1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Devotion by Tina Miller Sermon by Rich Lanning
May 4, 2025
Gather
A magnifying glass and some small objects to examine under it
Background
This devotion is a follow-up to the sermon preached on March 3, 2025.
Introduction
Today we’re going to talk about the Lord’s Supper. Tell me everything you know about it. What is it? What are its parts, etc…
Pray
Our Father in heaven, thank you for the good gifts of the bread and the cup that remind us of your amazingly great love for us. Help us to understand their holy reminder that we might live in both hope and holiness.
Looking into the scripture passage
Let’s look back again at what Jesus said when he began this supper with his first disciples.
Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Ask: What does Jesus tell the disciples to DO? [to eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of him]
What exactly does he want them to remember about the bread? [It is his body broken for us]
Although none of Jesus’ bones were broken when he died on the cross, his body was bruised and injured and torn, both inside and out (like one of your toys that –even though it may not have split apart—has stopped working, and so we call it a broken toy).
What does Jesus want them to remember about the cup?
We’ve talked about this before. Does he mean that the bread is actually his body? Are we eating Jesus’ arm? Are we actually drinking his blood?
No. These are pictures to help us remember what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross.
Why did he do that? Why did we need him to die?
Does Jesus ever need to die again? Why not? Choose one of these passages to read in answer.
Romans 6:9-10 1 Peter 3:18 Hebrews 9:26-28; 10:10
What Jesus did for us on the cross completely took care of our sins forever, so when we participate in the Lord’s supper (or communion), we are “proclaiming his death.” We are telling all around us who see it happening, that Jesus has died once for all. And because he died we get to be friends with him, we get to be his family, and one day we will eat with him at a table in heaven!
Apply the passage
Activity 1
Use the magnifying glass to examine your objects. What do you notice that you might not see as well without looking this closely?
Read 1 Corinthians 11: 28
Ask: What does God want us to examine when we come to take the Lord’s supper?
How can we do that? What should we be looking for?
Pastor Rich gave us a couple of examples:
- Am I taking the Lord’s death seriously? Do I have a repentant heart for my sin which caused his death?
- Do I need to make anything right with others? Is there anyone I have sinned against?
Talk about these and set some kind of reminder to “examine yourself” before the next opportunity to participate in communion.
Memorize
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11: 26
Practice the verse
Write the verse on a card. Have one person read it aloud, then pass it to the next person to read aloud until you’ve gone all the way around the group. (Put non-readers last so that they can just repeat what they’ve heard).
Extra Stuff
Songs to sing
“Behold the Lamb (Communion Song)” (Gettys)
“Remembrance (Communion Song)” (Matt Redman)
Books to read (these can be borrowed from the Kidstuff table in the church foyer)
The Boy from the House of Bread by Andrew Wilson
Taste and See by Irene Sun
Dinner with the King by Paul Tautges
