Embracing Communion: A Call to Faith and Action

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we embraced the sacred tradition of communion, a practice that transcends mere ritual to become a profound act of participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Communion is an invitation to slow down, set aside distractions, and lean into the presence of God. It is a moment to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and to celebrate the new life offered through His blood. This sacred act is not just a personal reflection but a communal experience, a gift passed down through generations, inviting us to share in Christ's suffering and His mission.

We also celebrated the announcement of our new summer intern, Liam Riley, who will be joining us in our mission to serve and grow. This is a testament to our commitment to ministry development, staff development, and the expansion of our ministry center. Our Imagine series is a call to build meaningful relationships and invest in the lives of others, particularly those whom God places on our hearts.

Reflecting on the transition of the disciples from followers to leaders, we explored the profound moment when Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to them and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. This act signified that they were not alone; they were empowered to continue His work. The disciples' journey from fear to bold proclamation is a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit equips us to step out in faith, even when we feel inadequate.

As we continue our Imagine series, we are challenged to identify our "one"—a person God is calling us to invest in relationally and spiritually. This commitment is not about having all the answers or the perfect plan but about being willing to say yes to God's leading. It is about making small, intentional changes in our lives to create space for God to work through us.

Key Takeaways:

- Communion is a sacred act that invites us to participate in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is a communal experience that transcends ritual, calling us to remember and celebrate the new life offered through His blood. [00:45]

- The Imagine series challenges us to build meaningful relationships and invest in the lives of others. It is a call to focus on people rather than buildings, emphasizing ministry development and community engagement. [01:00:09]

- The disciples' transition from followers to leaders illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' resurrection appearance and the gift of the Holy Spirit empowered them to continue His work, reminding us that we are never alone in our mission. [54:38]

- Identifying our "one" is about being willing to say yes to God's leading. It involves making small, intentional changes in our lives to create space for God to work through us, trusting that He will provide the opportunities and the words. [01:02:58]

- Our commitment to having a "one" is not about having all the answers but about being available and willing to invest in others. It is about trusting God to work through us and being open to His leading in our everyday interactions. [01:05:26]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Invitation to Communion
[03:30] - Reflecting on the First Communion
[06:15] - The Gift of Communion
[09:00] - Announcement of Summer Intern
[12:00] - Recap of Imagine Series
[15:30] - Vision for Ministry Development
[18:45] - Ephesians 3 Reading
[21:00] - Transition of the Disciples
[24:30] - Jesus' Resurrection Appearance
[27:00] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[30:00] - Identifying Your "One"
[33:00] - Practical Steps for Engagement
[36:00] - Invitation to Friday Night Event
[39:00] - Closing Worship and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 20:19-22
- Acts 2:1-4
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

---

Observation Questions:

1. In John 20:19-22, what were the disciples' initial emotions when Jesus appeared to them, and how did Jesus address these emotions? [51:00]

2. According to Acts 2:1-4, what significant event occurred when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and how did it affect their behavior?

3. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, what instructions does Paul give regarding the practice of communion, and what is its significance?

4. During the sermon, what was highlighted as the primary purpose of the Imagine series? [01:00:09]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Jesus' act of breathing the Holy Spirit onto the disciples in John 20:22 symbolize their empowerment for ministry? [54:38]

2. What does the event of Pentecost in Acts 2 reveal about the role of the Holy Spirit in the early church's mission?

3. How does the practice of communion, as described in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, serve as both a personal and communal act of remembrance and proclamation?

4. In the sermon, how is the concept of identifying "your one" related to the disciples' transition from followers to leaders? [01:02:58]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate for a task. How can the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as seen in John 20:22, encourage you to step out in faith? [54:38]

2. Communion is described as a moment to slow down and lean into God's presence. What practical steps can you take to create space for this kind of reflection in your daily life? [49:33]

3. The Imagine series emphasizes building meaningful relationships. Identify one person in your life whom you feel called to invest in spiritually. What is one specific action you can take this week to begin that investment? [01:00:09]

4. The sermon mentioned the disciples' journey from fear to bold proclamation. What fears might be holding you back from sharing your faith, and how can you address them with the help of the Holy Spirit? [57:11]

5. Consider the idea of having "your one" as a relational and spiritual commitment. What small, intentional changes can you make in your routine to be more available for God to work through you? [01:05:26]

6. The sermon highlighted the importance of not being overly focused on buildings but on people. How can you shift your focus from material concerns to relational and spiritual growth in your community? [01:00:09]

7. Reflect on the concept of saying "yes" to God's leading. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith, and what is your next step in responding to that call? [01:08:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Communion as a Sacred Participation
Communion is a sacred act that invites believers to participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is more than a ritual; it is a profound moment to slow down, set aside distractions, and lean into the presence of God. Through communion, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and celebrate the new life offered through His blood. This act is not just a personal reflection but a communal experience, a gift passed down through generations, inviting us to share in Christ's suffering and His mission. [00:45]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: How can you approach communion with a deeper sense of participation in Christ's life and mission this week?


Day 2: Building Meaningful Relationships
The Imagine series challenges us to build meaningful relationships and invest in the lives of others. It emphasizes focusing on people rather than buildings, highlighting the importance of ministry development and community engagement. This call is about creating spaces where relationships can flourish and where we can invest in the spiritual and personal growth of those around us. It is a reminder that our faith is lived out in community and that we are called to be active participants in the lives of others. [01:00:09]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your community you can reach out to this week to build a deeper relationship with, and how can you encourage them in their faith journey?


Day 3: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
The transition of the disciples from followers to leaders illustrates the power of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus' resurrection, He appeared to them and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, signifying that they were not alone and were empowered to continue His work. This transformation from fear to bold proclamation is a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit equips us to step out in faith, even when we feel inadequate. We are never alone in our mission, and the Holy Spirit is our constant guide and strength. [54:38]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's empowerment, and how can you take a step of faith in that area this week?


Day 4: Identifying Your "One"
Identifying our "one" is about being willing to say yes to God's leading. It involves making small, intentional changes in our lives to create space for God to work through us, trusting that He will provide the opportunities and the words. This commitment is not about having all the answers or the perfect plan but about being available and willing to invest in others. It is about trusting God to work through us and being open to His leading in our everyday interactions. [01:02:58]

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Who is the "one" person God is placing on your heart to invest in spiritually, and what is one small step you can take this week to reach out to them?


Day 5: Trusting God in Our Commitments
Our commitment to having a "one" is not about having all the answers but about being available and willing to invest in others. It is about trusting God to work through us and being open to His leading in our everyday interactions. This journey requires faith and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones, knowing that God will provide the opportunities and the words we need. It is a call to be intentional in our relationships and to trust that God is at work in and through us. [01:05:26]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully in your commitments, and how can you actively surrender that area to Him this week?

Quotes

"We recognize The pain And the suffering That you experienced And went through And for the joy Set before you You endured the cross Paul goes on to say In the same way After supper He Christ Took the cup Saying This cup Is the new covenant In my blood Do this Whenever you drink it In remembrance of me" [00:30:44]

"Jesus We recognize That You weren't content With just the sacrifice That you didn't go To the cross To stay there That you Have given New life Through your blood Through the washing Of your blood We are free From our sin Free to embrace you Free to worship you Free to have A relationship With you Free to be In your presence Free to share That with others" [00:31:25]

"Well like I said We're so glad That you're here today And before we Jump into this This morning We have an exciting Announcement for you So as you know We do an internship Every summer Here at our church And we've been doing This now for two years This will be our third Year to do it And this year Was particularly Challenging I'll tell you Because we had Four really great Applicants And we had to pick one And it's always a challenge It's always tough To do that And we have to lean Into the leading Of the Lord 100 %" [00:32:50]

"And so from the get go He said we're going to Have three pillars We're going to have Three priorities That we're going to We're going to do Together in tandem And ministry development I mean having new arms Of ministry in the community Having new resources For the community New ways that we can Help reach people And care for people In the community Staff development To continue to invest In our current staff But then as we need it Add on staff And we've done that Over the last year and a half" [00:41:43]

"And the next thing he says is probably got to be the most profound because he tells them they're not going to be alone. He says, receive the Holy Spirit. Not only are they going to be together, not only are they going to have each other, but he's not actually going anywhere. Now it's not going to look like that. It's not going to look like he's still there, but man, you're going to feel him." [00:54:21]

"Man, you're going to know him because when the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in you, you have a permanent connection to Jesus Christ that can't fade except for distraction. That he is then permanently there. He's still leading and guiding. It just looks different. And so John kind of summarizes this all in this, really this one statement of Jesus saying, receive the Holy Spirit." [00:54:41]

"The most incredible thing that the disciples did was not speak some earth-shattering sermon. It was that they said yes to the leading of the Holy Spirit. That when this crowd was surrounding them asking hard questions, they didn't stay in their chair. That no matter how disqualified they felt, no matter how nervous they were, no matter how afraid they still were, they didn't stay in their chair. They said yes." [00:59:40]

"We talked about that we're looking at kind of a transition season in the ministry of the gospel. And it's not that Jesus left. It's not that he handed it off and washed his hands. You know, I'm going to go retire. You guys figure it out. He was still there. It just changed. But one of the most incredible parts of this transition is that Jesus Christ had 12 ones. And those said yes to having ones of their own." [01:00:00]

"It stopped being only Jesus making disciples. And they said yes to having a one of their own. And look at how abundantly the Lord provided. Because there wasn't just 12 of them. There was 120-ish that were believers, that were disciples, that were followers of Jesus at that time. And that, and as they said yes to having a one, he gave them more ones than they knew what to do with." [01:00:34]

"Are you willing to let the Holy Spirit work through you? Are you willing to intentionally pray that the Lord would bring somebody to mind? That he would put you on their path? That he would open that door? So our next steps this morning are is the same as they were last week. Pray that God would show you your one. And Sunday we're going to ask that you would write their name down so that we can pray with you." [01:03:51]

"Maybe it's not a coincidence. Maybe the Lord is trying to reconnect you with a one. It's just about saying yes. You know, I think about this empty chair. I think about the reality that at one point every single one of us in this room was represented by an empty chair or an empty pew spot. That somebody was praying for you to say yes to coming to church." [01:08:05]

"Somebody was sitting in that room looking at that spot and wishing you were there. Maybe that, probably that person knew you by name. Maybe that person just said yes to having a one and they didn't know who they were yet. But somebody was praying. Talk about the gift of communion being passed down in the church. What about the gift of having a one?" [01:08:47]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 06, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?