1 Corinthians 11:17-34 = April 19

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

1 CORINTHIANS 11

Paul describes just how children of God should conduct themselves in the house of God.

Guidance concerning Communion (11:17–34): The Corinthian believers are not observing the Lord’s Table as they should.

A. The perversion (11:17–22)

1. They separate into their own little groups (11:17–20).

2. They share with no one else (11:21–22).

B. The pattern (11:23–25): Paul describes the original Lord’s Supper as conducted by Jesus in the upper room.

1. What the Savior did (11:23, 25a)

a. He held up the bread (11:23).

b. He held up the cup (11:25a).

2. What the Savior said (11:24, 25b)

a. Concerning the bread (11:24): “This is my body, which is given for you.”

b. Concerning the cup (11:25b): “This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood.”

C. The purpose (11:26, 28): Any Lord’s Table involves a threefold look.

1. It serves as a backward look to the cross (11:26a).

2. It serves as an inward look to the conscience (11:28).

3. It serves as a forward look to the crown (11:26b).

D. The penalty (11:27, 29–30): Any believer who partakes in an unworthy manner is guilty and risks punishment.

1. To eat and drink God’s judgment on oneself (11:27–29)

2. To be divinely judged with physical sickness (11:30a)

3. To be divinely judged with physical death (11:30b)

E. The profit (11:31–34)

1. It can be used for judging ourselves (11:31–32).

2. It can be used for giving ourselves (11:33–34).

OPEN:

• What is the biggest party you've ever given? What food and drink did you serve?

DIG:

• How would you describe the scene if you were observing the Lord's Supper at the Corinthian church? 
• What changes would the Corinthians need to make to ensure that it really was the "Lord's supper"? 
• Have you ever been in a church that was affected by divisions among the members? What happened? 
• How do you respond when you hear the words of 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 during Communion? 
• What does Paul mean by eating in "an unworthy manner" (1 Corinthians 11:27)? By "not recognizing the body of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:29)? By self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28)? By judging oneself (1 Corinthians 11:31)?

REFLECT:

• When do you tend to approach worship or a part of the worship experience too lightly?
• The poor in Corinth weren't able to participate fully in the Lord's Supper. How do churches today discriminate? How could your church be more inclusive of the types of people where you live?

Other Resources:

Using Our Spiritual Gifts we look at how God has blessed us each with spiritual gifts, and we outline 4 steps we can take to put those gifts to work. 1 Corinthians 12