1 Corinthians 11 gives instructions for the Lord's Supper. It was vital then as well as now for a Christian to know how to properly observe this memorial. The church at Corinth was divided when they should have been united in this. Paul had to write them so they would properly understand the correct way to observe it. Those are the same instructions we should follow today.
The subject of the Lord's Supper is certainly not something we can fully examine in one lesson, but our goal this morning is a general overview of the passage.
WHAT IS IT? POWERPOINT
A.
It's a memorial.
1. In the United States we are familiar with Memorial Day. Once a year in late May many remember the sacrifice of our service men and women in defending our freedom.
2. Christ shed His blood for the remission of sins -
Ephesians 1:7
a. That death made the new covenant possible -
Heb 9:16
3. Spiritually,
every first day of the week we remember the sacrifice of our Savior when we partake of the Lord's Supper.
a. Christians partake of the bread in memory of His body and drink the fruit of the vine in memory of His blood.
1. What did Jesus say in
Mt 26: 26-28
a. Did His disciples think they were partaking of His actual body? No. His literal body was very much present when they partook of the bread and the fruit of the vine. They in no way could have thought they were eating His own body and blood.
b. If the cup had been transformed into His blood they could not have partaken of it because of the Mosaical prohibition of eating blood.
b. Christians remember the death of Jesus on the cross
1. We also remember His betrayal, His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest and kiss by Judas, the mock trial with the false witnesses, the accusations of blasphemy, the trial at the hands of Pilate, the scourging, carrying of the cross, the nails, the crucifixion, the death, the spear, etc.
c. "
this do" (
24) makes the act of observing the Lord's supper an act of obedience to a divine command.
d. Christians do not have a choice of whether or not to partake of the Lord's supper in the same sense as they have the choice of whether or not to eats meats. It's a command of Christ and Christians simply obey.
e. The Lord's Supper helps us keep the sacrifice of Christ foremost in our minds.
4. This is partaken of in a spirit of reverence. - "a worthy manner" (
27)
a. Many have misunderstood this passage saying they are not worthy to partake if it and refuse to do so. Quite simply none of us are worthy when compared to the sacrifice of Christ. This doesn't teach we must be worthy to partake of it.
1.
Unworthily (
anaxios) is an adverb modifying eat and drink. The verse is referring to
how one eats and not
who eats.
2. The context of the verse refers to the fact that those in Corinth were treating it as a common meal. Some were even drunk (
21). They didn't give it the respect it deserved.
3. We can be guilty of not giving the proper respect today.
B.
It's a time for self-examination
1. examine or "test" - a man examines himself to see if his thinking is right to partake of the Lord's Supper and to make the mental changes necessary to do so.
2. We reflect on our spiritual condition - (
28)
3. We examine ourselves to see if we are living for Jesus who died for us -
2 Cor 5: 14-15
4. We realize our sis separated us from God - Isaiah 59:2
5. Jesus died while we were enemies - Romans 5: 10
C. It's a communion
1. It's a showing of unity with both Jesus and one another
2. 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
3. John 17: 17-23
4. It's something we do looking to the future - 1 Corinthians 11:26
Conclusion We are reminded that the Jesus is coming again . Acts 1: 10-11, John 14: 1-3; 1 Thess 4: 13-18