1. Understanding The Communion

2.  Matthew 26:17 – “…Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  Vs. 26-28 – “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”

3.  Jesus instituted His supper DURING the observation of Passover.  The Passover meal celebrated deliverance from bondage (and divinely granted life).

4.  Matthew 26:29 – “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”  What was new?

5.  Ephesians 2:15 – “…by abolishing in His flesh the enmity; which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace….”

6.  Hebrews 9:15-18 -- “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

7.  1 Corinthians 11:26 – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes….”  Realizing Christ’s death was the PLAN – not a mistake.

8.  It is a COMMUNION  KOINONIA = Fellowship  1 Corinthians 10:16 – “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

9.  “When we meet in sweet communion, where the feast divine is spread; hearts are brought in closer union while partaking of the bread….” – Tillit S. Teddlie

10.  1 Corinthians 11:24- 25 – “…This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me…do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

11.  1 Corinthians 11:26 – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

12.  1 Corinthians 11:28-32  “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly….”

13.  “No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”