"The Lord's Supper."
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:20
THE LORD’S SUPPER
This was instituted by the Lord Jesus Himself (Luke 22:17-20). This was meant to be a Memorial Meal for the Disciples. This was “communion” that must be regarded as “holy” (1 Corinthians 10:16). However, there was blatant abuse of this Memorial Supper.
“Therefore when you come together in one place,
it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others;
and one is hungry and another is drunk.
What! 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.”
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
1. “It is not to eat the Lord’s Supper”
a) The worshippers did gather together.
b) Supposedly for worship and to eat the Lord’s Supper.
c) But the way this was organised and practised, Paul was appalled!
d) This was not the way in which the Lord’s Supper was to be conducted!
2. The original setting
a) The first Lord’s Supper arose from the feast of the Passover.
b) There was eating and drinking in the Passover Feast.
c) The Lord Jesus Christ then introduced and instituted what we call “The Lord’s Supper”.
3. The practice of the Lord’s Supper in the Corinthian Church
a) The worshippers brought their own meals.
b) They ate and drank indiscriminately.
c) Some were even drunk as they celebrated the Lord’s Supper.
d) Those who were poor went away hungry (food was probably not shared with them).
4. Strong words of rebuke
a) This was not the way to conduct The Lord’s Supper.
b) Eating and drinking should not be the focus.
c) If they wanted to eat and drink, they could have done this in their own homes.
d) There was no way in which word of praise could be given.
e) Reproof and correction had to be given.
f) Paul minced no words when he wrote to the Corinthian Church concerning this practice!