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THIS SUPPER IS THE LORD’S

1 Corinthians 11.17-34

INTRODUCTION

                     1. The Lord’s Supper is a picture of the violent death of Jesus Christ. It is to be a continual reminder of our sin and the price paid to release us from that sin.

                     2. A fellowship supper focuses on enjoying each other during a nice meal. That is good.

                     3. This Supper is not a remembrance of Jesus’ life, miracles, teaching, or resurrection. It is a memorial service around the reality of sin, death, hell, and the price of our redemption.

                     4. God jealously guards this Supper which focuses on His Son’s suffering and death.

                     5. The church in Corinth abused the Lord’s Supper and God did something about it. Look what God says:

            I. WE CAN DISGRACE THE LORD, 17-22

                     1. Services can disgrace the Lord. ye come together not for the better, but for the worse ... when ye come together in the church

· Their services made each other worse. Attending is not enough; God expects His family to get along.

· Attending church (or any other ritual) does not give us a pass on sinning.

                     2. Divisions disgrace the Lord. there be divisions among you

· Unresolved conflict between believers says grace does not work. That is a disgrace.

· Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

                     3. Pride disgraces the Lord.

· The rich had abundance while the poor had need. The differences were displayed.

· The problem is not in being rich. The problem is in not caring for your Christian family.

· When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

APP: There is a better way. God designed this Supper as the premier way for our church to affirm our unity in Christ. He is why we are here. We remember His death and how we benefit from it. Earthly differences are set aside as we worship our God Who suffered to bring us back into a love relationship with Himself.

          II. WE CAN REMEMBER THE LORD, 23-26

this do in remembrance of me ... this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me

                     1. We remember His betrayal. the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed

                     2. We remember His thanks. when he had given thanks

                     3. We remember His broken body. this is my body, which is broken for you

                     4. We remember His shed blood. This cup is the new testament in my blood  [GOSPEL]

                     5. We remember His return. till he come

APP: Now God reminds is that He is not ambivalent about this Supper. In fact, God warns us that He will guard the purity of the Supper and the church even if to do so He has to correct His children with chastening.

         III. WE CAN BE CHASTENED BY THE LORD, 27-34

                     1. Chastening can be avoided. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.... For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

· We avoid chastening by an honest, personal exam leading to confessing and forsaking sins.

· Focusing on the suffering and death of Jesus in our place leads us to the place of honest humility.

                     2. Chastening can be beneficial.

· This Supper and sinning do not mix. he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

· Sometimes a physical problem has a spiritual cause. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

· God’s chastening is always in our best interest. when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

CONCLUSION

                     1. The Lord’s Supper is judgment day. if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.