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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

Read: Matthew 26:26-28
Listen: Matthew 26

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Moments before his arrest, Jesus gathers his disciples for one more meal together. During the meal, he gives them instructions on what we now refer to as “Communion” or “The Lord’s Supper.” Communion is a practice of the local church to remember Christ’s death, repent of our sins and rejoice in what Jesus has accomplished. These three R’s can be helpful for framing what communion is all about:

Remembering. Through eating the bread and drinking the cup—which are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood—we remember the sacrifice that he made on our behalf. By remembering, we are grounded again in the truths of God’s love and our salvation in Christ.

Repenting. The Bible instructs believers to “examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Communion presents an opportunity for believers to confess sin and ready their hearts before taking the bread and cup. This instruction also reminds us that communion is reserved for those who follow Jesus.

Rejoicing. Participating in communion is supposed to feel like a celebration. We serve a risen Savior! We rejoice in his victory as we remember his defeat of the grave. As we share the bread and cup, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). He has risen and is coming back to usher his people into the life that will never end.

TODAY: Join the Ada Bible Worship Team as they sing “Broken Vessels.” As you worship, thank God for his love and how we see him “laying yourself down, raising up the broken to life.”

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Luke 14. Highlight anything that refers to the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfills it. Note how Jesus talks about the Sabbath and look up the Old Testament cross references in this section.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.