Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today, we are right back into our study of 1 Corinthians 11.

We are in the section that covers one of the great ordinances given to the local church, the Lord’s Table.

If you recall from our previous study, the Corinthian church turned this vital ordinance into a mockery.

Consequently, God was not happy with them.

Note His dissatisfaction in these verses.

In our text today, God reinforces what Christ already established.

One of the wonderful things about Gods’ Word is that not only does it point out what is wrong in our lives, it also gives the right actions to take that please God.

For that reason, verses 23 -27 send us back to the night that Christ gave this wonderful ordinance.

So here is the first point for this morning.

The Proper Use of the Lord’s Table

Note verses 23-27.

The sole purpose of the Lord’s Table is noted in verses 24 and 25 with the phrase “this do in remembrance of me.”

Christ gave us this ordinance to remember Him.

It is a memorial to Him.

However, there is one interesting little tidbit about this particular memorial.

Christ wanted us remember how He died.

This is quite different than most memorial.

Anytime we attend a person’s funeral or memorial, the focus is alway on how they LIVED and not on how they DIED.

Yet, Christ said, “do in remembrance of me” with an emphasis on remembering His death.

Both elements of the Lords’ Table, the bread and the juice, speak of how Christ died.

The Bread Represents His Broken Body

Look again at verse 24.

If you go back to the Gospel of Luke, we read the following.

Christ used something very simple.

Bread is very ordinary item.

We often eat bread at every meal.

He took that simple, ordinary item and made it something special by which we might remember Him.

Note that He took the bread and He brake it.

That one simple gesture contained a world of symbolism.

Going back to verse 24 of our text.

The Holy Spirit reminds us that the bread represents Christ’s body which was “broken for you.”

Without any doubt, Christ suffered horribly not just on the cross, but even during the time that led up to His crucifixion.

He was bruised, beaten, and spat upon for you and for me.

Listen to the words of Matthew 27.

One Bible Commentator wrote concerning the beating Christ suffered at the hands of soldiers the following words.

“…the scourge of leather throngs was loaded with lead, or armed with spikes and bones, which lacerated the back, and chest, and face, till the victim sometimes fell down before the judge a bleeding mass of torn flesh…scourging was the terrible introduction to crucifixion…stripped of His clothes, His hands tied and bent back, the Victim would be bound to a column or stake, in front of the Praetorium…From His bleeding Body they tore the clothes, in mockery arrayed Him in scarlet or purple.

For crown they wound together thorns, and for sceptre they placed in His Hand a reed.”

Christ knew the suffering that He would experience.

He understood the beating that lay before Him.

For that reason, Christ said, “This is my body given for you.”

All this He did for you and for me.

Hence, the Lord’s Table was given as a time to remember how His body was broken so that we might “live unto righteousness.”

It is by His “stripes” we are healed.

The Juice Represent His Shed Blood

Note something interesting in verse 25.

Here we find that Christ says, “This cup is the NEW TESTAMENT in my blood.”

What did He mean by that it was the NEW TESTAMENT in by blood?

In the Greek, the word “testament” means covenant.

It is a contractual agreement between two parties requiring binding action by one or both parties.

In our text, Christ states His blood, which, by the way He willingly shed for us, is the basis of a NEW TESTAMENT (Covenant) between God and men.

Christ’s death ushered in a new way in which God dealt with men.

Specifically, man’s sin was atoned not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of God Himself.

Now, not how often we are do remember the manner in which Christ died.

Look again at 1 Corinthians 11:25

Essentially, Christ instructed us to do often and do it as memorial to Him.

Three Important Purposes for Remembering the Lord’s Death

The first, we just covered over the last few minutes.

Observing the Lord’s Table causes us to...

Look BACK to an Empty Cross

Yes, He suffered greatly for us.

And, yes, He willingly shed His blood as payment for our sins.

However, as we look back to the Cross of Calvary we see an empty cross.

He is not there.

You see Christ did suffer, He died, they buried Him in a tomb, but, praise God, He walked out of that tomb on the third day just as He promised.

He walked out victorious over sin, death, and hell.

Accordingly, each time we observe the Lord’s table we LOOK BACK and see an empty Cross knowing all that He has done for all those who will repent and accept His finished work.

It is the essence of the Gospel message.

Here is another important purpose for remembering the Lord’s death.

Note in our text 1 Corinthians 11:26

The second purpose is found in the last three words of this verse.

Observing the Lord’s Table causes us to...

Look FORWARD to His Return

Each time we observe the Lord’s Table it should remind us that He is coming again.

Our great hope as believers and as a local church is the fact that our Lord is coming again.

Not only did He die, He rose again on the third day, He ascended to Heaven, and one day very soon He is coming back for us.

The Lord’s Table provides us the wonderful opportunity to LOOK BACK at what Christ did for us.

It is a wonderful opportunity for us to LOOK AHEAD to His return.

Here is the last purpose.

It is purpose that I think is vitally important to every believer.

Observing the Lord’s Table cause us to...

Look WITHIN to Unrepented Sin

the Holy Spirit clearly indicates that believer were guilty of partaking unworthily of the Lord’s Table.

In fact, the Holy Spirit was quite clear that God judges those who do so.

God brought upon those who did so physical weakness and sickness.

And, in the end, for some who would not repent, He shortened their life.

The word “sleep” is a word used to indicate a believer’s death.

Listen, God’s Word is just a relevant today as when the Holy Spirit uttered these words over 2000 years ago.

God expects each believer to come to the Lord’s Table prepared and ready to partake in manner worthy of the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection.

What does that mean?

First, to be worthy, you must be born-again.

No one can identify with the Lord’s death until they have personally accepted all that Christ did for them on the cross of Calvary.

This means you must...

Realize you are sinful and without hope.

Repent of your sinfulness and turn to Christ as your only source of hope.

Accept by faith alone that Christ paid the penalty for your sin with His own blood upon the cross of Calvary.

Call out to Him with our mouth confessing these things and fully believing them in your heart.

Second, for us as believers, we must...

Examine our own hearts for any sin we might be harboring or hiding.

Confess those sins and seek His forgiveness.