NOT FOR GRANTED

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

NOT FOR GRANTED

Why the Lords Supper is so special and should not be taken for granted.

We take many things for granted.

We flip a switch, we take for granted that there should be light. We turn on a faucet, we take for granted that there will be water.

We go to the grocery store and we take for granted that there will be food on the shelves.

We go to the bank and take for granted that they will have your money.

We come to church and take for granted that the door will be open, the church is clean, the temputure is set, the lawn is mowed and that someone is there to play the organ and/or piano. Which we have come to not take for granted

We probably take parts of the service for granted as well.

You would miss the hymns if we didn't sing them, but let me ask you, do you ever concentrate on worship as we sing?

You would miss the Scriptures if they weren't read, but do you try to get something out of the Word while it is being read?

You would be upset if you didn't hear a Bible-centered message, but is the preaching of the Word viewed by you as something that will help change your life, or mere entertainment?

How much of the worship service are you taking for granted?

Today we come to a very important time in our worship. It is the time that we come to the Lord for communion. We call this sacred time "The Lord's Table" or “The Lord’s Supper”

Do we take this part of our service for granted, by not paying much attention to our responsibilities at the Lord's Table?

Or do we allow this time to really minister to our lives.

It is my prayer that the verses of this passage will help us get more out of our participation at the Lord's Table, and that we will not take the Lord's Table for granted. As we read 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 we come to the following conclusions.

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is a Sacred Event

Vs. 23

It was received "of the Lord".

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is About a Shattering Event

v. 24

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is About a Shedding Event

v.25

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is About a Soon Coming Event

v.26

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is a Searching Event

v.28

Celebration of the Lord’s Table is a Sobering Event

vs. 27,29-32

There is a difference between being unworthy (We all are!) and partaking in an unworthy manner. An unworthy manner means I am partaking without confessing sin, or taking the Lord's Table lightly.

We all have sin in our lives, my prayer is that we do not take of the Lord’s Supper without confessing those sins. We are going to have a brief invitation for anyone that may need to come and confess sin that may be a hinderance to tonights Lord’s supper.