The Lord's Supper 1 Cor 11:17-34
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· 8 viewsThe Lord's Supper must be approached as one body with humble awareness and sober recognition..
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Main idea: The Lord's Supper must be approached as one body with humble awareness and sober recognition.
1 Cor.11:17-26
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
PRAY
1 COr. 11:
Example: Discipline - children
- Tradition - I praise you..a few correction but good job. But this this is serious
Chapter 11 had begun with Paul commending the Corinthians for maintaining the traditions he had handed down to them.
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
From I praise to I praise you not! -V. 17 & V.22b Commend = praise
The nature and instruction in corp worship
What happens when we mishandle corporate worship?
Example: Discipline - children - the joy of correcting our kids! - more about this discipline later…
Chapter 11 had begun with Paul commending the Corinthians for maintaining the traditions he had handed down to them.
Example: Discipline - children
Ex: One child kicked the kids pastor - called me out of GG. What ensued after that was discipline!
Context is critical this morning:
From Communion, to potluck for the elite.
Love feast: Agape - Agape Meal Early Christian ritual and fellowship meal including that included the Lord’s supper. Widely practiced during the first—third centuries ad.
LOVE FEAST Fellowship meal that the Christian community celebrated with joy in conjunction with its celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
The Agape meal was a visible expression of obedience to the Lord’s command to love one another, it served as a practical expression of the koinonia or communion that characterized the church’s life.
The term is used in a technical sense in the New Testament to indicate the love feasts (cf. ) of the early Christians, communal meals which provided religious fellowship and were a means of charity for the poor, widowed, and orphaned of the community.
Also, These communal meals which provided religious fellowship and were a means of charity for the poor, widowed, and orphaned of the community.
celebrated their cov community
Celebrated Lords supper
took care of the poor within the church
When the slave get thru with his work and gets to church the meal is done and he is hungry
Ex: What would this have looked like to go to church in Corinth? PICK TWO PEOPLE FROM CONGREGATION
House church that met in a wealthy home.
House church that met in a wealthy home.
A wealthy elite and a slave comes to church…
The main dining area help maybe 10 the atrium would hold around 50.
These 50-60 people would come together for a fellowship meal each bringing something to eat for the table.
The problem: the elite would be in the dining room and eat all the food
The poor get off work late and come to church only to find all the food eaten.
When the slave get thru with his work and gets to church the meal is done and he is hungry and embarrassed
The poor feel like a second rate part of the community. The church is just like the world!
and they are embarrassed and feel like a second rate part of the community. The church is just like the world!
Main idea: The Lord's Supper must be approached as one body with humble awareness and sober recognition.
The Lord's Supper Must be Approached as One Body with Humble Awareness v.17-33
The Lord's Supper Must be Approached as One Body with Humble Awareness v.17-33
Covenant community: We are united not divided -v.18
Covenant community: We are united not divided -v.18
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
Covenant oneness & Covenant unity
Example: Workday yesterday - if Christ would not have saved us into a body we would never get to live life and take care of things as one family.
For the early church this agape meal was celebrating future coming kingdom - eschatological
This is a chief concern for Paul:
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Contrast: Christian unity versus Roman elitism and ideas of status
Ex: no where is Rome can find a institution where the rich and poor, slave and free were all considered one family.
This meal was supposed to signify their devotion to their covenant Lord and his covenant people.
v.18 - “As a church” - Rather, Not a building but they are a church as they gather together not where they gather together.
Rather, they are a church as they gather together not where they gather together.
It is in their public worship, wherever it happens to be, that God’s people are visible to all “as the church.”
Christians would have gathered either in larger buildings or in larger houses of the wealthy in the congregation.
It is at least possible that the houses of Stephanas, Chloe, and Gaius, among others, were used (cf. 1:11, 14, 16; 16:15; ).
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Covenant unity
The worship gathering centered on remembering that our community status came at a great price
Sunday was Resurrection day & the Lord’s supper commemorated Jesus’ death. The fellowship meal celebrated that they belong to the Lord = BETTER
- The “worse” means that people are being led away from the covenant relationship that the meal signifies rather than being built up in it.
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
Not everybody is one - V. 19
19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
This is God’s purpose in permitting the occurrence of such divisions.
It is to show who have stood the test and are worthy of approval.
The opposite group is composed of “reprobates.” (Visible & invisible church)
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
How we treat each other demonstrates whose we are.
The Lord’s supper points to a humble awareness of a time when the wheat and the weeds will be separated.
Are we united in the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ or our buildings, programs and socio economic circles?
The Lord's Supper must be approached as one Covenant body with humble awareness of our
We are to selfless not self-willed
Covenant care: Selflessness & Love (Character & Qualities of our community)
Covenant care: Selflessness & Love (Character & Qualities of our community)
Covenant selflessness: The Lord’s Supper is about the Lord not me. - V.20-22
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
The celebration of the Lord’s supper was a central element in the worship of the early church.
When sin runs rampant worship stops
says, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread,” which, from the narrative that follows, appears to have been an ordinary meal.
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
it is clear from the paragraph before us that at Corinth at least the Lord’s Supper was connected with a regular meal.
V.20 - I don’t know what this meal is, but its not the Lord’s Supper!
A wealthy elite and a slave come to church....
This is about the rich clicking up and humiliating those who do not have enough to eat.
When the slave get thru with his work and gets to church the meal is done and he is hungry
Two problems:
1- Unaware the Lords supper is not to satisfy physical hunger - not an ordinary meal -v.22 - Eat at home.
Bring your selflessness not your depravity to the table.
V.21 - CSB: For at the meal, each one eats his own supper.
CSB: For at the meal, each one eats his own supper.
12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
2- Unaware the Lord’s supper is to build up not humiliate - not to isolate but to celebrate our oneness in Christ.
This was not only making the Lord’s Supper a meal for satisfying hunger—contrary to its original design—but a cruel perversion of a feast of love into a means of humiliating and wounding their poorer brothers (verse 22).
When a home is opened up for worship, then the rules of the gathered community apply as they eat and drink the Lord’s Supper, not the social rules of Roman society.
V.22 - To neglect covenant community is to despise (to look down on) the church Christ died to redeem.
Despise: to think little of.
How important is the local church in your life? How much do you think of God’s people and the work of ministry.
Covenant community practices Covenant Care that brings a selfless desire for
Covenant love: We prefer others not ourselves -v. 33-34
Covenant love: We prefer others not ourselves -v. 33-34
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
Wait for those who work to get off and gather to worship
If not, better to just eat at home.
Why? The Lord cares and the Lord will discipline his own V.34 point back to v.19
Are we united by the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ or are we united around our buildings, programs and socio economic circles?
Do you enjoy the family Christ died to make you one with?
As we gather as one body we are humbly aware that Christ died to make us all one body.
We are humbly aware that in Christ we are devoted to Him and for caring for each other in selfless humility and sacrificial love.
In our context: The best place we have to celebrate our covenant community is our GG’s & Sunday worship.
We encourage our GG’s to celebrate the Lord’s supper together.
When we gather in each others home you are feeling something of what the early church did.
Don’t neglect it.
As we come to the table together lets give thanks that Christ died to give us each other.
The Lord's Supper Must be Approached as One Body with Sober
The Lord's Supper Must be Approached as One Body with Sober
Recognition -V.27-34
Recognition -V.27-34
Recognize our Redemption in Jesus Christ ! -
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
V.23 - Recognize the context of our redemption: Love in the midst of betrayal
The greatest act of love sets in the backdrop of the greatest act of betrayal - Judas
The Lord supper instituted as the great picture of love in the backdrop[ of the greatest act of betrayal
Paul brings out the poignant truth that that feast of love that was to bring such strength and consolation to Christians was instituted at the very time when human malignancy was engaged in betraying the Saviour to his enemies.
Recognize - The Lords Supper was a tradition the comes from Christ himself.
Three contextual qualities of this tradition
Its simplicity (It contrast to the extravagant love feast) Bread & the cup - simple symbols with clear meanings.
The Lords supper looks not only to the past (The Cross) but also to the future (return of Christ)
This covenant meal has both blessing and cursing attached.
V.24-26 - Recognize the Lord’s death:Jesus Died -Why?
Recognize we were sinners in need of atonement
This is my body which is broken for you.
;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Recognize that our sin was imputed to Christ -
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
New Dictionary of Theology Historical Theology
The essence of the atonement, they thought, is that Christ took our penalty upon him
New Dictionary of Theology Historical Theology
The essence of the atonement, they thought, is that Christ took our penalty upon him. He stood in the place of sinners and since he bore their punishment it no longer falls on them.
Recognize His Righteousness is now imputed to us.
;
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Recognize that our sins are gone forever
Often believers wrestle with “forgiving yourself” Can I show you something this morning.
The Day of Atonement: (Lev. 16) One Day a year the Hight priest of Israel would be aloud by God to enter into the holy of holies in the tabernacle.
Three basic elements: The animals, the priest, and the people
First, The priest would offer a sacrifice for himself. Why?
He was not sinless, therefore he could not enter into God’s presence
All people needed two things because of sin: Atonement and purification.
Sin brings the wrath of a Holy God and sin stains whatever it touches.
Ex: Coronavirus: it contaminates and spreads
So after the priest offered sacrifices for atonement and purification
The priest would then take one innocent, spotless goat and offer it as an atoning sacrifice for God’s people. This propitiated God’s wrath - removing it and bringing the mercy of God.
The other innocent, spotless goat was called the scapegoat. The priest would place his hands imputing the sin of the people onto the innocent animals. Then the animals was taken out of the camp and driven away forever.
This brothers and sisters is what we remember as we come to worship as one body.
That Jesus was our sinless, perfect hight priest who entered into the very presence of the Father and offered himself to atone for us and took on himself our sin and by his bodily death removed it and with his blood forever cleansed us from the stain of our sin.
This we remember!
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Recognized Jesus is coming again -
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
It tells a story of the selfless love of Christ for sinful man.
They evidently saw Holy Communion as ‘feasting at the eschatological banquet of the Messiah’.
But the Lord’s Supper ‘has a distinctly interim character’ (NTS , 24, 1977–78, pp. 521f.).
This proclamation looks not only to the past but to the future
As Christians eat and drink, they retell their story that Christ died “for” them so they might be incorporated into the covenant community now and forever!
The Lord’s table is a simple table: The bread & The cup but one day on that day… The feast will begin, on that day, the marriage supper of the lamb will begin, in this we call to mind as we come to the table.
Recognize our Redemption in Jesus Christ but even more soberly we must:
Recognize the Lord that we are one with - V.27-32
Ex: Those who burn or step on the American flag.
Someone who tramples on his country’s flag insults his country; and someone who treats the symbols of Christ’s body and blood irreverently is guilty of irreverence toward Christ.
Recognize
- Therefore
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Ex: Those who burn or step on the American flag.
Someone who tramples on his country’s flag insults his country; and someone who treats the symbols of Christ’s body and blood irreverently is guilty of irreverence toward Christ.
Recognize there is a wrong way to worship/approach the Lord
How were they coming the the Lord’s table in an unworthy manner?
“in a way that dishonors him”
Despising the poor believers (in neglecting covenant community)
Their actions towards the poor contradict the self giving love celebrated in the Supper.
To despise your church family is to despise Christ, it is to approach Christ in an unworthy manner
Coming to the table with no thought of Christ death cost, what it provided and no thought of second coming of Jesus Christ.
will be guilty - “To ‘profane’ the meal as they are doing is to place themselves under the same liability as those responsible for that death in the first place.
Lawsuit: guilty = you are liable responsible
Thus to be ‘guilty of his body and blood’ means to be ‘liable for his death.’ ”
Thus to be ‘guilty of his body and blood’ means to be ‘liable for his death.’ ”
Recognize the need for examination
They evidently saw Holy Communion as ‘feasting at the eschatological banquet of the Messiah’.
But the Lord’s Supper ‘has a distinctly interim character’ (NTS , 24, 1977–78, pp. 521f.).
- Examine & so eat! This is not about you.
It is simple because it remind us Christ died and hes coming again on that day - The feast begins!
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
The gospel is enough.
Repent come to the table and as one body commit yourself to Christ who died for your sins, confess you will trust him, by faith until our faith become sight.
The Lords table is a place not only to remember Christ death and his coming but a time to commit yourself afresh to the lord and his church.
- examine ourselves and repent
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
We worship wrongly when we try to make church heaven on earth. This is base camp for warrior and this world is a battlefield. We are his warriors.
Recognize God will judge his own. -
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
The promise of judgment looms over those who do not take the covenant commitment seriously (8:10–13; 9:24–27).
The word judgment in the Greek has no article—it is not “the judgment.” So the meaning obviously is that the unworthy eater contracts guilt; he exposes himself to God’s judgments.
V. 30 - Many are weak & ill and some have died.
This discipline of sickness and death is not final judgement but remedial and disciplinary
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Thus, self-judgment may spare a person God’s disciplining judgment so that he or she may be spared final judgment.
- judgment as discipline
12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,
and whom you teach out of your law,
These judgments were chastisements designed for the benefit of those who suffered, to bring them to repentance, that they might not be finally condemned with the world—that is, with unbelievers.
Ex: Ray Comfort: You’re on a cliff and you feel fear. Is that fear good or bad?
Ex: As I hear this warning I remember a rebel who knew better....
What kind of God takes rebels who was not seeking for him and pays their penalty and removes their sin by slaughtering his own son.
What kind of Son then gives his own righteousness to those rebels and makes them family.
And what kind of God often sees his own children despise his church and fighting each other and instead of abandoning them disciplines them so they might know him and enjoy him now and forever?
When God warns us about judgement isn’t it really a mercy an act of love.
Let’s us remember our story, a story of amazing grace!
So What?
So What?
Let us approach the table as one body with humble awareness and sober recognition.
The Lord's Supper must be approached as one body with humble awareness and sober recognition.
Exaplin
Communion in Romania - open communion
The precious nature of our covenant community
The high price of our redemption in Christ
The sure promise of Jesus’ return
- READ TOGETHER
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
The first song give us an opportunity for not only examination but thanksgiving as we devote ourselves anew to live for him.
Take your time, come get both elements and as we worship together let us remember Christ body the was broken and his blood that was shed.
Prayer focus:
Tim Whitesides at KMBC
Chip Sloan at First baptist KM
Joey Denton at Seven Oaks
Casey Shaw at Redemption Hill
Jeff Long @ Parkwood