A Time For The Lord’s Supper (Hix)

1 Cor. 11:24-34

A Time Of Appreciation:

1 Cor. 11:24-and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Attitude Of Gratitude

The Lord’s supper is a time not only to remember what He has done for us, but also a time of showing gratitude of what He has done!

A Time Of Proclamation:

1 Cor. 11:26-For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Every time we partake of the Lord’s supper, we are proclaiming that what Jesus did on the cross was real!

The sacrifice that Jesus made, was real!

The grace that Jesus offers, is real!

The peace that Jesus offers, is real!

We are proclaiming that the life and death and resurrection of Jesus was and is a actual event, it’s not some fabricated story, not some fairy tale passed down from one generation to another, it is real, with real consequences, if people don’t accept what Jesus has done for them.

A Time Of Anticipation:

1 Cor. 11:26-For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom." He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty." The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." Answered the jury foreman: "Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t."

Are we looking, are we anticipation our Lord’s return?

Just think, maybe the next time you take the Lord’s supper, could be in heaven!

A Time Of Examination:

1 Cor, 11:27-32-Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

It doesn't hurt to take a hard look at yourself from time to time.

During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. "Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup." "No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

We need to make sure that our heart is right before God!

A Time Of Consideration:

1 Cor. 11:33-34-Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

They would come together in Paul’s day, and they would just begin to eat, not waiting to eat the meal together.

It had changed from something special to something normal, it had turn into just a meal and not a time of remembrance, a time of reflection, or a time of hope.

That is why we wait till everybody has the bread to eat and the juice to drink, so that we can do it all together.

Because the truth is we are all in this together….This walk with Christ!

I can get farther along in my walk with Christ, if I have you walking along side of me, praying for me, encouraging me, and challenging me!