The Great Value Of The Lord’s Supper

The Great Value of the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - July 29, 2012

*Holding up a piece of this unleavened bread, it surely doesn’t look like much. In fact, you probably can’t see it from the back of the church. It doesn’t taste good. And it’s not enough to fill a bird. But this little piece of bread is the most important food we will ever eat. And this little cup is the most important drink we will ever drink.

*This is the only meal that God commands Christians to eat. Let’s look into God’s Word this morning to see why this little cup and piece of bread are so important for us.

1. The Lord’s Supper is important first, because it helps us reexamine our lives.

*Christians, before we take the Lord’s Supper it is vital for us to reexamine our lives. The Apostle Paul stressed this need down in vs. 27-29, where he said:

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 that bread and drink of that 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.

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

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

*Now, we certainly have to be careful with these verses. The last thing the Lord wants us to do here is try to assign blame when someone gets sick.

*Think back to the man who was born blind in John 9. It was his healing that inspired John Newton to write: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.”

*John 9 opens with these words:

1. Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

2. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3. Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

4. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

*It is not our job to assign blame for sickness. But it is our job to examine our own hearts for sin. And the only way to properly receive the Lord’s Supper is to search our hearts, confess to the Lord, and repent of any known sin in our lives.

*All of us need to do this, because all of us have sinned. And the truth is that we need to prayerfully reexamine our lives every day, but especially before we take the Lord’s Supper.

*Robert Leroe helped us understand by saying: “Before we sit down to a meal, we need clean hands. You don’t work in the garden or garage and then come inside, sit down, and eat dinner. You wash up first.

*This is why the Bible tells us to examine our lives before receiving Communion. We may see something that needs to be confessed and cleaned up. When we come to Jesus with remorse and repentance, we find forgiveness, restoration, and an invitation to His table.

*Some people get so burdened by their sins, that instead of asking forgiveness, they figure they’re too unworthy to participate, and they pass the tray without partaking. None of us is worthy. But if we’ve trusted Christ, we are eligible. He invites and authorizes us to come to the table.” (1)

*The Lord’s Supper is important, because it helps us reexamine our lives.

2. And because it helps us remember what Jesus did on the cross for us.

*It is always a good thing to remember what the Lord has done for us. And the Lord’s Supper helps us do that.

[1] Jesus Christ wants us to remember His body, so in vs. 23&23, Paul said:

23. . . 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."