Preparing Our Hearts: Communion, Confession, and Proclamation

Devotional

Day 1: Remember Christ’s body at the Lord’s table

As you come to the table, receive the bread as a simple, symbolic wafer representing the body of Jesus that was broken for you; sit in silence, visualize His beaten body and remember that He took on flesh, died, was buried, and rose again so you could have victory over sin and death. [34:28]

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Reflection: Before you receive the bread and cup today, name one specific sin or burden you must confess to come to the table clean; if you are not ready to confess it now, let the elements pass and spend five quiet minutes confessing this to God before you leave or during the hymn.

Day 2: Remember the prophetic fulfillment in His wounds

Meditate on Isaiah’s words that describe how the Messiah would be pierced and crushed for our transgressions; picture the suffering that fulfilled prophecy—He was oppressed, afflicted, and silent—and let that reality humble you and drive you to gratitude for the healing and forgiveness purchased by His wounds. [39:25]

Isaiah 53:4-7 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Reflection: Is there someone you are withholding forgiveness from because of pain or offense? Pray now, asking God to help you release that person in light of what Christ endured, and take one concrete step this week toward reconciliation or release (a message, a phone call, or a prayer commitment).

Day 3: Christ’s blood obtained eternal redemption for us

Understand that Christ, as the perfect High Priest and tabernacle, entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood to obtain eternal redemption; His spotless offering cleanses consciences from dead works so believers can serve the living God without guilt. [44:57]

Hebrews 9:11-12 (NIV)
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation; he did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

Reflection: Identify one guilty habit, attitude, or “dead work” that burdens your conscience; admit it to God now and commit to one practical next step this week (confession to a trusted believer, beginning accountability, or seeking pastoral counsel) to live freed for serving God.

Day 4: Redemption and forgiveness come through His blood

Remember that in Christ believers have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God’s grace; His precious and spotless blood has purchased you back from sin so you may live knowing you are cleansed and called to proclaim Him. [43:24]

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear that they are redeemed and forgiven? Choose one person and do one of the following this week: invite them to church, send a brief message sharing the gospel, or pray specifically for their salvation each day and ask God for an opportunity to speak with them.

Day 5: Proclaim by denying self, taking up the cross

Proclaim that Jesus is Lord by living as His disciple: deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him—this is not mere fire insurance but a surrendered life that demonstrates Jesus is both Savior and Lord, and if you are not willing to follow fully, you should let the elements pass you by. [48:30]

Mark 8:34-37 (NIV)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"

Reflection: What is one specific area where you are holding back from fully following Jesus (a relationship, habit, comfort, or ambition)? Write down one concrete daily practice to “take up your cross” starting today (for example: ten minutes of prayer, turning off social media an hour earlier, or speaking kindly in a strained relationship) and begin it now.

Sermon Summary

We gathered around the Lord’s Table to remember and to proclaim. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11 point us to two movements of worship: look back and remember Christ’s sacrifice, and look forward as we proclaim His death until He comes. I invited us to slow down, to handle the bread and the cup with reverence, and to let the symbols do their God-given work on our hearts. The wafer represents His body—beaten, pierced, mocked, and nailed to the cross. Isaiah saw it coming centuries before; Matthew recorded it with sobering detail. We do not receive a trinket—we hold a reminder of a real, wounded, willing body offered for us.

Then we considered the cup, representing the blood of Jesus. Scripture says our redemption is through His blood, not ours, not our goodness, not our efforts. Hebrews tells us His once-for-all sacrifice does what no animal sacrifice could do: it cleanses the conscience and frees us from dead works to serve the living God. Receiving the cup is not a bare ritual; it’s a confession that His blood alone forgives, restores, and reorients our lives toward worshipful obedience.

We also heard the call to proclaim. Participation in the Table says something: Jesus is my Savior and my Lord. He doesn’t come in parts; He comes as King. To proclaim His death is to live under His authority, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him daily. This is not “fire insurance.” It is a patterned life of allegiance.

Because the Table is about remembering and proclaiming, it is also about examining. Only followers of Jesus should receive, and only those walking in repentance should come. This is not about being sinless; it is about being honest—confessing sin, asking God to search our hearts, and receiving His cleansing grace. The two ordinances given by Jesus—baptism and the Lord’s Supper—mark a people who belong to Him and who live like it. By the Spirit’s power, we can come to the Table with clean hands, a contrite heart, and a bold confession: Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.

Key Takeaways

1. Remember His wounded, willing body Our remembering is not sentimental; it is specific and costly. Visualize the mocked King, the thorns, the scourging, the nails—love embodied, suffering borne, judgment absorbed. Let the weight of what He carried shape the way you carry your own burdens, with gratitude and holy awe. [41:41]
2. His blood cleanses and commissions conscience The cross is not only pardon; it is power to serve. Christ’s blood reaches deeper than behavior—it washes the inner room, freeing us from dead works so we can worship with clean hands and a clear heart. Forgiven people become a priestly people, joyfully serving the living God. [44:57]
3. Proclaim Him as Lord and Savior Jesus does not sign two contracts—one for rescue, another later for rule. To receive Him is to yield; to proclaim His death is to submit to His commands in daily life. Our obedience makes the Table audible to a watching world. [46:05]
4. Examine, confess, and come clean Self-examination is not morbid; it is merciful. We ask God to search us because He delights to forgive and to restore. Confession opens the door to a Table that nourishes rather than disciplines. [51:23]
5. Discipleship requires daily self-denial Cross-carrying is not heroic flair but steady surrender—choice by choice, day by day. The life you try to save on your terms will slip through your fingers; the life you lose to Jesus is kept forever. The Table strengthens this costly, beautiful way. [47:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:28] - 1 Corinthians 11 read
[35:07] - Prayer: gratitude for the cross
[38:02] - Remember Christ’s body
[40:24] - Isaiah 53 and Matthew 27 fulfilled
[42:09] - Remember Christ’s blood
[43:24] - Redemption: Ephesians 1 and Hebrews 9
[45:34] - Proclaim His death until He comes
[46:05] - He is Lord and Savior
[47:50] - Deny yourself and follow
[50:15] - Worthy participation and confession
[53:21] - Crucified with Christ life
[61:48] - The bread distributed
[68:18] - The cup shared
[76:29] - Announcements and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 — 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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 after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Observation Questions

What two actions does Paul connect to the bread and cup in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, and how do those actions shape the congregation’s practice of communion? [34:28]
When the sermon describes the bread as "His body—beaten, pierced, mocked, and nailed to the cross," what specific images or details does the speaker ask people to visualize as they receive the wafer? [41:41]
According to the sermon, what is the Bible’s stated source of our redemption (not our effort), and which passages were used to make that point? [43:24]
Who did the speaker say should receive the elements at the Table, and what concrete requirement did he place on those who come forward? [49:39]

Interpretation Questions

How should the group understand Paul's command "do this in remembrance of me" as both an act of remembering and an act of proclamation in the life of a believer? [45:34]
What does the statement "Christ’s blood cleanses our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God" imply about the relationship between forgiveness and practical service? [44:57]
How should one interpret the sermon’s claim that receiving the cup is a public confession that Jesus is both Savior and Lord—especially when someone has not yet submitted every area of life to Christ? [46:05]
How should the requirement that only those "walking in repentance" receive the Table be balanced with the church’s mission to invite and welcome seekers? [50:57]

Application Questions

The preacher urged people to visualize Jesus’ wounds as they take the bread. What step will you take this week to prepare your heart before the next communion—will you set aside time to read Isaiah 53 or Matthew 27 and quietly reflect? Be specific. [41:41]
The sermon emphasized that Christ’s blood cleanses the inner place, freeing us from "dead works." Is there a task or religious activity you currently rely on as proof you’re acceptable to God? If so, what will you stop doing or reframe this week so grace—not your effort—shapes your identity? [44:57]
The speaker said receiving the Table proclaims that Jesus is both Savior and Lord. Identify one area of your life (time, money, relationships, work, weekend plans, etc.) where you have not fully yielded to Jesus. What is one concrete, measurable step you will take this week to submit that area to his lordship? [46:05]
The sermon called for honest self-examination and confession before coming to the Table. When is the last time you asked God to "search me" (Psalm 139:23–24)? What will you do this week—and when—to practice that kind of searching prayer? [51:23]
Cross-carrying was described as daily, steady surrender rather than momentary heroics. Name one small, specific sacrifice you will choose this coming week that demonstrates denying yourself and following Jesus (for example: declining a convenience, choosing service over comfort, a scheduled time to pray for someone who opposes you). How will you be held accountable? [47:50]

Sermon Clips

We're going to remember Christ's sacrifice. And first and foremost, you're going to receive a wafer. You're going to receive a small white piece of wafer that's going to represent the very body of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is symbolic of what Jesus would do for us and what Jesus did for us. Paul mentions the word bread as they would have their time of communion for us. We will have a wafer today. But it's going to be symbolic of the same thing. The body of our Lord Jesus Christ. His body which was beaten. His body which was whipped. His body which was nailed to a tree for us. [00:38:02] (45 seconds) #RememberHisBody

Because there's no other way. Because we certainly could not earn it and be good enough for it. So not only are we to remember His body, but also we're to remember His blood, which was shed there on Calvary. And when we receive that grape juice in a few moments, it will do the very best that we possibly can do to represent and be symbolic of the blood of Jesus. And I would encourage you on both of these elements as you receive them to take some time and close your eyes. Sit in silence. Try not to be distracting to anyone. Try not to have anyone distract you from what this means. [00:42:09] (44 seconds) #RememberHisBlood

And just reflect. Remember, this grape juice represents the blood of Jesus. The blood which was for our sins. Isaiah 53 tells us that. By His wounds we are healed. By His blood we are forgiven of our sins. Paul speaks about it clearly in Ephesians 1, 7 and 8. In Him, meaning Jesus, we have redemption through His blood. We have been redeemed. We have been purchased back to Himself through the blood of Jesus. The forgiveness of our trespasses, our sins, according to the riches of His grace that He richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. [00:42:53] (51 seconds) #RedeemedByHisBlood

Not just my Savior, but He is truly my Lord, which means I am to do everything He commands me to do. You don't accept Him as your Savior and then later on accept Him as your Lord. No, it is a done deal. When you become a follower of Jesus, He becomes your Lord and your Savior. And that you have been bought by His precious blood. 1 Peter 1, 18 and 19. For you know that you are redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. [00:45:55] (42 seconds) #JesusLordAndSavior

We are proclaiming today, if we receive these elements, we are picking up our crosses and we're denying ourselves and we're following after Jesus. Now, if you cannot say that today with 100% certainty, then you first need to come and repent of that and if you're not willing to do that, then you let these elements pass you by because you aren't ready to receive them. This isn't just a thing we do in the church. This isn't just an add-on to the end of a service. This is who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. We're remembering what He has done for us and we're proclaiming that we're living for Him and that one day He is returning. [00:48:35] (46 seconds) #PickUpYourCross

Because Jesus has offered this to His disciples before He would go and be crucified and then He was actually baptized Himself by John the Baptist. But who may receive these elements? Followers of Jesus but also followers of Jesus who are cleansed by Jesus and have confessed their sins. So you may have walked into this building today and you had sin in your life and you not confessed it. Well now you have an opportunity right now before these elements come to you to confess that sin because if you do not confess that sin then you need to let these pass you by. [00:50:15] (36 seconds) #ConfessBeforeCommunion

You do what the Lord tells you to do. You confess your sin because 1 John 1.9 tells us if we confess our sins, He is faithful meaning God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness. We are to confess sin before the Lord today much like David did in Psalm 51 beginning in verse 9. He says, God, please turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51.17 The sacrifice, pleasing to God is a broken spirit. [00:51:28] (39 seconds) #ConfessAndBeCleansed

Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my concerns. See if there's any offensive way in me. Lead me in the everlasting way. When is the last time you asked the Lord to search you and to search your heart? Because as much as you think you know your heart, you don't know it well enough. I don't know my heart well enough. That's the reason David, or the psalmist tells us in Psalm 139, 23, God, search my heart and know my heart. We need to do that right now. See if there's any offensive way in me. Lead me in the everlasting way. [00:52:46] (37 seconds) #SearchMyHeart

``So those who have confessed their sin, those who are cleansed of their sin, those who are following the Lord, those who are denying themselves and carrying their crosses, those who are truly living what Paul would say in Galatians 2, 20, I've been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So these elements are about to be passed in front of you. You're about to have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful ordinance of the church that we celebrate. [00:53:24] (43 seconds) #CrucifiedWithChrist

If you're a follower of Jesus and you have confessed your sin before the Lord, by all means receive these elements this morning and participate in this time of worship. But if you're not a follower of Jesus and you have no intention today to be a follower of Jesus, let these pass you by. If you are a follower of Jesus but you have unconfessed sin and you said, I'm not going to confess that sin today, then let these elements pass you by. But I have great news for you. Today you can receive these elements if you will trust in the Lord. [00:54:06] (37 seconds) #CommunionForFollowers

If you will confess your sin, repent of your sin, believe in Jesus as the Son of God, believe that He did all that we've talked about in these passages of Scripture, believe that He is actually, His blood would forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and receive that free gift. And today when these elements come, you can receive them. Or if you have unconfessed sin, you can confess that sin right now. Or you can come to the altar in a moment when we sing this hymn of commitment and you can just get on your face before the Lord and say, God, I am sorry that I've done this to you. [00:54:44] (38 seconds) #RepentBelieveReceive

Lord, I confess this before you right now because I want to be right with you. Then you can go back to your seat and when these elements come, you can fully participate in this time of worship. This is for the church. This is for those of us who are carrying our crosses, following the Lord, proclaiming that He is returning, proclaiming His beautiful name and remembering who He is. Pretty simple, right? But difficult to live. Difficult to follow. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the ability. Jesus is blood. But Jesus' work on the cross, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection allow us the privilege to come to this table this morning. [00:55:22] (55 seconds) #ComeToTheTable

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