Christian Traditions And Practices-2

Christian Traditions And Practices is a Bible study on the basics of Christian living, like communion, baptism, prayer, etc. We examine what the Bible says about why and how we do these things.

Christian Traditions And Practices-2

Why Should I Take Communion? Jesus said to! Lk 22:19 "do this in ___________ of me." Jesus was referring to our intimacy with Him in communion terms in Jn 6:53 "Whoever eats my _____ and drinks my _____ has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood _______ in me, and I in him." This passage could not be taken literally, but Spiritually. It shows us we're to be so close to Jesus He is as important to us as our food and drink. Taking communion helps us stay that close.

Where Do I Go To Take Communion? You don't need to go anywhere. Some of the most precious communions I've taken part in were a few people in a home. It's good for husband and wife to share communion with each other and with their children every once in a while. Mt 18:20: "For where ___ or _____ come together in my ____, there am I ____ them."

How Do I Take Communion, Do I Have To Drink Wine? If alcoholism is a problem, please don't use wine. Any solid food can represent His body; Any liquid food can represent His blood. The first recorded split in the church was over how communion "must" be done. One group wanted leavening in the bread, the other did not. Now, well over a thousand years later, they still don't acknowledge each other as Christian. Let's not do what they did! They missed the whole point! It isn't a religious ritual that must be carried out with total accuracy…It's a special spiritual time when we share in Jesus together. Remember Jesus, and what he means to you, how special His sacrifice is to you. "A man ought to ________ himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without ___________ the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Read some of these Scriptures if you need to refresh your mind why you're doing this. Enjoy Jesus and His people at this time. Lead your children in communion and make sure it's fun for them (try chocolate milk and cookies). Don't make it an empty ritual! Celebrate Jesus Christ.

3. Practices of Growth: There are four practices of faith we'll cover in depth in the next class "Growing". These four are probably familiar to you, since this will be the third or fourth time I've brought them up. They have to do with the priority God has in our lives. If He's truly our God and someone we know and love, it follows that we would spend a lot of time with Him and a lot of effort to please Him. The Bible gives us guidance and examples of how we can do this. If we spend time with Him in prayer, if we study His Word and apply it to our lives, if we spend time with His people and if we're careful to be Godly managers of the prosperity He gives us, we're expressing our love and worship to God. These are the things that make us grow in God. The public things are fine, but if our whole devotional life is conducted in public, we're really empty of what matters. The private time with God, when He's the only one who's opinion counts, that's what Spiritual maturity is made of. What priority does God have in your life? If you got this far in the LifeCycles, I know it's pretty high. Let's continue to the next Cycle together.

Memory verse: (Mt 28:18-20). "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Personal Affirmations (please write true or false next to each statement):
1. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and I commit my life to Him.
2. If I have not already been baptized, I will be baptized soon, as a testimony of my commitment to Jesus Christ.
3. I will make a practice of taking communion from time to time, to remember what Jesus means to me.
4. I am committed to growing in Christ and I will take the next step by completing the next LifeCycle Discipleship Series "Growing".

Testimony of salvation:_______________________________________________________ Congratulations! You've just completed the Planting LifeCycle course.

Christian Traditions And Practices-2

I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your Christian life. Please return often for fellowship, study and prayer. Thank you very much for visiting.

Love & Hugs,
Glen

Christian Traditions And Practices is a Bible study on the basics of Christian living, like communion, baptism, prayer, etc. We examine what the Bible says about why and how we do these things.