3 Looks at the Lord’s Supper
1 Cor. 11:17-29
Oct. 9, 2005 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 1 Cor 11:17-29 (NASB)
I Introduction
A The Lord’s Supper has been at the center of division in churches for 2,000 years.
1 In Corinth it was originally over classes
a Roman Catholics developed the doctrine of transubstantiation (sacrament)
b Eucharist says the bread & wine complete God’s atoning work
c (IL) Lake at Mass
aa Protestants broke away from many Roman Catholic practices
bb Lutherans/Anglicans remained similar with respect to communion to the Roman Catholic Church-"really in, with, & under the wine."
d Zwingle, radical reformer of the 16th century, swung the pendulum into the opposite reaction-memorial.
2 Division on the elements
a Bread
aa Yeast, one loaf, crackers, etc.
bb Who serves the bread, cup (officials)
b Cup
aa Wine vs. juice
bb Some churches put wine & juice in tray
c Who takes communion?
aa Catechism/baptized/confirmed
bb Certain denonmination
cc Any who love the Lord
3 So many divisions on the Lord’s Supper
B The Lord’s Supper was designed precisely to foster Christian unity (to bring God’s people together around a common idea, loaf, cup, table).
1 A time for believers to look back at the cross.
a Bread (v. 24b: this is my body which is for you); cup (v. 25: this cup is the new covenant in my blood).
b We look back at the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for his sheep.
c (IL) Memorial at Mayor Park
2 A time for believers to look at themselves (v. 28)
a Paul had illustrated Christ’s unselfish behavior as displayed at the cross (broken and spilled out).
b You’ve seen how Jesus behaved, now look at ourselves.
aa In an employment office out East, there is a full-length mirror. Above the mirror are the words, "Would you hire this person?"
bb The Lord’s Supper asks us the question, "Does this person look like Christ?"
c How are we treating the poor around us?
d How are we resolving issues with other Christians that need to be resolved?
3 A time to look forward to Christ’s return (v. 26 ...until He comes)
a Keep looking where we’re going
b In a future time, we’ll partake of the same cup that Jesus does, break from the same bread.
II Conclusion
A There are two people who shouldn’t partake of the Lord’s Supper today.
1 Those who don’t love the Lord
a Everybody loves the Lord, right? Wrong
b Salvation
2 Those who are not walking in fellowship with God.
a Unrepented sin (grudge, anger, bitterness, etc.)
b Confession & repentance
3 As we come to the table, examine ourselves. I pray we discover that we are His & He is our life.
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