Pastor Jason Browning | June 23, 2024
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In 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. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for 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. 22Don’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!
- You Demonstrate, You Cooperate, You Investigate.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25In 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.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
When it comes to the Lord’s Table, you, the church, the believers, the followers of Jesus, you are the preacher.
Your message when you come to this table is Jesus Saves.
The message of this table is salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
This is my body broken for you… this salvation is for you.
The message you preach is Jesus saves. Jesus saves. Jesus saves.
You proclaim this message until He comes.
1 Corinthians 15:52-54
52…For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The message you demonstrate when you come to this table is that the Jesus triumphed over sin, sickness, disease, separation, and death, salvation only comes through Him and one day He’s returning for those who put their faith in Him.
You participate.
1 Corinthians 10:16
16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
- You don’t receive the presence of Christ by eating and drinking, but by faith alone in Christ alone.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
27So 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. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
You investigate.
Paul is talking about the condition and attitude of our hearts when we approach Christ’s presence in communion.
A Defiant Heart.
A Divisive Heart.
1 Corinthians 11:33
33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.
“you should all eat together.”
A Deceived Heart.