Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Our passage before us this evening covers one of the two perpetual ordinances that Christ gave to the church.

Those ordinances are baptism and Communion or “The Lord’s Supper.”

The command for the church to continue in the practice of these ordinances was until Christ returns again.

It is vital for the church to have a correct and biblical understanding of how communion is to be observed.

and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 gives us a detailed understanding.

In the beginning of ch.11, Paul praises the Corinthian church for carrying out the ordinances like he had instructed them to do, but, he condemns the way in which they were going about observing communion.

In vs.17 he declares to them “I do not praise you.”

Paul’s forcefulness stresses the awesome importance placed on Communion and the absolute necessity that it be observed properly.

In a sense Paul says “you come together for the Lords supper not for the better, not to edify yourselves by remembering the Lords death; but you're coming to gather for the worse, to tear yourselves down.”

Keeping that background in mind, let’s observe together “The 4 C’s of Communion.”

1.) The Corruption of Communion.

(v.18-22)

The Corinthians were tragically abusing the Lords supper, they were not coming together in a somber memorial service but they were having a “love feast” (potluck)

 There were 4 abuses going on:

A.) There were divisions and cliques (v18-19)

When divisions, cliques, factions and parties exist in a church the overall spirit of the church becomes disorder.

Minds and hearts are not stayed on the Lord and his peace but instead dwell upon pain, anger, gossip, pride, selfishness, misunderstanding disturbance and misrepresentation.

Paul says he “in part” believes it, meaning he didn’t believe everything he had heard, but that there was some truth to it and the church must correct it.

Division and cliques within a church do not catch God off-guard.

He allow them in order to cause the genuine believers to stand out that much more.

Divisive and cliquish people cause the love and truth of Christ to shine even brighter in the genuine believers”

“V19 tell us that factions or sects need to be Approved- the tested or genuine.

Application: The warning is clear, any person who finds himself in a group that is divisive stands in grave danger.

Divisiveness and cliquishness are proofs that a persons faith is not genuine.

That person needs to repent and truly trust Christ as savior.

B.) There was self-self-deception (v20)

They thought they were celebrating the Lords supper, but they weren’t.

They thought they were coming together to honor the Lord, but because of their divisiveness, their meeting was utterly useless and meaningless to God.

C.) There was selfishness and neglect of others (v21)

In the love feasts of the early church, everyone brought the food they could.

This made sure there was plenty for everyone, rich and poor alike, a common meal everyone shared (potluck today) 

The corinthian church wasn’t even doing a love feast correctly, instead of sharing, they were sitting off in their own groups and the poor among them were being neglected, while others were indulging and acting like gluttons and were even practicing in drunkenness.

They were celebrating in a sinful manner and not at all remembering the Lord.

There was no christian fellowship, but selfishness and indulgence

D.).

They were abusing the sanctity of the church and shaming the poor (v 22)

II.)

The Connotation (meaning) of Communion.

(v 23-26)

Jesus instituted the Lords supper the very night he was betrayed.

A.) The meaning of the bread (v 24).

It was symbolic of the battered, bruised and broken body of the Lord the was sacrificed for you and I as he died a substitutionary death for us.

When we partake of the bread, we are to remember His sacrifice, and focus our attention upon Christ.

B.) The meaning of the cup (v25)

The old covenant (the blood of bulls, sheep, and goats) was being set aside and God was establishing a new covenant with His people based in the blood of Christ.

Christ very simply instructed his followers to set aside a time to take the cup, bless it, and drink of it with one purpose in mind to focus our attention upon the Lord and remember the sacrifice of His blood for us.

C.) The reason for observing the Lords supper (v 26)

The Lords supper is both a picture and a sermon which proclaims the Lords death and his return.

III.)

The Consequences of Communion.

(v 27-30)

What does it mean to partake in communion in an unworthy manner?

When we eat the bread and drink the cup with unconfessed sin in our heart and life we are counted unworthy.

To be clear, our worthiness is only found in christ, we have no righteousness of our own, we can only be counted worthy to partake if we are in fellowship with Him, with a repentant heart toward our sin.

There are 3 consequences to taking the lords upper unworthily:

 A.) a person becomes guilty of the lords death (v 27)

His sin is against Christ -insults, offends, tramples or counts Christ death as meaning less.

B.)

You condemn yourself if you do not examine your heart for unconfessed sin.

(v 28-30)

You must confess and repent of any known sin.

Judgement does not mean the believer will be damed to Hell, that cannot happen, salvation is eternal, but you will be judged by God here.

The person who takes the bread and cup unworthily fails to think (discern) the severity of what they are doing.

Irreverence of the body and blood of Christ stirs the judgement of God.

C.)

A person is disciplined by the Lord (v30)

The corinthian abuse of the Lords supper was so rank that God acted with severe discipline that included sickness and death.

These are not symbolic (the text gives no indication of that)

 4 thoughts about God’s discipline:

God disciplines his children because He loves them.

God disciplines his children to keep us form destroying ourselves, and hurting others.

God knows what kind of discipline to use to wake his child to repentance.

God knows when a believer should be taken to heaven.

IV.)

The Correct Approach to Communion.

(v 31-34)

A.) Judge (examine) yourself (v31)

Make sure you are not living in sin or carrying some known or unconfessed sin in our hearts.

B.) Accept the chastening of the Lord (v32)

Confess, repent, and turn form the sin your life.

God is judging you here, and if he’s not judging/chastening you, then your not his Child and he will one day due you eternally.

C.)

Serve one another (v 33)

Stop acting selfishly and self indulgently and put each other first.

Share and demonstrate love for one another.

D.) Don’t bring condemnation upon yourself (v34)

Straighten your life out christian, stop living in unrepentant sin.

Change what you’ve been doin.

Eat at home (he tells the Corinthians ) and do the Lords supper decently and in order.

Conclusion:

You’ve heard a thorough treatment of the lords supper tonight, now is your time to decide what you will do with what you’ve heard.

1.)

Is there unconfessed sin-repent and forsake?

2.) Is there strife and disunity-repent and make things right?

3.) Don’t partake of the Lords supper unworthily and reap judgement on yourself.

Lord’s Supper Service Order

Opening prayer /Pass out the elements-

Talk about what the bread represents, then pray thanking God for the body of Christ.

"AND THEY ALL DID EAT"

Talk about the blood of Christ and what it meant, then pray and thank God for the blood.