We are forgetful people, so it is important that we have strategies to remember what is most important. Our spiritual lives are no different. We forget who God is and what He has done for us in Christ all too often. To help us remember, Jesus established ordinances of the church to point us back to Him as a reminder of the new life we have found through His grace.

KEY VERSES

ROMANS 6:1-11

Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old [c]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26

The Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

UNDERSTANDING

• What is an activity that you do at home or work on a regular basis, but you’ve never given much thought to why you do it?

• How does knowing why you’re doing a task give you greater motivation to complete the task?

• What is your experience with baptism? If you grew up in a Christian environment, how

  was baptism practiced?

• Can you remember the first time you practiced Communion? Would you say you typically approach Communion with that kind of anticipation or has it become somewhat of an afterthought? Explain.

• How would you define God’s grace? What kinds of changes would you expect to see in someone’s life once he or she experiences God’s grace through salvation?

• Why do you think baptism is a good picture of being dead to sin and being made alive in Christ?

• Considering verses 6-7 and the three points from this week’s message—baptism is an act of obedience, identity, and renewal—why should baptism come after we have received salvation? How is baptism an act of discipleship?

• How would you help someone understand that baptism comes after salvation?

• If you grew up in church, how did you take Communion? Were you ever taught the greater significance of why people celebrate Communion?

• According to Paul’s account of the Lord’s supper, Jesus referred to the bread as His body. How does one’s interpretation of this phrase impact the gospel message as a whole?

• Jesus referred to the cup as “the new covenant in my blood.” What were the terms of the Old Covenant? Why was it insufficient? How does the New Covenant completely solve the problem of sin?

• How does partaking in the Lord’s Supper proclaim Christ’s death? To whom was it proclaimed in this context? Why should Christ’s death be proclaimed?

• Why is Communion something we do as the body of Christ rather than as individuals?

APPLICATION

• What are some of the reasons you have given, or have heard others use, for not getting baptized? How does this week’s lesson help answer those reasons?

• Why do we need the Lord’s Supper to remember the gospel? How else can we remember the gospel in our daily lives?

• How could you use the picture of baptism to explain the gospel to someone who is wary of church and of faith?

• How could you use the celebration of Communion to explain the gospel to someone who does not fully understand it?

WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?

Joining a group is a great way to know people and strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. Take a look at available groups to get plugged in to and find the group that is right for you. 

GIVING

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