1 Corinthians 11:23-34

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE

Worship Series #4

 

A powerful ruler built a great palace. Among the rooms was one that was always locked. He called it the Chamber of Memories. Every day he visited that room, but no one else was permitted inside. Finally one day the servants got a peep inside the locked room. There was no silver, no gold, no precious jewels. All they saw was a humble shepherd's robe; the one the king had worn before he came to the throne. The Lord's Supper reminds us of what we were before Christ found us and how far we have come. -- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).  Bible Illustrator for windows.

 

   In August of 1989 millionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes spent two million dollars to fly six hundred guests to Tangiers to celebrate his 70th birthday. Surely it was one of the costliest feasts ever held, unless you count the Last Supper. It costs very, very little to buy bread and wine for the Communion table, but the supper cost the Son of God his precious blood, and costs us remorse and repentance for all our sins. -- Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).  Bible Illustrator for windows.

Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a “gratitude lunch.” With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as “just a friend.” They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn’t stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys.

When you’ve got something great to be thankful for, having a “gratitude lunch” is a great way to celebrate. Today in the Word, November 14, 1993, http://www.bible.org/illus/c/c-94.htm#TopOfPage

In a sense, today we are having a “gratitude lunch”.  We are remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross by celebrating the Lord’s Table.  You probably haven’t noticed this, but every first Sunday of October our bulletin service provides us with a communion bulletin.  That is because many other churches on this day celebrate “Worldwide Communion Sunday”.

 

As we continue our messages on worship, I could think of no better day to talk to you about “Worship Around the Table”, the Lord’s Table.  It is so easy for us to take our once a month Communion service as just a little “tack on” to the end of the service.  But if our whole lives are to be an act of worship, as we saw last week based on Romans 12:1-2, then our participation at the Communion Table should also be an act of worship. We should never take the Lord’s Table lightly.

 

This morning I direct your attention to 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.  Here we find the most complete explanation of the Lord’s Table in the Scriptures.  Based on this Scripture, I am inviting you to Worship at the Table, which we will do in a few minutes.  This morning we invite you to see that:

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TRIAL – Vss. 29-24

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

 

Worship involves memory.

When we remember what the Lord has done for us that is when we are ready to worship.

 

Psalm 143:5 - I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

 

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Paul begins his discussion of the Lord’s Table by jogging the memories of the Corinthians.    

1 Corinthians 11:23 - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

 

What Paul was sharing he had received directly from the Lord.  What Paul was sharing, he had previously shared with the Corinthians.  He was getting them to think about things which they had previously been taught.   

   

Paul tells them a remarkable thing.  The night Jesus was betrayed, which was also the night of Jesus being arrested, was also the night that Jesus in a quiet Passover dinner, instituted a commemorative service for His church.

 

Twice during this little service, Jesus tells his disciples “Do this in remembrance of me.”

 

Worship at the Lord’s Table is to be thoughtful. 

 

Our thoughts are to be centered on the Lord Jesus.

 

It’s so easy for us to think about ourselves during communion.

It’s so easy for us to think about our coming activities during communion.

It’s so easy to think about problems during communion.

It’s so easy to think about our family and friends during communion.

 

But because we are to worship the Lord Jesus, our thoughts are to be centered on Him during Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you :this do in remembrance of me.

 

Jesus took unleavened bread and broke it.

He distributed that bread and said Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: 

 

Did Jesus literally mean that the bread was literally His body? No.

When Jesus said “I am the door”, He didn’t mean that literally either.

Jesus meant that bread was symbolic for His body.

And we are take that bread in remembrance of Him.

So as we pass the bread and hold the bread in our hands, let’s think about the body of Jesus.

 

Jesus’ body was given of us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Jesus body was broken for us.

Not a bone was broken in his body.

But the suffering in his body was of the highest intensity.

 

He was whipped.

He was mocked, spit on, and slapped around by soldiers.

A crown of thorns was thrust upon His head.   

He was forced to carry his own cross.

He was nailed to the cross.

A spear pierced his side.

 

And on the cross He bore the punishment for the sins of the entire world.

 

Isaiah 53:3-6 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

Yes, we are to worship by remembering the broken body when the bread is passed. But there’s more!

 

1 Corinthians 11:25 - After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

 

The cup when it is passed reminds us of the shed blood.

 

It is Jesus’ shed blood that secures for us a new covenant or agreement with God.  For all who put their faith in Christ and in His shed blood have eternal life!   

   

Because we are unrighteous sinners someone has to pay for our sins.

Jesus chose to die for our sins.  Therefore anyone who chooses to trust Christ as Savior has forgiveness and eternal life.

 

Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

So when we worship at the Lord’s Table we are to be thoughtful.  We are to be thinking on what Jesus has done for us.  We are to be remembering Him.   

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

 

1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

 

If I called up most of you during the week and announced to you that I wanted you to preach this Sunday, you’d panic, especially if you thought I was serious.

 

But let me tell you, if you partake of the bread and the cup this morning, you are preaching.  And you are preaching the greatest message anybody could possibly preach.

 

The word “show” in 1 Corinthians 11:26 means to proclaim.

When we proclaim we preach.

 

When you take of the bread you are preaching your own faith in the broken body of Christ for you.

When you take of the cup you are preaching your own faith in the shed blood of Christ for you.

By taking of the bread and the cup you are a testimony to all who can see you.  You are preaching your faith to them!

 

Therefore it is very important that what you are professing by your actions is actually true in your life.  The only person taking communion should be the person who has put his or her faith in Christ as Savior. Otherwise you are a hypocrite!

 

It’s bad enough to not know Christ as Savior!

John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

It’s bad enough to not know Christ as Savior, but its worse to act like you’re saved by taking Communion.

Make sure that your heart matches your testimony.  And if you are not sure of your salvation, pass up the bread and cup until you are sure.

 

I want you to see something else in verse 26.

1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

 

We not only testify to the death and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we testify to His resurrection and the fact that He is coming again.  Not only do we look backward to the cross, but we look forward to His coming for us.

 

Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  (N.A.S.B.)   

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

 

1 Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

Now let’s get one thing straight.

There is not one person in the world who is worthy of the Lord Jesus.

There is not one person in the world who is worthy of the broken body and the shed blood.

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

We are not worthy. That’s why Jesus had to die of us.

When Paul talks about being unworthy here, he means to partake of the bread and the cup in an unworthy manner.

 

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and not forgiving other people.

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and have your mind a million miles away in daydreams.

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and to have unconfessed sin in your life.

When we come to the Lord’s Table, God wants us to be transparent.

 

1 Corinthians 11:28 - But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

1 Corinthians 11:23-34 – PAGE 9

 

Before you participate in the Lord’s Table, the Lord wants you to examine yourself for sin and confess it.   

 

Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

 

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

There are two requirements for taking communion in this church. First, you must know Jesus as you Savior.  Second, you are to confess all known sin.

 

You are to be transparent, honest with God about your failures as a Christian.   

   

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TRIAL – Vss. 29-24

 

Because all Christians sin, there is a sort of a trial at each communion service.

When there is a trial there is a judge.

We are told here that there are two possible judges.

 

First of all, and most preferable, we are to be our own judges.

 

1 Corinthians 11:31 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

 

If we are transparent before God, we will judge ourselves.

That is what God prefers.

The other possible judge is God himself.

We are warned in 1 Corinthians 11:29, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

We are inviting God’s judgment when we eat and drink in an unworthy manner.  And indeed, many of the Corinthians had been judged.

1 Corinthians 11:30 - For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

Not all sickness is due to specific sin, but some of it is.

When we take the Lord’s Table lightly, we can become, weak, sickly and even asleep, that is dead.  God will take saints home prematurely when they abuse the Lord’s Table.   

 

Why does God judge us this way?

1 Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

God will go to great lengths to wake up his sinning children, and even take them home to Him early if they insist on being disobedient.   

   

So the Lord’s Table is a time of worship.  

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TRIAL – Vss. 29-24