Christ during communion. He inhabits our worship and accepts our praise. This is not about bread becoming literal flesh, but about Christ meeting us in a profound way when we obey His command. One loaf, one body—we are united not just with Christ but with each other. At the foot of the cross, all pretense falls away. We are simply needy sinners receiving undeserved grace. Today, consider how you commune with Christ daily. Are you making space for Him to meet you? His presence is available not just on Sunday, but every moment.
Day 3: Unity in the Body
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Devotional: The Lord's table reminds us that we are one body. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one bread, one Spirit. In a world that constantly divides, communion calls us to unity. We share common eternal life, purchased by the same precious blood. This unity demands something of us—loving one another, serving one another, seeking peace with one another. The cross levels us all; no one stands above another in God's eyes. We are all equal recipients of grace. Today, examine your relationships with fellow believers. Are you fostering unity or division? Are you serving or being served? The communion table challenges us to live out the oneness we celebrate. Let humility guide your interactions, remembering that Christ put everyone above Himself.
Day 4: Singular Worship and Self-Examination
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Devotional: Coming to the Lord's table requires preparation. Paul warns against eating and drinking judgment on ourselves by approaching carelessly. This isn't meant to frighten us away, but to draw us into honest self-examination. Are there mixed loyalties in your life? Are you trying to serve Christ while holding onto darkness? The Lord's table is the holiest place—no room for compromise. Before partaking, examine your heart. Confess sin. Renew your commitment to Christ alone. This regular practice of self-examination keeps our hearts purified and acceptable to God. It's why the early church gathered daily for communion—constant realignment with Christ. Today, invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart. What needs to be surrendered? What needs to be renewed? Approach His table with reverence and sincerity.
Day 5: Until He Comes
Reading: Matthew 26:26-29; Revelation 19:6-9
Devotional: Jesus promised that He would drink the cup new with us in His Father's kingdom. Communion isn't just about looking back; it's about looking forward. One day, we will share this meal with Jesus Himself in glory. This sacred practice will never end. Throughout eternity, we will remember His sacrifice, commune in His presence, celebrate our unity, worship in the holiest place, and rejoice with purified hearts. This is the ultimate expression of God's love—He calls us friends, not servants. He laid down His life for us and invites us to eternal fellowship. As you anticipate Christ's return, let communion fuel your hope. The same Jesus who died and rose again is coming back. Live today in light of that glorious future, proclaiming His death until He comes.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Devotional: When God created the world, He entrusted Adam with naming the animals—a sacred responsibility. Yet even greater is the responsibility we have to remember what Christ has done. The bread and cup are not mere symbols; they are powerful reminders of Jesus' body broken and blood shed for our sins. In our busy lives, we can forget the magnitude of Calvary. Today, pause and truly remember. His sacrifice wasn't a distant historical event—it was personal, intentional, and for you. Let gratitude fill your heart. Let praise flow from your lips. In remembering His death, we proclaim His victory over sin and death until He returns. How will you carry this remembrance beyond today?
Day 2: Communing with Christ
Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Devotional: There is something mysteriously powerful about gathering at the Lord's table. Just as we commune with God through prayer and worship, we experience real spiritual fellowship with Christ during communion. He inhabits our worship and accepts our praise. This is not about bread becoming literal flesh, but about Christ meeting us in a profound way when we obey His command. One loaf, one body—we are united not just with Christ but with each other. At the foot of the cross, all pretense falls away. We are simply needy sinners receiving undeserved grace. Today, consider how you commune with Christ daily. Are you making space for Him to meet you? His presence is available not just on Sunday, but every moment.
Day 3: Unity in the Body
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Devotional: The Lord's table reminds us that we are one body. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one bread, one Spirit. In a world that constantly divides, communion calls us to unity. We share common eternal life, purchased by the same precious blood. This unity demands something of us—loving one another, serving one another, seeking peace with one another. The cross levels us all; no one stands above another in God's eyes. We are all equal recipients of grace. Today, examine your relationships with fellow believers. Are you fostering unity or division? Are you serving or being served? The communion table challenges us to live out the oneness we celebrate. Let humility guide your interactions, remembering that Christ put everyone above Himself.
Day 4: Singular Worship and Self-Examination
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Devotional: Coming to the Lord's table requires preparation. Paul warns against eating and drinking judgment on ourselves by approaching carelessly. This isn't meant to frighten us away, but to draw us into honest self-examination. Are there mixed loyalties in your life? Are you trying to serve Christ while holding onto darkness? The Lord's table is the holiest place—no room for compromise. Before partaking, examine your heart. Confess sin. Renew your commitment to Christ alone. This regular practice of self-examination keeps our hearts purified and acceptable to God. It's why the early church gathered daily for communion—constant realignment with Christ. Today, invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart. What needs to be surrendered? What needs to be renewed? Approach His table with reverence and sincerity.
Day 5: Until He Comes
Reading: Matthew 26:26-29; Revelation 19:6-9
Devotional: Jesus promised that He would drink the cup new with us in His Father's kingdom. Communion isn't just about looking back; it's about looking forward. One day, we will share this meal with Jesus Himself in glory. This sacred practice will never end. Throughout eternity, we will remember His sacrifice, commune in His presence, celebrate our unity, worship in the holiest place, and rejoice with purified hearts. This is the ultimate expression of God's love—He calls us friends, not servants. He laid down His life for us and invites us to eternal fellowship. As you anticipate Christ's return, let communion fuel your hope. The same Jesus who died and rose again is coming back. Live today in light of that glorious future, proclaiming His death until He comes.
Extra questions to think about...
How does the act of naming creation, as Adam did, reflect our own responsibility to steward and honor what God has entrusted to us?
In what ways does regularly taking communion help us examine our hearts and maintain spiritual accountability in our daily lives?
Why do you think Jesus chose such simple elements as bread and wine to represent his profound sacrifice on the cross?
How can we better demonstrate the unity and equality that communion represents when we leave the Lord's table and interact with fellow believers?
What does it mean to you personally that Jesus no longer calls us servants but friends, and how does this change your relationship with Him?
How might our practice of communion serve as a witness to nonbelievers, and should we be more intentional about this aspect?
What mixed loyalties or worldly distractions might we need to surrender when we approach the Lord's table with sincerity?
How does the promise of sharing communion with Jesus in His kingdom change your perspective on eternal life and your current worship?
In what practical ways can we carry the humility and gratitude we experience at communion into our everyday interactions with others?
How does understanding that all believers are equal at the foot of the cross challenge us to love and serve one another more authentically?
In what ways does regularly taking communion help us examine our hearts and maintain spiritual accountability in our daily lives?
Why do you think Jesus chose such simple elements as bread and wine to represent his profound sacrifice on the cross?
How can we better demonstrate the unity and equality that communion represents when we leave the Lord's table and interact with fellow believers?
What does it mean to you personally that Jesus no longer calls us servants but friends, and how does this change your relationship with Him?
How might our practice of communion serve as a witness to nonbelievers, and should we be more intentional about this aspect?
What mixed loyalties or worldly distractions might we need to surrender when we approach the Lord's table with sincerity?
How does the promise of sharing communion with Jesus in His kingdom change your perspective on eternal life and your current worship?
In what practical ways can we carry the humility and gratitude we experience at communion into our everyday interactions with others?
How does understanding that all believers are equal at the foot of the cross challenge us to love and serve one another more authentically?
Digging In Deeper
# Scripture References from the Sermon
## Explicitly Mentioned References:
1. **Genesis 2:19** - Adam naming the animals
2. **1 Corinthians 11:25-26** - The new covenant and remembrance in communion
3. **1 Corinthians 10:16** - The cup of blessing and communion of Christ's blood
4. **1 Corinthians 10:17** - One loaf, one body
5. **1 Corinthians 10:20-22** - Not participating with demons, singular worship
6. **1 Corinthians 11:28** - Self-examination before communion
7. **1 Corinthians 11:29** - Eating and drinking judgment without discerning the body
8. **1 Corinthians 11:26** - Proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes
9. **Matthew 26:29** - Jesus drinking new wine in the Father's kingdom
10. **John 15:11-15** - Jesus calling disciples friends, the greatest love
## Alluded to or Thematically Referenced:
11. **Genesis 1:1-31** - Creation account (heavens, earth, light, animals, humans)
12. **Numbers 21:8-9** - The bronze serpent in the desert (referenced near the end)
13. **John 3:14-15** - Connection to the serpent lifted up (implied in the Moses reference)
14. **Ephesians 4:4-6** - One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one body, one Spirit
15. **Acts 2:42, 46** - Early church breaking bread daily (referenced contextually)
## Suggested Verses for Additional Themes:
- **Luke 22:19-20** - Institution of the Lord's Supper
- **1 Corinthians 11:23-24** - Paul's account of the Last Supper
- **Philippians 2:3-8** - Humility and equality before God
- **Romans 3:23** - All have sinned (equality as sinners)
## Explicitly Mentioned References:
1. **Genesis 2:19** - Adam naming the animals
2. **1 Corinthians 11:25-26** - The new covenant and remembrance in communion
3. **1 Corinthians 10:16** - The cup of blessing and communion of Christ's blood
4. **1 Corinthians 10:17** - One loaf, one body
5. **1 Corinthians 10:20-22** - Not participating with demons, singular worship
6. **1 Corinthians 11:28** - Self-examination before communion
7. **1 Corinthians 11:29** - Eating and drinking judgment without discerning the body
8. **1 Corinthians 11:26** - Proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes
9. **Matthew 26:29** - Jesus drinking new wine in the Father's kingdom
10. **John 15:11-15** - Jesus calling disciples friends, the greatest love
## Alluded to or Thematically Referenced:
11. **Genesis 1:1-31** - Creation account (heavens, earth, light, animals, humans)
12. **Numbers 21:8-9** - The bronze serpent in the desert (referenced near the end)
13. **John 3:14-15** - Connection to the serpent lifted up (implied in the Moses reference)
14. **Ephesians 4:4-6** - One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one body, one Spirit
15. **Acts 2:42, 46** - Early church breaking bread daily (referenced contextually)
## Suggested Verses for Additional Themes:
- **Luke 22:19-20** - Institution of the Lord's Supper
- **1 Corinthians 11:23-24** - Paul's account of the Last Supper
- **Philippians 2:3-8** - Humility and equality before God
- **Romans 3:23** - All have sinned (equality as sinners)