The Purpose of the Lord's Supper
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Personal Introduction
Dismiss kids
Thank you to those who serve in our LBC Kids Grow program. Whether you are working in nursery, leading the bible study hour, or in our Wednesday program you are an amazing group of people. That team is divided between a few leaders right now. Kim is our nursery director, Sarah runs our bible study hour, and our Wednesday program is currently being lead by Sarah and Jordan.
Thank you to the moms and dads that have made the wise decision to have your kids involved at church. Without you we wouldn’t have programs to run.
Today we are going to be continuing with our series ReThinking Church. We are have been in this study through the book of 1 Corinthians Where the Apostle Paul wrote back to a church he had planted 5 years prior and is addressing things he has heard about and a list of questions that was to him.
Last week we saw how he made a great deal about the heart and submission to the roles God has called us to for His glory, not ours.
This week we are looking at a passage that is pretty familiar to many believers but maybe it’s not to you, that’s ok. Today you get learn something new.
I’d like for us to discuss the purpose of the Lord’s Supper in the life of a believer.
One of the greatest points of this ReThinking Church Series has come from the first message I believe that is how we understand the word church.
In case you weren’t here for that let me remind you that the word church you see in scripture is actually the word Ekklesia in Greek.
The greek word ekkliesa doesn’t translate over to church, especially as we use it in our language today. The word church is a translation from the word kirche, which is a germanic word that was developed in the 1600s to identify the system of Christian worship, primarily catholicism, whereas ekklesia speaks to just a congreagation or gathering of people with a unified purpose.
They are called out of society into a meeting based on a like minded belief. During the 1st century the word ekklesia was also used to describe a group gathered for political discussion or philosophical debates.
It’s important to remeber that the church mentioned in scripture is made up of the person to your left and to your right and not a building or organization.
As we approach this topic of the Lord’s supper today we are going to be looking at it’s purpose and truly I believe there is 1 purpose for the church to observe the Lord’s supper and that is to remember what Jesus did for us on the Cross.
What is the byproduct of us properly doing that together?
In one word; Unity.
That just doesn’t happen though. The believers at Corinth had been observing the Lord’s supper but they had been doing so in an unworthy manner. This was leading to problems.
Look with me please at how Paul addressed them on this topic
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1 Cor 11:17-22
Exegete:
Paul is very direct here and telling them he is not praising them or commending them for their actions when they come together.
The historical context of this is about feasts they would have known as Agape feasts or love feats. Think of a baptist potluck. It was supposed to be a time where the church got together on equal ground, remember last week I talked about how the church during that day was one of the only if not the only place where all people from all walks of life regardless of gender, social status, and anything else could come together.
This time they had together was being abused. The rich were eating with the rich and the poor with the poor. They had created cliques based upon social status to the point that the rich were not sharing with the poor.
They were coming together just for themselves and not for others. They were not looking out for one another.
The rich had their own houses to eat in and the middle class as well, and Paul is telling them “ you can eat at home. Come together to feed others.”
Even the early church was baptistic…why? Because they had potlucks.
There was no fellowship among the people who gathered together to, no friendships being created or growing, they were sticking with their social circle and it had become a country club.
When believers gather together in ekklesia, it is not for food or mutual hobbies. The purpose, the under lying foundation of believers gathering is laid out in
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
That doesn’t mean food and mutual hobbies can’t be apart of it it does mean they should not be the focus.
It also mean when we gather on Sunday mornings, we should come not for what we can get out of it but what we can give.
Illustration
I heard a story about a man that came to church faithfully for years of his life. After some time of not “getting anything” from the service he went to his pastor and told him.
“Pastor, you need to do something. I’ve come here for years every week, on wednesday nights, and every time I walk out I haven’t gotten anything from the worship, it doesn’t make me feel good, from the message all i hear is what others need to work on, or anything that goes on here. You need to make some changes so I can be blessed by being here.”
The pastor, sitting behind his desk and hearing this man’s request looks at him with a half smile from a heart of concern and says
“Sir, it’s great that you are faithful to attending the services each week. I’m thankful you want to get something from your time spent here. If I remember correctly, you come in right on time, leave as soon as its over, and I don’t think I ever see you at the events or serving opportunities we have. Is that correct?”
“Yes it is.”
“Sir your problem is not one I can solve.” “Why not?” the man replied
“Sir the problem you have is not something that will change if I preach differently, change our music, or paint a wall. Sir, you problem is your seeking to get from God and the church what Jesus said you are to give. You are seeking to be served rather than serve. You are seeking to made to feel good when God said that there is joy found in our salvation. You are seeking to hear from God through His word while only considering the speck of sawdust in somones eye while you have a beam in yours. You are trying to come to a gathering of believers without regard for the needs of those around. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than recieve. You are recieving no blessing from your time with other believers because you are giving nothing to them or the Lord.”
Apply:
What can you give to God in worship? When I say give I always think you think I mean money. I mean what part of your life can you give over to God this morning? How can you worship Him? What struggles need to be turned over to Him? What do you need to recieve from His Word so that you may give more of your life to Him? You can give your voice to Him as an act of worship in Song. Don’t say “Pastor I can’t sing” I know that and neither can I. Make a joyful noise and praise God.
What can you give to those around you? Give a smile, a kind word, and a friendly handshake. Give the gift of engagement. Engage with someone you don’t know. Learn a new name every week…learn the same name 2-3 weeks in a row until you get it.
This gathering of believers on Sunday mornings, on Wedensday nights, on Sunday nights, in your homes, in not meant to create cliques or divisions. They are opportunities to invest in the lives of others. To bear one anothers burdens. To open and honestly discuss our weakness where we are recieved with love, prayer, and pointed to Jesus.
I. Unity must be intentional
I. Unity must be intentional
Anyone here familiar with the second law of thermodynamics? Also known as the law of Entropy?
This law states: as one goes forward in time, the net entropy (degree of disorder) of any isolated or closed system will always increase (or at least stay the same).
While a scientific law based on the observance of things in nature, can I say to you it is the same with people? If we are not intentional in keeping our lives in order they fall into disorder. If we are not intentional on keeping our schedule, we will be victim to the urgent.
If we are not intentional in our relationships they will lead toward disunity. If we are not intentional to have Unity in the church with others, there will be disunity.
Paul then
speaks directly to the Lord’s Supper or Communion itself. Giving us the purpose of it here in these verses.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
1 Cor 11:23-26
Exegete:
he explains that he received this from Jesus and has told them this before.
In this explanation we see that Christ’s selflessness is in stark contrast to the selfishness they are experiencing in Corinth.
We see this scene played out in Luke
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Luke 22:19-20
I’ll detail this out a little more later but for now notice in verse 26
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Shewing the Lord’s death can also be translated “Proclaiming” the Lord’s death.
Illustration:
To proclaim something does not mean to reinact or recreate it, correct? Showing others by observance of the Lord’s supper that our faith has a foundation in the broken body and shed blood of Jesus is what Paul is communicating here.
We remind ourselves when we do this of who Jesus is and what Jesus did for the whole word.
Argue:
There are some that would say the observance of the Lord’s supper is a means of recieving grace or forgiveness from God. It’s a means of ensuring your salvation.
They would also teach what is known as the doctrine of transubstantiation. That big word means they believe that after a prayer, the elements before us would become the literal body and blood of Jesus.
Both of these are inaccurate.
First, salvation is by grace and through faith. Communion or the Lord’s supper has nothing to do with you reciecving forgiveness of sins, a relationship with God, or eternity in Heaven.
Second, Jesus often taught in what’s known as parables where he would use word pictures to describe what he was talking about.
That is exactly what he is doing here. He gave them something to remember Him by.
He didn’t have a selfie stick or the newest google pixel where he could snap a photo of all of them and remove Judas out of it later.
The simple instruction from both Paul and Jesus give us the purpose of the Lord’s supper…This do in rememberance, to remember, me.
Apply:
Observing the Lord’s supper reminds of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. It’s a reminder of the foundation that our relationships are built on. It’s the time when we enjoy Christian unity around THE thing that binds us.
II. Christian Unity is only found through Jesus
II. Christian Unity is only found through Jesus
The unity that should exist between beleivers should be starkly different than any other unity found in the world. Stronger than the unity of a family, stronger than the unity of a football team fan base, stronger than any trouble or trial that may come our way because the one who brought us together is stronger than all of those things.
Paul finishes this chapter off with what should be done before observing the Lord’s supper
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
1 Cor 11:27-34
Exegete:
The first verse could give someone the impression that we can somehow become worthy of partaking of the Lord’s supper. this couldn’t be further form the truth.
The manner in which we observe it though can be done correctly or inocrrecly.
We are to examine ourselfs for any angst or isues of the heart that are preventing fellowship with God and others. Is there any unconfessed sins that you need to take to God? Are there people in your life that you need to forgive or apologize to.
People were taking the Lord’s supper haphazardly in Corinth and Paul attributes this to their sickness and death.
It’s a time of personal reflection on Christ nothing else
Illustration:
How many of you have ever heard a emssage preached and thought “Wow, Someone needs to here this” or “WOW, tthat woudl have been great for that other person to hear.”
That’s not personal reflection or introspection of your life with Christ. That’s not what we do during the Lord’s Supper either.
Apply:
We do not come to the Lord’s supper table to judge others or fix them. We are reminded of Who Jesus is and what Jesus did for us. In the moments of reflection on those truths, you should see yourself in light of the Cross and through the gospel lens that highlights our sinfulness and his goodness.
It should not bring about feelings of guilt and remorse but of love and gratitude. Because of what Jesus did you don’t ahve to be the person you once were. Because of what Jesus did you can be who he made you to be.
This is important because
III. Unity in Community Starts with you…not them
III. Unity in Community Starts with you…not them
Our unity as a body of believers is not found becuase everyone around us is the same as us or is doing what we think they should. Our unity as believers is first and foremost found because of our personal unity with Christ.
The closer I am with Christ, the closer you are with Christ, the closer we are in Christ.
Lord’s Supper
Lord’s Supper
We are going to close this service today a little different than we normally do.
We are going to close this service with the Lord’s Supper.
Before we do, I’d like to provide you with time to for self examination.
Would you bow with me please?
Examien your heart. IF you are here and don’t know Jesus as your savior, would you trust in him now. What we are about to do won’t save you. It is only by your faith in Jesus’ death burial and resurrection that you will be saved.
If you are not a believer and are not making that life giving and life changing choice of trusting in Jesus as your Savior, please do not partatke of the elements of the Lord’s supper this morning. Jesus loves you and died for you, I love you and desire to know you more, however as Paul wrote there is an unworthy manner in which this can done and not knowing Jesus as your Savior is definitely the wrong way to do this.
Parents if your child has not trusted in Jesus, please dont’ allow them to partake of this.
Christians, take this moment and refelct on Christ. Confess any sin you have in your heart right now.
I’ll pray in just a moment and then we will observe the Lord’s Supper.
PRAY
Would you open that packet?
Take that wafer in your hand. Something I do as a reminder to me about why my saviors body was broken is I break this wafer with my fingers becuase it was my sin that was placed upon the broken body of Jesus.
Jesus said “This is my body, which i for you. Do this in remeberance of me.” [[[Take it and don’t say anything]]]
Would you open the juice portion?
Jesus said “his cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in rememberence of me.”
PRAY