Communion: Following Christ in Giving Ourselves Up -- Santosh Poonen -- April 20, 2024

Santosh PoonenApril 21, 202419mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionSantosh Poonen Sermons261 messages

http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/communion-following-christ-in-giving-ourselves-up River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA

Summary

The speaker contrasts the ritual of communion with the ultimate sacrifice of Calvary, emphasizing that Jesus's giving of himself was an invitation for others to draw from his brokenness. He teaches that receiving Christ's life should compel believers not just to be thankful, but to actively take up their own cross and become giving, mirroring Christ's self-emptying nature. The goal is to move beyond mere gratitude to actively becoming like Christ through a willingness to suffer and give.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

How is communion different from Calvary?The breaking of bread is a distinct event from Jesus dying on the cross at Calvary, though both are central to our faith.

What did Jesus mean by eating His body?When Jesus invited the disciples to eat the bread as His body, He was spiritually offering Himself up to be taken from, hurt, and emptied so we could be filled.

Why did Jesus die according to 2 Corinthians 5?Jesus died not only to forgive our sins, but so that we would no longer live for ourselves.2 Corinthians 5:14–15

Taking up our cross as partakersWhile we never die for the sins of the world like Christ did, we are invited to take up our own cross in fellowship with His sufferings.

Emptied yet fullJesus emptied Himself completely like the last drop of a loaf of bread, yet He remains the fullness of the Godhead.

What does the fellowship of His sufferings mean?Paul expressed a desire to know Christ by sharing in His sufferings, allowing His death in us to produce life in others.

Thanking Christ versus becoming like HimMany people are simply thankful for what Christ has done without allowing His self-giving nature to transform them into givers.

Christ loved us and gave Himself upChrist gave His entire self as an offering and a fragrant aroma to God, leaving nothing back.

Being imitators of God in our daily walkWalking in Christ's love means the Bible becomes practical, addressing specific areas of our behavior and relationships.

Leaving behind immorality and impurityImmorality and impurity in thoughts, relationships, media, and even modesty in dress must have no place among believers.

Rejecting greed and covetousnessJust as Jesus chose a lowly, simple life without greed, we must repent of coveting the wealth or possessions of others.

Guarding against gossip, silly talk, and coarse jestingFilthiness like gossip, idle silly talk, and coarse jokes that mock others rob us of our spiritual edge and do not fit a Christian.

Loving our wives and one another by giving ourselves upHusbands are called to love their wives by continually giving themselves up, mirroring Christ's selfless love for the church as we partake in communion.

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Communion: Following Christ in Giving Ourselves Up -- Santosh Poonen -- April 20, 2024

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