Sermon Notes: “Remembering the CROSS of Christ”
Series: Growing Up ‘til We Measure Up Pastor Chris
Text: 1 Corinthians 11.23-28 September 28, 2014
Each time we observe communion, we are not only remembering what He did for us, but we are “showing” it as well to all who watch and all who participate. This is a beautiful and graphic picture of what happened at the cross, what it means, and how it impacts our lives as believers.
1 Corinthians 11.23-28
The bread which He broke in half represents His body which was broken on the cross for us.
The cup represents the blood He shed on our behalf, sealing a covenant between Him and us.
It would seem, then, that since we take the Lord’s Supper to remember Christ’s death and shed blood, we should take it fairly often.
Some churches: monthly/bi-monthly/weekly/quarterly
Bible does not give us specific instruction as to frequency, but that it should be often enough to renew focus on Christ, without being so often that it become routine. In any case, it’s not the frequency that matters, but the heart attitude of those who participate. We should partake with reverence, love, and a deep sense of gratitude for the Lord Jesus, who was willing to die on the cross to take upon Himself our sins. (S. Michael Houdmann, gotquestions.org)
“In Remembrance” means . . .
· Command of scripture (Note continuation of vs. 24 “Do this”)
· Place yourself back in the moment (recapture the reality)
· Not just a recall of events
· Relive the suffering, agony, death, humiliation
When we think of Christ’s dying on the cross we are shown the lengths to which God’s love goes in order to win us back to Himself. We would almost think that God loved us more than He loves His son. We cannot measure His love by any other standard. He saying to us, “I love you this much.”
The cross is the heart of the gospel; it makes the gospel good news. Christ died for us; He has stood in our place before God’s judgment seat; He has borne our sins. God has done something on the cross which we could never do ourselves. But God does something TO us as well as FOR us through the cross. He persuades us that He loves us. (Sinclair Ferguson, Grow in Grace)
“Proclaim the Lord’s death” . . . A memorial of death / Reminder of things to come
· Obedience to God and His Word
· Fellowship with the saints (worship, thanksgiving, reconciliation)
· Testimony to the world (“I am not ashamed”)
“Unworthy manner” means coming to the Table
· Out of habit (Indifferently going through the motions)
· With an unrepentant or hard heart (bitterness, unforgiveness)
· Bad attitude
All around us we see Christians and churches relaxing their grip on the gospel, fumbling it, and in danger of letting it drop from their hands altogether.
John Stott, Guard the Gospel
“Guilty of the body and blood”
“To come to the Lord’s Table clinging to one’s own sin does not only dishonor the ceremony, but also dishonors His body and blood, treating lightly the gracious sacrifice of Christ.” (J. MacArthur)
I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry. D.A. Carson, Bible scholar and professor
Old Testament Jews:
Ѱ Remember Egypt / Remember Passover / Remember deliverance
New Testament Christians:
± In your suffering / persecution / trial/tribulations . . . remember the cross
Today’s Christians:
± In your attitudes / emotions / speech / actions (CROSS-FILLED GLASSES)
Point to the cross of Christ, for there’s no greater encouragement, and no greater motivation for everything God has called you to do and experience in this life, than to recognize His love for you in His darkest hour, and to receive His care for you in your darkest hour. C. J. Mahaney, Living the Cross-Centered Life
In remembering the cross of Calvary, I often wonder . . . Where would I have been? Who would I have been?
§ Indifferent passerby (no big deal…see it all the time…no impact)
§ Accusing church leader (killing the one who didn’t follow the rules)
§ Lost authority figure (ignoring truth and following bad advice)
§ Part of the crowd (“crucify Him”)
§ Faithful follower at the cross
§ Faithless run-away hiding in the shadows
This is where SELF-EXAMINATION comes in (vs. 28)
Sermon Notes: “Remembering the CROSS of Christ”
Series: Growing Up ‘til We Measure Up Pastor Chris
Text: 1 Corinthians 11.23-28 September 28, 2014
Each time we observe communion, we are not only remembering what He did for us, but we are “showing” it as well to all who watch and all who participate. This is a beautiful and graphic picture of what happened at the cross, what it means, and how it impacts our lives as believers.
The bread which He broke in half represents His b______which was b______on the cross for us.
The cup represents the b______He shed on our behalf, sealing a c______between Him and us.
“In Remembrance”
· C______of scripture (Note continuation of vs. 24 “Do this”)
· Place yourself back in the m______
· Not just a r______of e______
· R______the suffering, agony, death, humiliation
“Proclaim the Lord’s death” . . . A memorial of death / Reminder of things to come
· O______to God and His Word
· F______with the saints
· T______to the world
“Unworthy manner”
· Out of h______(Indifferently going through the motions)
· With an unrepentant or hard h______(bitterness, unforgiveness)
· Bad a______
All around us we see Christians and churches relaxing their grip on the gospel, fumbling it, and in danger of letting it drop from their hands altogether.
John Stott, Guard the Gospel
Sermon Notes: “Remembering the CROSS of Christ”
Series: Growing Up ‘til We Measure Up Pastor Chris
Text: 1 Corinthians 11.23-28 September 28, 2014
Each time we observe communion, we are not only remembering what He did for us, but we are “showing” it as well to all who watch and all who participate. This is a beautiful and graphic picture of what happened at the cross, what it means, and how it impacts our lives as believers.
The bread which He broke in half represents His b______which was b______on the cross for us.
The cup represents the b______He shed on our behalf, sealing a c______between Him and us.
“In Remembrance”
· C______of scripture (Note continuation of vs. 24 “Do this”)
· Place yourself back in the m______
· Not just a r______of e______
· R______the suffering, agony, death, humiliation
“Proclaim the Lord’s death” . . . A memorial of death / Reminder of things to come
· O______to God and His Word
· F______with the saints
· T______to the world
“Unworthy manner”
· Out of h______(Indifferently going through the motions)
· With an unrepentant or hard h______(bitterness, unforgiveness)
· Bad a______
All around us we see Christians and churches relaxing their grip on the gospel, fumbling it, and in danger of letting it drop from their hands altogether.
John Stott, Guard the Gospel
“Guilty of the body and blood”
“To come to the Lord’s Table clinging to one’s own sin does not only dishonor the ceremony, but also dishonors His body and blood, treating lightly the gracious sacrifice of Christ.” John MacArthur
I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry. D.A. Carson, Bible scholar and professor
Old Testament Jews:
Ѱ Remember Egypt / Remember Passover / Remember deliverance
New Testament Christians:
± In your suffering / persecution / trial/tribulations . . . remember the cross
Today’s Christians:
± In your attitudes / emotions / speech / actions
Point to the cross of Christ, for there’s no greater encouragement, and no greater motivation for everything God has called you to do and experience in this life, than to r______His l______for you in His darkest hour, and to r______His c______for you in your darkest hour. C.J Mahaney, Living the Cross-Centered Life
This is where SELF-EXAMINATION comes in (vs. 28)
In remembering the cross of Calvary, I often wonder . . . Where would I have been? Who would I have been?
§ Indifferent passerby (no big deal…see it all the time…no impact)
§ Accusing church leader (killing the one who didn’t follow the rules)
§ Lost authority figure (ignoring truth and following bad advice)
§ Part of the crowd (“crucify Him”)
§ Faithful follower at the cross
§ Faithless run-away hiding in the shadows
Who can come? Who should/can partake of the Lord’s Supper?
§ Believers only
§ With repentant hearts
§ Done with gladness and thanksgiving
“Guilty of the body and blood”
“To come to the Lord’s Table clinging to one’s own sin does not only dishonor the ceremony, but also dishonors His body and blood, treating lightly the gracious sacrifice of Christ.” John MacArthur
I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry. D.A. Carson, Bible scholar and professor
Old Testament Jews:
Ѱ Remember Egypt / Remember Passover / Remember deliverance
New Testament Christians:
± In your suffering / persecution / trial/tribulations . . . remember the cross
Today’s Christians:
± In your attitudes / emotions / speech / actions
Point to the cross of Christ, for there’s no greater encouragement, and no greater motivation for everything God has called you to do and experience in this life, than to r______His l______for you in His darkest hour, and to r______His c______for you in your darkest hour. C.J Mahaney, Living the Cross-Centered Life
This is where SELF-EXAMINATION comes in (vs. 28)
In remembering the cross of Calvary, I often wonder . . . Where would I have been? Who would I have been?
§ Indifferent passerby (no big deal…see it all the time…no impact)
§ Accusing church leader (killing the one who didn’t follow the rules)
§ Lost authority figure (ignoring truth and following bad advice)
§ Part of the crowd (“crucify Him”)
§ Faithful follower at the cross
§ Faithless run-away hiding in the shadows
Who can come? Who should/can partake of the Lord’s Supper?
§ Believers only
§ With repentant hearts
§ Done with gladness and thanksgiving