13: Significance of The Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:17-33) & Communion

What’s the Significance of the Lord’s Supper?

Early on in the history of the Church, Communion or The Lord’s Supper was more than a memorial - it was a meal - what Jude (the 1/2 brother of Jesus) calls a “love feast” - a time for believers from all walks of life - young and old - rich and poor - to experience & participate the community in Christ.

As we saw last week, The Lord’s Supper (aka Communion) is a time where we share together as ONE BODY, as we appreciate Jesus - the Bread of Life - who gave His life for US.

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (CSB)

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the Body of Christ? Because there is One Bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the One Bread.

But there’s a significant problem when the gathering that was intended to bind Corinthian Christians together became a time of division instead. - as we are about to see.

1 Corinthians 11:17–19 (CSB)

Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

Paul is frustrated that the church gathering wasn’t a time of solidarity & unity but a time of separation & division.

If there’s any positive spin on this negative situation, it’s this: when divisions over issues that matter occur, it clarifies & separates those approved by God from those who are not - those who obey God from those who do not.

We see this happen on issues like abortion, sexual purity, and the authority of Scriptures.

And of all times and places for the Corinthian church to be divided, it was during what was supposed to be the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:20–22 (CSB)

When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!

The church would come together to eat the Lord’s Supper, but it wasn’t really “the Lord’s Supper” because some people were more interested in filling their bellies than remembering Jesus & embracing one another in community.

They went through the motions, but they didn’t experience of emotions the first disciples of Jesus experienced.

They might have quoted from Jesus’ words and consumed the meal, but they DIDN’T experience His Presence & peace.

This is obvious as some ate and didn’t wait, some were drinking too much (drunk), while others were left hungry - likely because the food is gone by the time they show up.

Some of the more wealthy & free believers likely opened their homes for these “love feasts” (as Jude 12 calls them).

The first who arrived - those with more freedoms - likely filled the small private dining room...

while the latecomers - those who had to finish work before arriving - would be seated in a different place, an overflow area - like a courtyard.

[Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 228.]

And while this division between white-collar and blue-collar workers was the norm in Corinthian gatherings, it was NOT to be the norm among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rather than humiliate the poor believers among them, this meal was to help all to see that we are ALL LOVED by the King who laid down His life for us. So too, we are to lay down our lives for one another.

1 John 3:16 (CSB)

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

If we’re willing to lay down our lives for one another, we should certainly give up the best seats and wait on the others to eat the meal.

In fact, the Lord’s Supper is the very reminder that Jesus laid down His life for us! And it was there that Jesus reminded His disciples that he wanted them to do the same for one another - remember that just moments before this meal Jesus washed the disciples’ feet saying:

John 13:14–15 (CSB)

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

The Corinthians, however, rather than serving one another and treating each other with value,

chose to despise what the church was to represent and humiliate the poor brothers and sisters instead of embracing them, and Paul is frustrated by this.

Do WE value every brother and sister in Christ…OR…do we devalue those who aren’t as wealthy, beautiful, or mature as the others?

The Lord’s Supper = thanking Jesus and embracing our brothers & sisters.

Are you in right relationship with your brothers and sisters OR do you need to exit today and make that right? Jesus once said,

Matthew 5:23–24 (CSB)

So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

The most significant act of obedience today might NOT be to partake in communion, but to rebuild community with a brother or sister.

And now we get purposefully skip down the text and will come back to what happened at the original Lord’s Supper.

But before we do, let’s consider the warning shot Paul fires.

1 Corinthians 11:27–28 (CSB)

So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.

This is the time that we need to examine ourselves. If we are focused on something besides THANKING Jesus & EMBRACING our brothers and sisters, then we should NOT partake of this meal today.

If we are living in sin instead of turning from sin, then we should NOT partake of this meal today.

If you aren’t a follower of Jesus, then this meal is NOT for you…YET! I pray there will be a day when you turn from your sin and TRUST in Jesus. Then you will appreciate and participate in “The Lord’s Supper”.

If you need to talk when we’re done, I PLEAD with you to come talk to our STAFF

or DEACONS.

If you ARE in right relationship with Jesus and in right relationship with your brothers and sisters - or if even right now - you will repent of sin - then please participate!

1 Corinthians 11:29–30 (CSB)

For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the Body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

Are you recognizing the body of the Lord Jesus - thanking Jesus and embracing your brothers & sisters?

IF NOT, don’t be surprised if God brings judgment on you - like sickness or death (“asleep”).

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (CSB) If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.

If we are properly judging ourselves, we don’t have to worry about being judged by the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:33–34 (CSB)

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.

The Lord’s Supper = thanking Jesus and embracing your brothers & sisters.

So, I invite you to examine your life before you partake of “The Lord’s Supper”. Ask the Lord to help you focus on thanking Him & embracing your brothers and sisters.

PRAY [Band & Deacons come forward]

And now we come to it, the last Passover meal between Jesus and His first disciples - the moment in the meal that the “The Lord’s Supper” revolves around.

MUSIC PLAYS & DEACONS pass elements

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (CSB)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Given thanks is a participle of the term eucharisteō, from which we get Eucharist*, meaning “thanksgiving”.

John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), 272.

Can you imagine this moment, after Jesus warns that He is about to be betrayed, Jesus takes the unleavened bread - removing the yeast became imagery for removing sin.

And Jesus uses the imagery of this bread to represent what is about to happen to HIMSELF. He is about to be ripped apart - for you!

May we eat this bread, as we THANK JESUS for giving His body up for us!

1 Corinthians 11:25 (CSB)

In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant that evening…BUT they never forgot what it meant AFTER the death, burial, and resurrection of their King!

May we drink this juice, as we THANK JESUS for giving His blood - His LIFE - up for us!

There’s one more thing the disciples of Jesus should NEVER forget. Jesus didn’t just die, get buried, resurrect, and ascend to heaven. He also promised to return!

1 Corinthians 11:26 (CSB)For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Turn to some folks around you, give them a high 5 or a hug...and remind them…

Let’s LIVE like Jesus IS coming back.

discussionquestions Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? Explain your answer.

How important is the Lord’s Supper in your life? How should a person prepare for the Lord’s Supper & when might be the best time to do so?

Read 1 Cor 11:17-19. How do divisions within the Church (i.e. Christians) impact the significance of the Lord’s Supper and what are the first steps believers should take to reconcile relationships? Do you have any good ideas on how to make sure our next Lord’s Supper might become more relational with other believers?

Read 1 Cor 11:20-22 & 33-34. How would you respond to the person who says, “The Lord’s Supper is a personal thing, just between me and Jesus, and has nothing to do with other Christians.”? How might remembering the “Last Supper” of Jesus and His disciples (read Jn 13:12-15) help you see this as a community experience instead of a personal experience?

Read 1 Cor 11:27-32. Why should we take the Lord’s Supper so seriously? Why is it better to examine & judge ourselves rather than being “judged by the Lord” (v31)?

Read 1 Cor 11:23-26. What do you think would been different about the “last supper” (before Jesus died) compared to the next time the disciples participated in “the Lord’s Supper” (after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus)? Based on v. 26, what is the future hope that followers of Jesus should be prepared for?

What are some things that need to change in your life if you knew Jesus was returning this week?

What other questions has this teaching or discussion prompted for us to talk about?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.