The Lord's table 1 Cor 11:27-32)

Introduction

why is coming to the Lord’s table suppose to be an experience of worship ? a time of repentance but not a time of disobedience ? the simple answer is the Lords table has a proper code of conduct

Unworthy manner

1 Corinthians 11:27 (ESV)

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.

Unworthy ( anaxios) is treating the Lord’s table as a common meal, the bread and the cup as common things ( an ordinary meal). such a conduct puts anyone in state of guilt before God. Believers in Corinth did not demonstrate love to other fellow- believers at the Lord’s table.

Worthy manner

1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Examining oneself

Do you recognized that it is easier to examine others than oneself? it is simple, everyone man is justified in his own sight

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

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!

Luke 18:9 (ESV)

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt

Christ’s Example :

Philippians 2:5–7 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Christ is the example of humility and so when we come to the table of the Lord we must not

1. lose sight of our form

2. who we are equal to if not for the grace of God

3.we cannot even fit a form of God’s servant without his grace

4. That we are human

Why not unworthy

1 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

To participate at the Lord’s table with unconfessed sin or in a manner that fails to exhibit the unity of the body of Christ.To Corinth unworthy manner meant not waiting for other believers and eating too much.

1.unworthy Lord’s table manners defied the centrality of the meal fellowship in honor of Christ accomplished work on the cross.

2. undermined the hope of salvation

3. it was not considerate

4. negatively impacted all those other believers .

such bring nothing but weakness, illness and death.

Conclusion

what about you and me today ?

Are not surrounded by sinners

Are not humans

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Keep Your Old Nets in Sight (Acts 7:58)

Do not try to forget your old sins; let them ever be before you to keep you humble. I have heard of a certain high ecclesiastic who had been a fisherman. While he was rising in the world, he used to hang up his net so that he might be reminded that he had once been a fisherman. At last, the Pope made him a cardinal, and no one ever saw his net after that. They said that he had caught what he had fished for, so he put his net away.

You and I had better always keep our nets in sight to remind us of what we once were. Look at the pit out of which you were dug, and when God gives you any special mercy, say to yourself, “What a miracle of grace is this, for I was among the most undeserving of all.”