Responding to the Holy Spirit • 11.17.24

Nick Lees   -   November 17, 2024

Responding to the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:1-17

Which way do you walk?

1. Living according to the flesh
2. Living according to the Spirit

Good morning, church family! (Introduce self + welcome guests)

Remind them about the Stewardship Celebration

Remind them to bring back the filled blessing bags next Sunday, 11/24

Dismiss 4^th + 5^th graders

Ushers + Bibles (Romans 8; page _)

Over the course of November, we’ve been discussing Stewardship of the Holy Spirit. It started with a call to believe the truth about God the Holy Spirit. During that sermon we discussed that…

1. The Holy Spirit is God
   1. So worship him as God!
2. The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force
   1. So interact with him as a person!
3. The Holy Spirit has a mission
   1. Glorifying Jesus Christ
   2. So cooperate with him in the mission!

Then in week two, we sought to cultivate awe of God the Holy Spirit. We did that by:

1. Recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament era
   1. Creates and sustains life
   2. Empowers people for specific tasks
   3. God promises his indwelling Spirit to his people
2. Rejoice in the Holy Spirit’s work in the New Testament era (2 slides)
   1. Convicts us of our sin and need for forgiveness
   2. Regenerates the hardened heart
   3. Indwells and purifies believers
   4. Leads
   5. Guides into truth
   6. Gives assurance of adoption
   7. Counsels
   8. Intercedes in prayer
   9. Bears fruit
   10. Illuminates the Word
   11. Guided the apostles in writing Scripture
   12. Seals believers
   13. Gives gifts to believers

Today we are turning our attention to a very practical matter – Responding to the Holy Spirit. As we’ve learned about this member of the Godhead and discovered how very involved He is in our world and daily lives, I thought it would be beneficial for us to consider and evaluate our own response to Him. Today is meant to be a time of self-evaluation and hopefully, humble growth in your faith.

We are going to spend most of our time today in two places, Romans 8 and Galatians 5. Let’s turn our attention to the book of Romans now. Before we read this specific text, I want to give you some context of what Paul has already written to the Christians in Rome. Paul has been building his argument through the entire book.

Paul began the letter with his typical greeting and giving thanks for their faith in Jesus. He declares that he longs to visit with them so that they might mutually encourage one another in the faith. He was eager to preach the gospel (Good News of salvation in Christ) in Rome.

After sharing these rather heartwarming opening comments, Paul elaborates in very straightforward terms why both Jews and Gentiles need the Gospel. The rest of chapter 1 captures the downward spiral of sin that most of the world is caught in as they reject God and suppress the truth about Him. Paul moves from the condemnation of the worldly to challenging those who claim to know God yet live in a worldly manner in chapters 2 and 3. He rebukes both Jews and Greeks and points out that all are dead in their sin. No one is righteous, no not one. This is a sweeping indictment of the human race!

Yet Paul does not leave them without hope. In chapter 3:21-26, he points to the righteousness of God that was revealed in Jesus Christ and is available to all who believe. Faith in Jesus is the answer for those who are dead in their sin!

In chapter 5, he reiterates that Jesus Christ died for the ungodly to save us from our sins. Our appropriate response is faith in Jesus and forsaking our old ways of life. We must not continue in sin now that we have received grace! (Rom. 6:1-4) He points out that, in Christ, we are no longer enslaved to our sin. If your faith is in Jesus, then you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God. (Rom. 6:11) You must no longer let sin reign in you but present your bodies as instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:12-14).

This means, if you are a Christian, that you now have a choice for how you live! You can choose to walk/live in sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to walk/live in the Spirit, which leads to life. Paul even uses his own life as an example of the struggle Christians face with our sinful nature (aka flesh) in chapter 7. However, as chapter 7 ends, he helpfully declares, that though an internal war rages within him, through Jesus Christ, rescue is possible. Those who are in Christ do not have to live in sin, they can choose to please Christ!

This high-level recap brings us to the beginning of chapter 8, where we are going to pick up and read today. Hopefully you’re tracking with the argument so far:

• Everyone is born dead in their sin, living for themselves rather than God.
• Without faith in Jesus, we will continue in that downward spiral from bad to worse.
• Thankfully God has made a way of salvation through his perfectly righteous Son, Jesus Christ
• We must respond to the Spirit’s conviction of our sin by placing our faith in Jesus.
• This begins an ongoing battle to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

With that understanding of man’s condition and God’s provision, let’s read our text for today. As I read this, please listen for the two different ways to live articulated here.

Romans 8:1–17 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

The question I want each of us to consider today is…

Which way do you walk?

You’ll notice that there are two ways to live presented in this chapter and the book of Romans at large. You can either walk (or live) according to the flesh (your sinful nature) or you can walk (live) according to the Spirit. Now you need to notice that there are two different spiritual conditions which you can be in as well. For the sake of clarity, I want to use a diagram to help us track what we’re talking about today:

Let’s discuss these one at a time. Beginning with a discussion of…

1. Living according to the flesh

In the Scriptures, this category is spoken of in two different ways. First, you have those who are described as “in the flesh” as their entire category of life. Meaning it is their identity. This is speaking of those who have not been convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit and put their faith in Jesus Christ. They have no interest in living for God and would rather do what comes naturally to them, which is pursue their own sinful self-interests.

This is the left column of our table.

The second way this category of living according to the flesh is spoken about is in reference to those who have faith in Jesus Christ yet due to their remaining sinful nature still make sinful choices that hinder their spiritual growth. That is what the top right part of our table refers to.

Neither of these positions ought to be desirable for anyone! They bring devastating consequences into our lives. Let’s go back through Romans 8:1-17 and consider what God’s Word reveals about living according to the flesh.

If you were to go back through Romans 8:1-17 and highlight all the references to living in the flesh in one color, here is what that might look like. (Image) How is it described?

1. Under the law of sin and death (v2)

Paul used language that was intentionally shocking to his readers. To be outside of faith in Christ was to remain under the law of sin and death, meaning the Old Testament laws. His point throughout the letter was that they could not perfectly obey the OT law – no one could!

If you try to be justified by your efforts, you will fall short 100% of the time. The law points everyone to their need for a Savior! We cannot earn our salvation. We cannot work our way to righteousness. It is impossible for those who are dead in sin to make themselves spiritually alive. This is a severe warning to those who do not have faith in Christ and continue to live according to the flesh – it will not end well for you.

Just a few verses later, in verse 5, we read that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.

1. Minds set on the things of the flesh (v5)

The focus and priorities of such a person are on things that do not please the Lord. The fruit of their life (thoughts/words/actions) reflect what is at the root (desires of their heart). Their deepest desire is self-interest. They are driven by, “What do I want?” rather than “What does God want?” in their daily life. It would be wise to evaluate whether this is true of you!

Let’s look at some examples of such “things of the flesh” from Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 5:19–21 (ESV)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

He describes the works of the flesh in terms of sinful handling of sex, relationships, communication and conflict resolution, and alcohol, among other things. This is certainly not an exhaustive list. To it, we could add any other form of selfish ambition or self-worship:

• Valuing career advancement at the cost of loving others
• Pursuing influence and power for self
• Creating a home environment that is about you rather than your loved ones
• Forsaking your responsibilities to pursue a life of entertainment or ease

When we look around us and survey the cultural landscape (both inside and outside of the church), these are the very battles we see raging! And it is no surprise, because when you live according to the flesh, your minds are set on these things, and you pursue them.

When we live this way, we are being ruled by indwelling sin, rather than the indwelling Spirit. And the result is not desirable! Paul warns the Galatians that those who live this way will not inherit the kingdom of God. Or as he said in the letter to the Romans, this way of life…

1. Leads to death (v6, 13)

“To set the mind on the flesh is death.” The result of this way of life is separation from God’s presence to bless and spending an eternity under his judgment. That is not an outcome that I would wish upon anyone!

Why is this the outcome? Paul explains it further in verses 7-8. A person who lives this way is…

1. Hostile to God, not submissive (v7)
2. Unable to please God (v8)

When you live according to the flesh, you declare war with God. You have rebelled against the King of Kings, the highest authority possible. You have refused to submit to His righteous rule and reign. This is a problem for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for those whose identity is “in the flesh” – meaning unbelievers.

For those whose identity is “in the flesh”, you literally cannot please God. Paul confronts unbelievers who cling to the false hope that somehow their “good” can outweigh their bad when they stand before God one day. If you are “in the flesh” – meaning your faith is not in Jesus Christ for salvation – then nothing you do is pleasing to God. The reality that he is speaking about identity is clarified in verse 9 – those whose identity are in the flesh do not have the Spirit of God. Again, this is primarily addressing those who are in the left column of our table:

However, for those who profess faith in Christ, we too must be careful how we live. Living by the flesh must not be an option for us!

I think of Paul’s counsel to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV)

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

The reality is that Christians are still tempted by their sin nature. Though our faith in Christ has transferred us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the Son, meaning we are no longer enslaved to sin, we are still susceptible to sinful, selfish desires. Christian, you no longer HAVE to sin, sin’s mastery over you has been broken, but you MUST choose to forsake sin.

We must make it our aim to please Christ rather than living by the flesh. There is a real spiritual war that we are engaged in within ourselves. The battle to live by the flesh vs. by the Spirit.

Paul articulates this so well in Galatians 5:

Galatians 5:13–17 (ESV)

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Christian, do not take a lazy approach to your walk with God. You must not assume that just because your faith is in Christ that you can live however you want! The temptations of sin are still very real for us.

We must be on guard and seek to live holy lives. We must be regularly about the business of identifying and uprooting sinful desires and their fruit from our lives. If we are lazy about this and make peace with our flesh, then we will live in a manner that is selfish and hinders our growth in holiness. Such a lifestyle will not bring glory to God.

You have been given an incredible gift – freedom from sin and the flesh – use that freedom wisely, to serve God and others! Paul is no dummy. He is very aware that just because you have freedom from sin does not mean that you will automatically use that freedom well. Those who are “in Christ” now have a choice to make – “Will I live to serve/please myself?” or “Will I live to serve/please my God?” I would encourage you to take time to evaluate your own life and walk with God. Do you see evidence of this war within? Are you fighting to walk in holiness and put temptation/sin to death? Is it your aim and desire to serve God and others?

Paul argues in his writings that those who truly are in the Spirit will not make peace with the flesh. Though the battle rages on, the Spirit rules their lives and they will make progress in the faith. This was Paul’s own testimony, and it is the experience of all who are truly following Jesus Christ. Paul confidently stated:

Galatians 5:24–25 (ESV)

²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

This is our calling as Christians. As those who live by the Spirit, we must crucify our flesh and keep in step with the Spirit. My hope is that this would be the desire of all who are here this morning! Our second way to walk is…

2. Living according to the Spirit

This is represented by our bottom right cell of the table. This is only possible for those whose faith is in Christ. Who are known as living “in the Spirit” and by the Spirit.

Let’s go back through Romans 8:1-17 and consider what God’s Word reveals about living according to the Spirit.

If you were to go back through Romans 8:1-17 and highlight all the references to living in the Spirit in another color, here is what that might look like. (Image) How is it described?

1. Set free from the law of sin and death (v2)

While living according to the flesh keeps you under the law and thereby found guilty, living according to the Spirit sets you free! Paul explains that the requirements of the law, which we were unable to fulfill, have been perfectly met in Christ! (Fulfilled in Christ – v1, 3-4) This is why there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! This was only possible because God the Son took on human form and lived a perfect, sinless life in our place. This is the beauty of Christmas and Easter – Jesus did come as a man, and He paid it all in our place! Sin had left a crimson stain, but he washed it white as snow. How sweet that we get to celebrate this reality by taking communion together after the sermon!

Notice also that the Spirit is described as the…

1. Spirit “of life” (v2)

There is already a contrast drawn between the outcomes. Living by the flesh in sin leads to death, but living by the Spirit leads to life. He is the life-giving Spirit, as Paul points out later in this chapter.

Now, just as those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the flesh, so too those who live according to the Spirit have their…

1. Minds set on the things of the Spirit (v5)

The focus and priorities of such a person are on things that please Jesus. The fruit of their life (thoughts/words/actions) reflect what is at the root (desires of their heart). Their deepest desire is pleasing God. They are driven by, “What does God want?” rather than “What do I want?” in their daily life. Is this how you live?

Let’s look at some examples of such “things of the Spirit” from Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If you recall the fruit of the flesh, you can see how they are directly opposed to one another! Rather than being selfish, you are loving. Rather than being quick to conflict you are a joy-filled peacemaker. Instead of exploding in sinful anger, you are patient and kind. You are self-controlled rather than being ruled by your passions. The result is a person who is not seeking their own gain, but rather the glory of the Lord and good of others. If you claim Christ, does this describe you? If not, why not? I would encourage you to wrestle with the Lord on that this week.

Hopefully you know Christians who bear this kind of fruit in their lives! Hopefully you are such a Christian. This ought to be the character and conduct of every single man, woman, boy or girl who claims to follow Christ. And sure, you won’t be there right away, but are you growing into these characteristics? Is this the trajectory of your life?

When we live this way, we are being ruled by the indwelling Spirit, rather than by indwelling sin. And the end result of living this way is to be eagerly anticipated! Paul said in the letter to the Romans, this way of life…

1. Leads to life and peace (v6)

By life and peace, Paul is speaking of spiritual life and peace with God. One who is living according to the Spirit and has their mind set on the Spirit reveals that they are a child of God. There is no longer enmity between God and this person. When he looks at you, he sees one of his children whom he has forgiven and adopted into his family!

Paul said in Romans 5:

Romans 5:1–2 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

If your faith is in Christ and you are walking according to the Spirit, you have every reason to rejoice! You are forgiven, at peace with God, and have the hope of eternal glory! Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:9-11 that the Spirit of God now dwells within you and provides you righteousness and the hope of eternal life.

1. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit for righteousness and eternal life (v9-11)

Commentator Douglas Moo puts it this way:

Paul is teaching that the believer, although still bound to an earthly, mortal body, has residing within him or her the Spirit, the power of new spiritual life, which conveys both that “life,” in the sense of deliverance from condemnation enjoyed now and the future resurrection life that will bring transformation to the body itself. (NICNT)

God’s work in you has present and eternal benefits. Praise God for that!

The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, Christian! Because this is true, he will give life to your mortal body through the Spirit! Though you die, yet shall you live. This is exactly what Jesus promised in John 11 before raising Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:25–26 (ESV)

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Christians have a very real hope both in this life and the one to come. In this life, upon faith in Jesus Christ we are made into a new creation by the Spirit. We heard about this last week – being regenerated or born again. Listen to how Paul explains this to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ESV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus took on our sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. If your faith is in Jesus Christ, then you are not the old man/woman you used to be. You do not have to continue living by the flesh, you can and MUST choose to live by the Spirit. This is exactly what Paul spoke of in Romans 7:

Romans 7:4–6 (ESV)

⁴ Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Christian, you do not have to live for the flesh any longer! You have died to the flesh, and you are now able to live in the new way of the Spirit. You have been appointed an ambassador for Christ! You are called and commissioned to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus. And that Good News includes the hope of eternal life that will be fully realized when Jesus returns. Of it, Paul speaks of in Philippians:

Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV)

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

When you realize what God has done in and for you through Jesus Christ and through His Spirit, you ought to be incredibly thankful and zealous to live for Him! We have every reason to rejoice. We have every reason to put to death the deeds of the body/flesh, as Paul speaks of in Romans 8:13-17. Living by the Spirit necessitates…

1. Putting to death the deeds of the body/flesh (v13)

Christians no longer have to live according to the flesh. You must choose to put it off as you seek to live by the Spirit. This is both an objective reality – if you are in Christ, then you are in the Spirit and you will live accordingly – and a subjective calling – you must live according to the Spirit in your daily life with the temptations you face.

As theologian John Murray puts it, “The believer’s once-for-all death to the law of sin does not free him from the necessity of mortifying sin in his members; it makes it necessary and possible for him to do so.”

This is the crux of the matter and our sermon for today. If you are in Christ, then you are called to respond to the Holy Spirit by walking in the Spirit and mortifying (killing) the desires of the flesh. There is no other godly alternative.

We must not make peace with our sin. We must not be apathetic in our walk with God. By the power of His Holy Spirit, he has given us new life, convicted us of sin, led us to salvation, and empowered us to pursue holiness. Yet he still calls us to cooperate with Him in this process of sanctification that he is currently carrying out within us. We are to be holy as he is holy. That holiness or fruit of the Spirit is produced in us as we forsake sin and choose to please Him. This is an interesting dynamic in the Christian life. Douglas Moo puts it this way:

Human activity in the process of sanctification is clearly necessary; but that activity is never apart from, nor finally distinct from, the activity of God’s Spirit. Deidun puts it like this: the Christian imperative “demands the Christian’s continuing ‘yes’ to an activity which does not originate in himself, but which is nevertheless already real and actual in the core of his being. (Moo, NICNT)

Christian brother or sister, God the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Cooperate with that work. Carry it out. Say “yes” to the conviction of sin and forsake it. Say “yes” to the desire to please Christ in your life each day. Do not harden your heart by choosing to walk according to the flesh.

And, if you know that there are ways in which you are walking according to the flesh right now, CONFESS AND FORSAKE THEM! Why would you wait any longer? They only lead to death! Confess your apathy towards reading God’s Word. Confess your propensity to excuse lustful looks and thoughts. Confess your arrogance in your conduct towards your spouse/kids. Confess your idolatry in turning to food or alcohol or entertainment for comfort. Confess your worldly ambitions to be somebody important or to stack up money in your accounts.

May we orient our lives around the will of God. His desire is for us to walk by the Spirit and bear fruit in keeping with the Spirit. He has called us to be his ambassadors who are out in our community helping people know and follow Jesus. He wants us to be men and women of the Word who are godly husbands/wives/sons/daughters. We are to be holy as he is holy. And that only happens as we walk by the Spirit in cooperation with the work God is actively doing in our lives.

I hope this study has invigorated you to evaluate where you stand with God and to make sure that you’re in the position of:

I look forward to the good work God will do in our midst as we purpose to live in the Spirit by the Spirit in the days ahead. *pause*

Communion

We are going to close out our services today by worshiping the Lord through the celebration of communion or the Lord’s table.

Communion is an opportunity for Christians to remember all that the Lord has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection. This is an opportunity for Christians to remember that we have embraced the promised hope of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation of our souls!

We will celebrate by partaking of both the bread and the cup as a symbol and reminder of Jesus’ body broken in our place and his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Communion is an opportunity to remember how great a price was paid so that we could be saved from our sin. It is a sobering, yet joyful celebration for Christians. Sobering that the Son of God would give himself for us as a ransom. Joyful that he did, and the result is a living hope that cannot be taken from us! Jesus is victorious; therefore, we have the hope of heaven with Him!

At this time, I’d like to invite the ushers forward with the elements.

Before we pass them, I want to share the biblical requirements for joining in this celebration.

This celebration was given by Jesus to his followers. We invite anyone who has trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation to join us in this celebration today. If your faith is not in Jesus Christ alone, then we would encourage you to let the elements pass by you and simply consider what you’ve heard so far during the service this morning and reflect on what is keeping you from trusting him for the forgiveness of your sins and salvation of your soul.

The second requirement we see in Scripture is a call to examine ourselves. This is the idea of making sure that you’ve confessed any known sins and sought to turn away from it. It would not be wise to partake of the table if you have sin in your life for which you are not repentant. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that taking the table while living in sin is eating and drinking judgment on yourself. I would ask you not to do that, for your sake and the sake of God’s glory. Instead, I would encourage you to use this time to confess that sin and make a plan to address it right away. If you know you need to be reconciled to someone else in this church, please take care of that during this time. The table is time to protect the unity of the church.

The ushers are going to pass the elements now as we have a time of silent reflection and prayer to prepare for the table. Please use this time to reflect on all that we’ve talked about today and to prepare yourself to take communion by confessing and repenting of any known sin. After the elements have been passed, I’ll lead us in prayer and taking communion together.

Ushers pass elements

Silent prayer. Corporate prayer.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.”

Take bread.

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, 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.

Take cup

Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!