Partaking of the Lord’s Supper Unworthily

Text:

Read: vv.

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

INTRODUCTION: Nothing but Christ should be magnified in the Lord’s Supper. Elaborate ceremony, or other facets added to effect either beauty or enchantment by the artfulness of man, will serve only to obscure the original unpretentious nature of this occasion. Whatever is added by man’s cunning must stand condemned as unworthy of sharing this sacred moment. This fact is made clear by the apostle Paul ().

NOTHING IS ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD UNLESS RIGHTLY DONE.

1. Cain’s sacrifice—good but ill offered, .

2. God expects obedience, not presumption, .

3. Improper baptism destroys its symbolism, .

4. Even some prayers are repulsive to God, .

5. Giving must be cheerful to be acceptable, .

LET US CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

1. “Unworthily”—a boorish or gluttonous manner.

2. “Damnation”—exposing yourself to God’s displeasure.

3. “Not discerning the Lord’s body”—ignorantly or heedlessly, defeating thereby the very purpose for which the Lord’s Supper was ordained, .

OUR MORAL UNWORTHINESS TO SHARE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER MAY BE QUESTIONED WHEN WE REMEMBER

1. Christ’s care for the lost—but we don’t share it.

2. Christ taking His cross—but we forget our cross.

3. Christ’s forgiving spirit—but we are unforgiving.

4. Christ’s compassion—but we ignore missions.

5. Christ’s gospel—but we care little for hearing it.

6. Christ’s love for the church—but we ignore it.

7. Christ’s teaching on prayer—but we never pray.

8. Christ’s reverence for worship—but we count absence from public worship as a small matter.

PAUL WAS RIGHT—“Let a man examine himself” ().

Cameron, J. D. (1976). Sermon Outlines for Special Occasions (p. 15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.