Worship Is A Memorial

Main Text: Luke 22:14-20 (KJV)
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

Introduction: The Importance of Remembrance in Worship

• Opening Scripture: Luke 22:19 – "This do in remembrance of me."
• Purpose of the Sermon: To show how our worship services serve as a memorial, reminding us of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross and its significance for our salvation.
• Illustration: Just as nations have memorials to honor great sacrifices made for freedom, we gather to honor the greatest sacrifice ever made—Jesus Christ's death for our sins. (Vietnam Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Lincoln Memorial, etc.) In the OT, God wanted his people to make physical memorials, like when he commanded the Israelites coming into the promise land to build a memorial of stones from the Jordan River to remember all that God had done for them from their exile from Egypt, to their survival in the wilderness, to the crossing of the Jordan River on dryland allowing them to enter the promised land.
• The Lord’s Memorial now is not a New Concept for the NT: Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Daniel 2:31-45 [Read] God promised Christ’s death and power over death in the beginning, giving all who serve him hope of overcoming the sin that had just entered into the world at that time. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, it gave hope of that kingdom that would arise in the first century and be one that would last forever. This is because if we are a member of God’s kingdom on Earth and are faithful till death, then we will have the hope of becoming a member of the heavenly kingdom on Judgement Day. 

I. Worship as a Memorial of Christ's Death

• A. The Lord’s Supper as a Central Act of Remembrance
  • 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 – “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
  • The act of breaking bread and drinking the cup is a physical reminder of the spiritual reality of Christ’s death.
  • Key point: Every first day of the week when we gather for communion, we are participating in a memorial service for Christ.
• B. The Cross at the Center of Worship
  • Galatians 6:14 – "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
  • The entire worship service is a memorial: Singing, Preaching or Teaching, Giving, the Lord’s Supper, and Praying. All the acts of worship commanded by God in the NT a memorial not just of Christ’s death on the cross, but everything that God has already done for his people and what God promises for his people that are faithful to him and his Word.
  • Worship that doesn’t focus on the cross and the promises of God forgets the foundation of our faith.
  • Key point: The cross is not just a past event, but a living reality we recall in worship. If we forget Christ and his death, then we are failing obey the commandment “this do in remembrance of me”.

II. The Role of Remembrance in Christian Living

• A. The Call to Remember Christ’s Sacrifice
  • Hebrews 12:2 – "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame."
  • We are called to live daily with the cross in view, letting it shape our worship and lives.
  • Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” 
• B. Remembrance as Motivation for Holiness and Gratitude
  • Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
  • Hageeos- (holy) sacred, physically pure, morally blameless
  • 2 Tim. 2:11-15 [Read]
  • Key point: When we remember Christ’s sacrifice, it motivates us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices in worship and service.

III. The Memorial Brings Hope and Expectation

• A. Remembering His Death Until He Comes
  • 1 Corinthians 11:26 – "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
  • Our worship is not only a looking back to the cross, but also a looking forward to Christ’s return.
  • Besides the fact holy days are condemned by Paul through the Holy Spirit, notice what people in the world do, they only go to a worship service or remember Christ on the big days, i.e. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.
• B. Christ’s Resurrection Gives Power to the Memorial
  • Romans 6:9-10 – “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”
  • Romans 8:34 Paul explains what can separate us from the love of God and it is nothing except ourselves, but he also describes the kind of savior we have, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” 
  • Col. 2:12-13 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
  • Key point: We remember not only His death but also His victory over death, which assures us of eternal life if we remain faithful and obedient to his will and not our own.

IV. How We Should Respond in Worship

• A. Reverence and Awe in Worship
  • Hebrews 12:28 – "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
  • Aheedoce- (reverence) bashfulness towards men and modesty or awe towards God, shamefacedness [humility, we are not worthy or haven’t earned anything, God gives all the good gifts available]
  • We must approach worship with hearts full of reverence, remembering the price that was paid for our salvation.
• B. Thanksgiving and Praise for His Sacrifice
  • Psalm 100:4 – "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."
  • Our worship should overflow with gratitude as we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice.
• C. Renewed Commitment to Live for Christ
  • 2 Corinthians 5:15 – “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
  • Key point: True remembrance leads to transformation in how we live and worship. This begins at the obedience to the gospel and doesn’t or shouldn’t end until the day we die, faithfully in service to God.

Conclusion: Worship as a Living Memorial Every day

• Final Exhortation: Every worship service is an opportunity to remember Christ’s death, renew our commitment to Him, and live in the light of the cross.
• We should worship every day: Giving and Lord’s Supper are acts of worship that were only authorized on the first day of every week; however, singing, preaching/teaching, and praying are acts of worship that are commanded every day we are blessed to be alive in service to the one true God.
• Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” 
• Closing Scripture: Revelation 5:12 – "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
• Call to Action: Let’s leave this place with hearts full of gratitude, constantly remembering Christ’s sacrifice, and living each day in worship of the Lamb who was slain for us.
• Invitation

Author: Patrick King