The Lord's Supper

Topic: The Lord's Supper

Text: 1 Corinthians 11.23 - 32.

General Purpose: Doctrinal

Specific Purpose: To learn the true meaning of participation as believers in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.

Sketch:

v.23 – 26 – Establishment of a New Covenant.

v.27 – 29 – Taking the Lord's Supper unworthily.

v.30 – 32 – Consequences of taking the Lord's Supper unworthily.

Transition Prayer: This passage of Scripture describes the ordinance established by our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord's Supper, and what the correct attitude should be for all who participate.

Introduction:

Different practices to celebrate this ordinance. What does the Lord's Supper mean? ---

The early church remembered that Jesus instituted it on Passover night.

Just as the Passover celebrated liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Lord's Supper remembers the liberation from our sins through the death of Christ. Christians have several options as to what Christ meant: ---

Some believe that the wine and bread are actually the body and blood of Christ.

Others believe that the bread and wine remain unchanged, but that Christ is spiritually present in the bread and wine.

Still others believe that the bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Christ.

Ways in which the elements of the Lord's Supper are interpreted: ---

Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church: The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ, literally, transubstantiation.

Luther: The substance of Christ was behind the bread and wine, calling it consubstantiation.

John Calvino: The spiritual presence of Jesus was in the bread and wine.

Zwinglio: Bread and wine are symbols and their spiritual presence is in the hearts of their people.

Christians agree, that participation in the Lord's Supper is an important element in the Christian faith and in that presence of Christ we understand that it strengthens us spiritually. ---

Development:

v.23 – 26 – Establishment of a New Covenant. ---

What is the new covenant?

Under the ancient agreement, people could approach God only through the priests and the sacrificial system. The old covenant was a failure Micah 6:6-8

Eating the bread and drinking the cup shows that we are remembering Christ's death for us and renewing our covenant to serve Him.

“Do this as many times as you drink it in memory of me.” ---

How should we remember Christ at the Lord's Supper?

Thinking about what he did and why he did it. If the Lord's Supper only becomes a ritual or a pious habit, it has stopped reminding us of Christ and has lost its meaning.

v.27 – 29 – Taking the Lord's Supper unworthily. ---

It may mean that the person who eats and drinks unworthily does not realize what these sacred symbols mean.

It may mean that he eats and drinks irreverently and without feeling the love that these signs represent, or the obligation that he acquires. ---

Every person in whose heart there is hatred, bitterness, contempt against another, when approaching the Table of the Lord, eats and drinks unworthily.

See the consequences… v.29-30

Paul gives specific instructions regarding how the Lord's Supper should be celebrated. ---

We should participate in the Lord's Supper with an attitude of repentance because we remember that Christ died for our sins.

We should take it with dignity, with reverence and respect.

We should examine ourselves to see if we have any unconfessed sin or attitude of resentment. We are prepared and ready only when we believe in Him and love Him.

We should consider others, waiting until everyone is present and participating in it in order and unity.

"Not discerning the body of the Lord" means not understanding what the Lord's Supper represents and not distinguishing it from a normal meal. ---

Those who do this condemn themselves

If the Lord's Table were only for the perfect, none of us could approach it. Access is never closed to the repentant sinner.

For those who love God and their fellow men, the way is always open; and their sins, though they be like scarlet, will be as white as snow. ---

“Let each one prove himself” - No matter how much the persistent and tenacious sin in our lives hurts us, no matter how much we repent, we can never find ourselves without sin.

We can never classify ourselves as “worthy” to participate in the Lord's Supper.

The only one worthy died for our sins, and only by his merciful grace can we draw near.

If so, what does the Apostle mean by self-examination?

What is indicated is that each must examine himself to see if he has an adequate appreciation of the church as the body of Christ. ---

Understanding the true meaning of Christ's sacrifice to give us salvation – That is one of the reasons why the one who will participate in the meal must be baptized.

v.30 – 32 – Consequences of taking the Lord's Supper unworthily. ---

Paul simply observes that within the church there were already sick people and even deaths.

Furthermore, his words reflect a warning against those who persist in abuse.

On the other hand, if the Corinthians examined themselves as suggested, they would not be judged with more illnesses and deaths.

Such was the seriousness of the situation in Corinth regarding the abuse of the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper should not be taken lightly, this new covenant cost Jesus his life. It is not a meaningless ritual ---

What do I have to do to obey and have the correct attitude when participating in the Lord's Supper? ---

Know the true meaning of this ordinance.

Be aware that God has established a new covenant through Jesus Christ.

We should take it with dignity, with reverence and respect.

Do not take this ordinance lightly.