CONNECT: How can you grow in your appreciation of the opposite sex as passionate followers of Jesus?

WARM-UP

1. Are there any foods or meals that represent something bigger in Australian society today?

Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

1. Why does Paul have no praise for the Corinthians in the following verses? What have they done?
2. Along what lines was the Corinthian church divided? Can you recall what was practically happening?
3. Why then weren’t they coming together to eat the Lord’s Supper? What is the sadness and hypocrisy in a deeply divided church coming to celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
4. Our divisions may not be as obvious or as deep as these, but how might we be at risk of being divided as a church? What is our role individually in this? What is the thing which unites us?
5. From where/who does the Lord’s Supper come from? What was the background for the very first Lord’s Supper?
6. What is the significance of the bread? What does it represent and remind us of?
7. What is the significance of the cup? What does it represent and remind us of? Read Jeremiah 31:31-34 What is the new covenant and how do we receive it?
8. How is the Lord’s Supper designed to impact us every time we take part in it? What could cause us either disengage or be distracted as we come to the table?

Read 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

1. What does the context of the passage indicate that ‘eating and drinking in an unworthy manner’ means? Why is this a serious matter?
2. In what ways do we examine ourselves before coming to the Lord’s Supper? Why is this important?
3. What occurred in the Corinthian church as a result of not taking the meal seriously and being divided?
4. What are some ways that you could practically prepare to take part in the meal as we gather as church together the celebrate?

APPLY:  How can you grow in your appreciation of the Lord’s Supper and in the unity of the church?

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On Your Frontline This Week: How can you remain fruitful on your frontlines over the long-term? Join us as we consider this Wednesday morning from 7-8am in the Centre for Work + Faith.

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• AUDIO: 3 talks on the Lord’s Supper from Dick Lucas
• Talk 1 // Talk 2 // Talk 3
• AUDIO: “Communion 101” by Alistair Begg
• AUDIO: “The Lord’s Supper” by Don Carson
• AUDIO and RESOURCES: “Redemption” - Week 3 in our God’s Story series
  

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

• Series Overview Published by St Bart’s
• Website: “First Corinthians” by the Bible Project
• Course: “1 Corinthians” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course)

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