CELEBRATING THE LORD’S SUPPER
1 Corinthians 11:20-34
THE
ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH VERSUS THE WORLD
Prior to getting to verse 20, Paul discusses the difference
between the
The attitude of the world and the attitude of Church members
and the
Exercise of Christian freedom.
Paul first points to the family order established by God the
Father.
God is the head of the Son, The Son is the head of Man, and
Man is
The head of the woman.
Man and woman were created as equals, yet there is a Godly
order.
The woman was created with long hair. The man was created
with
Shorter hair. The hair of the woman is her covering and her
glory.
The woman is the glory of the man.
I do not believe Paul is giving Biblical doctrine concerning
the
Length of hair because he spoke of the nature of things.
Man and woman should exercise their freedom to honor God
With their hair. In prayer in the Church man’s head is to be
uncovered,
Honoring the SON OF GOD. Women should have their hair covered
in prayer
In the Church honoring man. Again, not a law but the exercise
of personal
Freedom to honor God and man. (feel free to disagree ).
Next Paul discussed the division between the poor of the
world and the rich.
In banquets, the rich were seated in a special room with
special food.
The poor were grouped in a room with lesser quality food
And drink.
This attitude of separation of the rich and poor was taken
into the Church
At Corinth and was unacceptable.
UNACCEPTABLE LORD’S SUPPER
V:20 When
you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each
of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another
gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the
church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you?
Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
A. Since there was no Church building,
the early Church was held in
The homes of well to do believers.
1. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper
took on the attitude of
The world.
2. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper
did not take place
As a group event.
3. The believers came individually to the
homes and ate.
4. Some got full and some got drunk.
5. Apparently, the poor came last and
found nothing to eat.
B. This was in opposition to the
teaching and disrespectable to
The Lord and the poor.
1. This was the first celebration
instituted by our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ in remembrance
of the greatest
And the most important
event in Church history.
2. This celebration was the start of the
persecution of
The church and the deliverance
of all believers into
To fellowship with the
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3. To partake in this celebration
lightly is to dishonor the blood
Shed on the cross for all
mankind.
4. Christ died on the cross not just for
believers, but for
The sins of the entire
world.
5. We cannot be praised for showing up
at church with
No appreciation of the redeeming
event of the cross.
THE
DOCTRINE OF COMMUNION
V:23 For I
received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the
night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it
and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of
me." 25 In the same way, after
supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood;
do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
A. This celebration is of utmost
importance so we must be reminded
Over and over again in our lifetime in remembrance of the
Covenant Jesus ratified with His blood, shed on the cross.
1. The birth of our Lord Jesus was the
start of the redeeming
Process, but just a start.
2. The life of Our Lord Jesus on earth
was Biblical teaching,
But Just teaching.
3. His death on the cross was the one-time
atonement of sins
Of all mankind, from Adam
to the last person born
On earth until His second
coming.
4. No event in Church history is more important
to
Get us ready for His
resurrection from the dead.
5. His death and resurrection opened the
door for
Our Redemption into
eternal life with Him.
B. This final celebration of our Lord
and Savior with His
Disciples set the stage and the standard for celebrations
In Churches all over the world for all times.
1. Jesus's death and resurrection
fulfilled all the requirements
Of the covenant of the
Law, bring it to an end
And replacing it with the
covenant of Grace.
2. Jesus humbly submitted Himself to the
will
Of the Father in total
obedience.
C. This celebration consisted of two
parts, the bread
And the wine.
1. The Passover had it start the night
the death angel
Passover the homes of the
Israelites marked with
Lamb's blood prior to
them being released form
Bondage in Egypt.
2. This was a forerunner to our
redemption by the blood
Of Christ.
3. The unleavened bread represents was
the bread of affliction
for the Israelite ancestors
ate.
4. In this final Passover of Jesus, the
bread represented His
Crucified body.
5. The wine was a representation for the
Israelites of all the
Blood sacrifices they
were required to make under the law.
6. For this final Passover sacrifice of
Jesus, the wine represented
His blood, which was shed
on the cross for the atonement of our sins.
7. The wine represented the new covenant
in the blood of
Of Jesus.
8. The blood of Jesus is the payment for
the sins of all
Mankind.
9. The blood of Jesus cleanses the
believer of all unrighteousness.
10.The blood of Jesus is a one-time
sacrifice for all times, past,
Present, and future.
11.The problem with blood sacrifices
under the law as it had to
Be done over and over
again and did not save.
D. Celebrating the Passover with bread
and wine is a constant
Reminder of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1. We are encouraged to celebrate the
Passover feast as often
As we desire.
2. The Passover celebration represents
our hope in the
the second coming of the
Lord.
3. The Second coming of Christ is hope
in the
the new heaven and new earth where we will an
Eternity with Christ.
4. Jesus presents us with a spiritual
diet to maintain our
Spiritual hope.
5. Notice Jesus gave thanks to the
Father His coming
Death.
6. How much more should we give thanks
for our trouble
In this life.
7. Enduring the troubles of life with
faith gives rise to
Our eternal blessings
with Christ.
GUILTY OF
SIN AGAINST THE BODY
V:27
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy
manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A
man ought to examine himself before he eats the bread and drinks from the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats
and drinks judgment on himself.
A. According to the IVP Bible Background
Commentary,
the Passover Celebration was held
in the homes of rich believers.
1. The rich believers separated
themselves from the poor
Eating in different rooms
thus promoted racial bias
In the Church.
2. In the eyes of Christ, there are no
big “I” or little “you”.
We are all equal in His
sight.
3. To show biases of any kind is a sin
against the body of Christ.
4. All have sinned and fallen short of
the glory of God.
5. To consider ourselves sinless and
without fault is sin.
6. To consider ourselves better than any
other person is sin.
B. We are commanded to examine ourselves
before we eat
The bread and drink the wine in celebration of the Lord’s
Death.
1. This very day we may have done
something or thought
Something that is
displeasing to God.
2. If we have an unforgiving spirit, we
must forgive
So we can be forgiven.
3. If we eat the bread and drink the
wine with
Unforgiven sin, we bring
judgment upon ourselves.
4. It would be better to not partake in
the celebration
With unforgiven sins.
THE
CONSEQUENCES OF CELEBRATING UNWORTHILY
V: 30 That
is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen
asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32
When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be
condemned by the world.
A. Notice the severe consequences of
participating in the celebration
Unworthy.
1. The body is weakened.
2. We may experience sudden illnesses.
3. We can experience an early death.
B. Notice believers who take the
sacrament unworthily do lose
Their salvation.
1. They are chastened by the Lord
2. The discipline of the Lord is according
to His grace and
Mercy.
3. It is a sign to other believers to
take the sacrament in good
Faith.
PERSONAL PREPARATION
BEFORE THE CELEBRATION
V:33 So
then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If
anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may
not result in judgment.
And when I
come, I will give further directions.
A. Again, Paul warns against racial,
social, and cultural biases.
1. These biases divide the church and
are a sin against the
Body of Christ.
2. The communion should be held as a
sacred event.
3. The communion in the Church should be
taken by all at
One time in one place with
a focus on the Lord’s
Second coming.
B. The communion is not a social event
but a divine
Sacrament.
1. The church at Corinth had made the
communion a
A social event and a time
of wining and dining.
2. The sacrament was held in the homes
of wealthy
Believers who provided a
full meal.
3. Two classes of meals were prepared,
one for the
Wealthy and a lesser meal
for the poor.
C. Paul urged the believers to eat at
home so as not
To be tempted to sin in the body during the taking
Of the Lord’s supper.
1. It is the believer's job to come to
the Lord’s supper
With a clean heart.
2. It is the believer’s job to view the communion
as a
Divine celebration of the
Lord’s death.
3. We honor the Lord with the taking of the
communion.
4. We honor the Lord when we remember
the mercy
He displayed for us with
His death on the cross.
5. We honor the Lord when we appreciate in
good faith
the redeeming Grace of
His blood.
THANK GOD FOR THE
SACRIFICE OF HIS SON
Rev. M. Mitchell
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