27 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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Cor 11:27-30 (NKJV)
Today, we will be taking part in the Lord’s Supper together. We are creatures of habit and tradition, and often we do things without really even knowing why.
Illustration – Girl asks mom why she always cuts the ends off of the roast before cooking it. “My mom always did”. Girl asks grandma. “Because it wouldn’t fit in my pan otherwise”
It’s not bad, necessarily, to participate in things even though you don’t really understand why. As a matter of fact – Paul begins the chapter in which our text is found by saying, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1)
But we need to grow in our understanding of these things – or we may be guilty of doing the same thing that the Corinthian church did, and go astray once the example is gone.
WHAT IS THE LORD’S SUPPER?
The Lord’s Supper commemorates Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before his death… There is speculation as to whether this was actually the Passover meal, or Seder, or whether it was a meal at the beginning of the Preparation day (the Jewish day begins at 6:00 pm). At this meal:
- Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, and taught on greatness
- Jesus announced that one would betray him, Jesus tells John, Judas leaves
- Jesus teaches (John chapters 13-17 dedicated to Jesus teaching at this meal)
- After the meal, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection
- He takes breaks and serves bread and wine, comparing them to his body and blood
After the resurrection and ascension, the church grew through CLOSE FELLOWSHIP.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
This fellowship became an important part of the church. The book of Acts records that at least the church in Jerusalem took this fellowship seriously:
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 4:34-35 (NKJV)
Our text is taken from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, written more than 20 years after Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. It is the first indication that at some point this close fellowship between Christians began to be associated with “The Lord’s Supper”.
It is interesting that there is no mention at all in the book of Acts of participation in a communion-like ceremony. We don’t know when this began to take place – probably relatively early in the life of the church. As they broke bread together and talked about Jesus, the words that He spoke at the Last Supper would have certainly been remembered. At some point, this memory was memorialized into the practice of breaking bread from a single loaf of bread and drinking from the cup – accompanied with a prayer of thanksgiving for Jesus body and blood. Paul apparently had taught this practice to the Corinthian church:
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 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." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Cor 11:23-26 (NKJV)
In later years, many theologies regarding this practice developed. We do not have time in this context to discuss these – but we will do so as a part of our Wednesday night “What We Believe” series.
HOW SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER?
What I want to do today is examine Paul’s teaching to the Corinthian church based on this short history. I especially want to look at his warning in vs 29:
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Cor 11:29 (NKJV)
Many people use this verse to keep some from receiving communion, or they refuse to take communion themselves because they are afraid that they are “unworthy”.
First of all – we’re all unworthy to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Paul is warning against participating in an unworthy manner. What does this mean?
It may help us to examine a rephrasing of this verse… Some of the early texts omit “in an unworthy manner” and “Lord’s”. This does not alter the meaning of the verse – it merely helps us to understand what is meant in either scenario. Look at this verse from the New American Standard Bible:
For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 1 Cor 11:29 (NASB)
In verse 27, Paul states that whoever participates unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. In verse 29, he explains what this means – it is not discerning the Lord’s body.
The Corinthians were getting together, probably once a week, for a supper/fellowship. As was apparently the practice of the church, they were calling this the “Lord’s Supper”. But Paul says, in verse 20, “What you’re doing is not the Lord’s Supper!”
Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor 11:20 (NKJV)
Why did he say this?
First, they were not regarding others.
For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 1 Cor 11:21 (NKJV)
Also – there were divisions among them.
For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 1 Cor 11:19 (NKJV)
It sounds much like an issue that the disciples themselves were facing in the days leading up to the Last Supper… They were debating who would be the greatest among them.
34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:34-35 (NKJV)
Jesus himself demonstrated this concept at the last supper, when he washed the feet of his disciples.
It was after the mother of James and John came to Jesus and asked for her sons to sit on his right and left that Jesus responded:
But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink… ?, Matt 20:22 (NKJV)
It is interesting that Jesus used this analogy of drinking from a cup… They had no idea what he was talking about – probably until after the Last Supper. But Paul tells us what it means to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Cor 11:26 (NKJV)
Was Jesus asking James and John if they would be able to participate in the Eucharist? No. He was asking them if they could completely sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. That is the bread and cup of Christ – a body broken for you, and blood shed for you…
This is indeed why Christ died – not for himself, but for others. And this is what communion, or taking the Lord’s cup, is about. It’s about us sharing in the body of Christ.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:22-23 (NKJV)
You see, the Lord’s Supper is about our relationship with one another – our fellowship. It’s about a willingness to become a servant. To sacrifice ourselves for others… Because only in this ideal can we fellowship with Christ.
The Lord’s Supper reminds me that I cannot commune with Christ alone. I must discern the Lord’s body.
The Lord’s Supper reminds me that Christ’s passion must be my passion.
The Lord’s Supper reminds me that it is not about me.
We have so many reasons for coming to church. We have so many reasons for desiring fellowship. But Paul asks us to examine ourselves from time to time, and ask ourselves this question:
Is my fellowship with this church about me, or is it about serving others?
We live in a generation that practices convenient Christianity. “When it suits my goals…” “When it fits my schedule…” “If I don’t have to far out of my way…”
But we are about to partake together of the Lord’s supper. And I can hear Jesus asking the question, “Can you drink from the cup that I drink from?”
There is nothing convenient about communion with Christ.
I can hear Paul asking, “Are you discerning the Lord’s body?”
Let’s pray together…
[Enter into the communion ceremony]
