I Corinthians 11:23-34 Status Update: The Lord's Supper is no Ordinary Meal

“27 Wherefore whoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall 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 that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that you come not together to condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”

Communion places the focus on our unity in Christ

- Vs. 27 Notice to eat/drink unworthily makes one guilty of body/blood of the Lord. It violates the Supper's central purpose = Jesus gave His life for every member of His church.
- vs. 22 Remember Corinthians despised/dishonored each other (Christ's church) & shamed the poor. A love of “attending church” does not automatically = “loving the church”.

What is the meaning of unworthily?

- vs. 29 clarifies unworthily = Not discerning Lord's body (most translations sub this for unworthy). Unworthily does not describe the sinner but rather the manner of partaking.
- I was taught this meant I gotta clean myself up or confess every sin (known/secret), BUT...Can I clean myself up? Am I ever “worthy” from this perspective? NO! ONLY JESUS is worthy & we're ONLY EVER worthy through faith connection with Christ! So I take the Supper whenever it's offered to remind me of the One Who makes me worthy.
- Can ALL sins be fully dealt with by simply praying alone in a church service? (Matt. 5:23-24) We cannot twist the chapter context from church disunity to individual/personal sins.
- vs. 28 So what are we supposed to examine about self? What's been the point of the entire chapter? Our relationship to THE BODY (11:22).
- vs. 30-31 If we don't correct our actions toward the body, God will...he corrects so we're not condemned.  Despising & shaming the body of Christ is condemnable behavior...it's what the world does.
- vs. 32 God's correction is always restorative & not meant to drive us from the Lord's table.

CHALLENGE
The remedy is simple (and it's not “pray real hard”)...receive each other & take the Lord's supper.  The supper should be done often to remind us of our unity. vs. 33 says When we come together, tarry for/welcome one another (receive/take each other by hand). vs 34 If we want to pig out and be selfish, Paul said “eat at home”.

Songs With This Sermon
To Be Like Jesus
Blessed Be Your Name
I Love Your Presence
In Christ Alone