Sacrifice
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 
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BIO: Anonymous
KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Partaking in the Lord’s Supper is something that should not be taken lightly. We need to recognize that we are sinful people. God saved us from ourselves when He sent His Son to die for us, to take our place, and this is something we should always remember. So often we dismiss how sacred the Lord’s Supper is, and Paul is calling us to do differently.
DEVOTIONAL: When I was little, I remember watching my parents and others take Communion at church. It was something I wanted to be a part of so badly, but I wasn’t old enough yet. So, I decided that wouldn’t stop me, and I would just take it by myself. That probably wasn’t the best idea, but when I was 5, it totally made sense. I would go in my kitchen, grab a piece of bread, pour a glass of grapejuice, and head up to my room. I would then proceed to "play" Communion, just like I would play house or store or any other imaginative game a 5 year old can come up with. Obviously, I was unaware of what exactly Communion was, and why it was so significant.
Now being 22, I look back and think about how silly that was. But I can’t help but wonder…am I still "playing" Communion? When the time comes to partake in the Lord’s Supper at church, am I simply going through the motions? Or am I recognizing the weight of what I’m doing, and how significant it is.
His body was broken. His blood was shed. We were rescued from death. That’s a huge deal! And when we fail to remember that, we are belittling the HUGE sacrifice that was made. It is so important that we always remember that sacrifice when we’re taking Communion, and really, even when we’re not. It is sacred, and it is an opportunity that should be treasured.
Paul’s challenge to us is that we stop "playing" Communion. He urges us to reflect on, to remember, and respect the sacrifice.
QUESTION 1: When given the opportunity, is taken Communion something that you take seriously? Why?
QUESTION 2: How does what Christ did on the cross impact you?
QUESTION 3: What are some ways that you can remember the sacrifice that was made for us in your everyday life?
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