Do I Have to be ‘Good Enough’ to Participate in ‘The Lord’s Supper?’

Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems

Do I Have to be ‘Good Enough’ to Participate in ‘The Lord’s Supper?’

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Notes:

What is ‘The Lord’s Supper?’

The Lord’s Supper is the name of a that began at The Last Supper. It was initiated by Jesus and has been practiced by His followers for 2000 years. (Matthew 26:26-30)

A. How Were the Corinthian Christ-Followers Messing This Up?

“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.” (v. 17)

1. Their ceremonies were people instead of people… (v. 17)

“In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you

to show which of you have God’s approval.

So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating,

some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry

and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise

the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you?

Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” (vv. 18-22)

2. Their ceremonies were people instead of people… (vv. 18-22)

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus,

on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.’ In the same way, after supper

he took the cup saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it

in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (vv. 23-26)

3. The Lord’s Supper is supposed to be the body of Christ, remembering the of Christ,

while proclaiming the of Christ… (vv. 23-26)

“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner

will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ

eat and drink judgment on themselves.

That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

But if we were more discerning with regards to ourselves, we would not come under judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined

so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.” (vv. 27-32)

4. What does “in an unworthy manner” mean?

a. What some think it means: “If you have in your life, you are unworthy of

the Lord’s Supper.”

i. The problem with this view: If you have no , you have for the Lord’s Supper.

b. What Paul explained it to mean: “When you organize the Lord’s supper, do it in a way that

God’s , and God’s .”

Today’s “Life Hack”…

When we properly what Christ has for us,

we will properly what Christ us.

“So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.

Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together

it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further instructions.” (vv. 33-34)