250305 BITES: Q59 What is Communion

Q59 What is Communion? A59 Communion is an ordinance given by Christ to remember and proclaim His death until He returns. (1 Cor 11.26)

Interaction: What is that book that holds all the world records - people do amazing things and then it gets recorded in a book… Does anyone know what it is called? (GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS)

Has anyone here read through some of the things in the book? What are some things that stand out?

I read about a guy named Angus - Scottish guy, he weighed 456 Lbs - that’s like 2.5 of me! He’s not the biggest guy ever but big right?

He holds a record for going the longest without eating. Can you guess how long he didn’t eat (OVER A YEAR/NEARLY 400 DAYS)

What happens when people stop eating (THEY SHRINK! / THEY MIGHT ALSO LOSE CONTACT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY)

This guy Angus, his family business a fish and chip shop in Scotland closed when he stopped working there.

He went from 456 lbs to 180. He shrunk 2.5 times!

Ok now here is a different question - Why do people eat food? (NOURISHMENT, GROWTH, RELATIONSHIP)

We eat food to be with family, to mature and to gain life.

Last week we looked at Baptism, tonight we are looking at Communion - what is Communion? (WRITE DOWN SPECIFIC ELEMENTS)

What do we get from Communion? (NOURISHMENT - LIFE/GROWTH - MATURITY/RELATIONSHIP - FAMILY)

Why do Christians do Communion? (EXPECT ANSWERS LIKE COMMANDED, DRIVE TO THE GOSPEL)

Christian’s practice communion regularly because it is a Gospel presentation, it is something to remember Christ’s death until He comes

Can anyone give the Gospel (WRITE DOWN ELEMENTS)

Scripture: Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11. Verse 23-26 gives a great explanation of Communion - Communion is a picture of the Gospel (ASK THEM TO REPEAT THE GOSPEL)

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 | 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was being betrayed took bread, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.

Transition to Theological Concept: When we partake of the Lord’s supper we say that we don’t want to shrink, that we want to grow. We want to partake of Christ’s life. We identify our part in His death and celebrate His soon return. Communion is a Gospel Presentation!

Question and Answer: So here is tonight’s question: Q59 What is Communion? A59 Communion is an ordinance given by Christ to remember and proclaim His death until He returns. (1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.” )

Restate: Communion is commanded by Christ to believers to symbolize the Gospel - Christ’s death and coming return... Why? To remember Him. This helps us to mature. Can you find Question 56 in your book? What does the Holy Spirit use to mature believers in their faith?A56 The Holy Spirit matures believers through 1) meditation on Scripture, 2) obedience in Baptism, 3) Communion with the Church 4) and corporate and personal Prayer

Communion is one of the ways that God’s Holy Spirit helps us to grow… regular remembrance of the Gospel, nourishment by focusing on Christ’s death on our behalf and growing in our faith of His coming return help us to mature. We do this with family, our Church Family, we do this carefully, after having judged ourselves properly 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must test himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”

Communion isn’t a snack or an hors-d'oeuvre - it’s the Gospel, the main course!

How does Communion help us to remember the Gospel? (CHRIST’S BROKEN BODY ON THE CROSS, HIS BLOOD SHED FOR US)

Questions? Anyone have a question?

Q59 What is Communion? A59 Communion is an ordinance given by Christ to remember and proclaim His death until He returns. (1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.” )

Why does this matter?

Communion helps people to grow and mature - going without regular exposure to the Gospel makes people puny

Communion helps us understand regularly and in a physical way what Christ did - taking the bread and wine into our body helps us to understand that the Lord is giving us life

So how should this information change us?

If we have not been taking communion we should start. If we have not because of a sin issue it must be repented of and we need to be reconciled.

Communion should make us so very grateful that the Father gave the Son up to give us life

Communion reminds us of our confident hope that He is coming again soon

Q59 What is Communion? A59 Communion is an ordinance given by Christ to remember and proclaim His death until He returns. (1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.” )

Pray

Ask if anyone has questions then define terminology

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SPG

71. Q. What are the outward means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of Christ’s redemption, are the Word, by which souls are begotten to spiritual life; Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Prayer, and Meditation, by all which believers are further edified in their most holy faith (Acts 2:41–42

WSC

Question 88

What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to usthe benefits of redemption?

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. (Matt. 28:19–20, Acts 2:42,46–47)

WLC

Question 154

What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation. (Matt. 28:19–20, Acts 2:42,46–47

Mark’s Initial Draft

Q53

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