23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In 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." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore, 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. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34If 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.- 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Christians today should never lose sight of the Supper’s significance for us...
1. A command from the Lord that’s been passes down to us (v.23)
2. A constant reminder of the great sacrifice Jesus paid for our sins (v.24,25)
3. A cutting of a new covenant (v.25,Gen.15)
• He brought all these animals to him, split them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other…When the sun was down and it was dark, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch moved between the split carcasses. That’s when God made a covenant with Abram (Gen 15:10-21, Message)
4. A celebration that shouts what God went through to bring us forgiveness of all our sins and anticipation of the return of the King “until he comes” (v.26)
5. A communion or sharing of the body and blood of the Lord (all are equal under the cross rather than sectarian or division of classes (v.27-29,v.18)
Instead of time of enjoyment of fellowship what we got was conduct unbecoming the church
• For in the first place, when you assemble as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques (divisions and factions) among you; and I in part believe it,…
• For in eating each one [hurries] to get his own supper first [not waiting for the poor], and one goes hungry while another gets drunk…
• Or do you despise the church of God and mean to show contempt for it, while you humiliate those who are poor (have no homes and have brought no food)? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, [most certainly] I will not! - 1 Corinthians 11:18-22 (Amplified)
6. A call to self-examination and rededication of our service to the Lord and to each other (v.28)
7. A critical mistake to take the Lord’s Supper flippantly or without regard (v.29-32)
Let the coming together be an exercise of love
• 33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, WAIT FOR EACH OTHER. 34If 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.
Next Steps
1. Reflect on Christ’s death for you
2. Respond to His sacrifice
3. Reveal all your shortcomings to Him
4. Rejoice that Christ forgave all sins
5. Renew commitment to the church, His body
6. Refrain from overt introspection but “wait for each other”
7. Remember Jesus is coming again!
Let us never neglect opportunities we have to observe the Lord’s Supper, but to continue steadfastly, remembering all He has done by His grace to save us and give a hope for the future and in so doing "proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes."
