Getting the Lord’s Supper Right

Introduction:

In our evening service, our members will partake of what we commonly refer to as the Lord’s Supper.

There is a traceable pattern in the New Testament:

Salvation

Baptism

Church membership/belonging

Partaking of the Lord’s Supper as part of active participation in the church to which you are subject.

The Supper can be so abused that it makes the meetings of a church something so corrupt or perverted that such meetings are not good.

The Corinthian congregation’s problems and the layout of Paul’s letter.

“Now concerning”

This is in the section attached to 1 Corinthians 8. It will not change until 1 Corinthians 12.

A Case for Abuse (Part 1 - 1 Cor. 11:17-22):

Paul tells the Corinthians that:

He is not praising them.

Because: their gathering was not for the better but for the worse.

Divisions, parties (sects/heresies) existed in the congregation, and they appear to find this a good thing; Paul does not.

The “οἱ δόκιμοι” are related to the misuse of the Lord’s Supper taking place within this church.

The Lord’s Supper is not a common meal for the goal of personal display.

The emphasis should never be on the self.

Within the Corinthian Church what masqueraded as the Lord’s Supper observance had become an opportunity for personal display.

What really came out in their praxis was:

Who was hungry because they did not have much.

Who was wealthy because they inebriated themselves.

We should note with caution the terms in 1 Cor. 11:22.

Despising the church: they were not distinguishing between a personal common meal which should be eaten at home, or even an elaborate party, and the assembly.

In this abuse they shame those who do not have much.

It is possible to be too casual

A Reminder about What the Lord’s Supper Is

Based upon the historical event of Jesus’ institution of it.

Paul reminds the Corinthians of the historical tradition.

Jesus taught that it is “my memorial.”

Paul drives this point home in 1 Cor. 11:25.

He interjects, in 1 Cor. 11:26, that it is also a public declaration of the death of the Lord.

It anticipates the promise of Jesus’ return.