GC Class- Cruciform Life

Devoted to the Breaking of Bread

The Cruciform life - 21

Central to our common life together is the act of remembering our shared place at the communion table with Jesus. In this act of remembrance, we not only celebrate what Jesus has done, but step into Jesus’ invitation to live a cruciform life of love.

Definition -22

Cruciform is not a word that many of us use in our daily vocabulary

“ The cruciform life means that the cross is more than where Jesus saved us by His death. It’s also where Jesus taught us how to live”

Slide -23

The foundation of these ideas are found commonly through out the new testament. before and after christ’s death.

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Now this is not easy. the call of the christian life is not supposed to be. it involves a sacrificial way of living in accordance with Christ call

Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously stated, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Cruciform - 24

with this call to lay down our lives, the call for the cruciform life is to surrender and submit

SURRENDER = Vacating the throne of our own lives

SUBMISSION = Giving Jesus authority over our mind, will, and emotions

These are done both corporately as a church body but also personally

As we come together and surrender our idol of: status, success, wealth, pride, security and everything else that takes our focus away from the true object of our worship.

it is from a place of surrender that we can fully submit to Jesus will and way for our life. trusting in his authority over our own ways of think, emotions and feelings

Communion Transition - 25

As we live this cruciform life we live a life of surrender and submission to the Lord. We walk in away guided by the Lord and follow his commands.

One of the commands from our lord was to remember him in practice called communion.

It is a cruciform life that leads us to the table of our lord. the first thing. It is important to remember we are not living this life of submission and surrender only on Wednesdays and Sunday's.

As christians we live this way every day of the week. We live this cruciform life with other christians, encouraging, confessing and exhorting one anothers to follow the call of our lord.

For us the centre point of the Christian life is not only when we commun with one another but when we gather together and take communion to remember what our lord has done

1 Corinthians 11:23–27 - Slide 26

“23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was 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 also he took the cup, 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 Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.”

What is Communion- 27

Instituted by Jesus

One of two sacraments

Sacraments is not a word we commonly use in the Church.

Sacrament: a means of grace of sacred symbol of instituted by Jesus to serve to point to a spiritual reality.

Baptism is one of them which is our once for all initiation into the christian faith Communion is a continual reminder of what christ has done to ransom, redeem and save his people

Involves two elements: Bread + Wine/Juice

We dont believe that that there is something magical about the bread and the wine, that it turns into the actual body and blood but rather that is this a symbolical of Christ’s body and blood

It is a celebration

Communion is a reverent time and some times can seem a little glum as it is quite and reflective and a chance to review and take stock of our position with the Lord

however it is a celebration. when we take the elements

It should involve a genuine confession of faith

Communion is for Christians

What is is Cont - 28

It is a reminder that we, as believers, are unified by Christ

1 Corinthians 10:17

“17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

It foreshadows the future “marriage supper of the lamb”

communion reminds us that we are sinner and need the grace of God,

it reminds us of what Jesus went through to have us again, but it also reminds us that the earthy seperation we experience is neither wholesome or final, that one day we will be united with the Lord embodied for all of eternity when he returns

It foreshadows the future “marriage supper of the lamb”

similarly it reminds

Revelation 19:9

“9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””

there will come a day in eternity where we will all sit at the lords table together and feast

It is intended only for Christians

1 Corinthians 11:29–30

“29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

It is a serious thing to take the this, we must approach it with reverence

taking it with with out knowing the lord it is like renewing vows to someone you are not married to.

within this there is discernment required for people who may not be living according to the Lords ways, such as unrepentant sin, unforgiven issues and more that would prevent a follower of christ from taking communion.

How do we practice communion? 29

At Centre Church we practice “intinction”

this means the dipping of bread into wine of juice.

there are other ways to do it

We receive communion every week (on Sundays)

we take it seriously when we say we gather to remember what the Lord has done

Considerations

It is intended only for Christians

if you have company over at GC encourage them to observe but not partake

Let's create an environment where it's okay to pass

this is a good thing

reconciliation, repentance, confession, or other factors may need to come

be there to support, JM story, dont gossip

Instructions -

Step 1: Divide up the cups and the bread, ensuring everyone who needs some has received it.

Step 2: Slow down, pause, and then read 1 Corinthians 11:23-24. Then eat the bread.

Step 3: Read 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. Then drink the wine/juice.

Step 4: Pray