September 24, 2006
Sermon # 644
Paul and the Lords Supper
1 Corinthians 11:17 - 34 (NKJV) 17Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lords Supper. 21For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? 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 do not praise you. 23For 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; 24and 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.� 25In 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.� 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lords death till He comes. 27Therefore 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. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks £in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
I. Preparation for the Lord's Supper
A. Unity not division
Amos 3:3 (NKJV) 3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
ILL: Division
1 Corinthians 1:10 - 13 (NKJV) 10Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul,� or I am of Apollos? or I am of Cephas? or “I am of Christ? 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
B. Paul recognizes that their will be divisions and why
19For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
Matthew 18:7 (NKJV) 7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
James 1:12 (NKJV) 12Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
C. Unholy attitudes while taking communion
1 Corinthians 11:20 - 22 (NKJV) 20Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lords Supper. 21For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? 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 do not praise you.
ILL: Social Class – The top of the bread goes to the upper crust?
II. The Purpose of the Lords Supper
A. Received from the Lord – 1st recorded
ILL: The Passover meal began with the hosts pronouncing a blessing over the first cup of red wine and passing it to the others present. Four cups of wine were passed around during the meal. After the first cup was drunk bitter herbs dipped in a fruit sauce were eaten and a message was given on the meaning of Passover. Then the first part of a hymn, the Hallel (which means praise? and is related to hallelujah, praise ye the Lord?), was sung. The Hallel is comprised of Psalms 113-118, and the first part sung was usually 113 or 113 and 114. After the second cup was passed, the host would break and pass around the unleavened bread. Then the meal proper, which consisted of the roasted sacrificial lamb, was eaten. The third cup, after prayer, was then passed and the rest of the Hallel was sung. The fourth cup, which celebrated the coming kingdom, was drunk immediately before leaving.
Psalms 113:1 - 9 (NKJV) 1 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lords name is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? 7 He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, 8 That He may seat him with princes” With the princes of His people. 9 He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Psalms 114:1 - 8 (NKJV) 1 When Israel went out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion. 3 The sea saw it and fled; Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back? 6 O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters.
III. The Preparation for the Lords Supper
1 Corinthians 11:27 - 34 (NKJV) 27Therefore 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. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks £in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
A. Examine yourself do you have ought or division in the Body of Christ?
B. Judge yourself Ask forgiveness
C. The Lords chastisement is for your good
Conclusion: Let us break bread together!
