What is the Biblical Teaching on the Lord’s Supper? Are we supposed to examine ourselves to see whether we are worthy to partake of it? Who should partake? In what kind of setting? What place does the Lord’s Supper have in our Church meetings? Let’s examine these questions together by surveying all of the New Testament texts on the subject.
Teaching Notes:
The Lord’s Supper
Intro: Recently become concerned that perhaps the way we are observing the Lord’s Supper is not completely pleasing to the Lord. I talked to the guys last Sunday, and it became very apparent that we have differing views on the Lord’s Supper. Paul suggested we teach on the subject in order to pursue unity together, and look for Biblical answers to questions we have as to 1) who is to partake of it?; 2) when are we to partake of it; 3) why are we to partake of it? And 4) how are we to partake? Today we are going to do a NT survey of this subject, examining all the key texts, and spending the bulk of our time in 1 Cor. 11, which treats the subject most fully.
1. Acts 2:37-42
1) What does “breaking of bread” refer to in 2:42? Why do you think so?
2) How often were they breaking bread?
2) Who continually devoted themselves to the breaking of bread?
3) Were there any unbaptized persons partaking of the breaking of bread?
4) Notice the “ands” in 2:42. Some have suggested that instead of 4 different activities that the believers were involved in, there were 3. If so, what would the breaking of bread be linked with?
2. Acts 2:46-47
1) How often were these believers gathering?
2) Where were they gathering?
3) When they gathered in homes, what was the focus?
4) What was the breaking of bread associated with in 2:46?
3. Acts 20:7-11
1) When did these believers gather?
2) Why did they gather? What was the point and focus of their meeting? Why is that significant in light of the fact that Paul was present and available to teach them?
3) Where were they meeting?
4) Judging from where Eutychus was sitting, would you say this church format was very formal or somewhat casual?
5) What do you notice about this church meeting that seems so foreign to our meetings?
4. Jude 12
1) If these “love feasts” are another name for the Lord’s Supper as most scholars agree, would you say that there was a meal involved, or just a piece of cracker and sip of juice?
5. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
1) The Greek word for “sharing” is koinonia, the word usually translated “fellowship.” What does that tell you about how we are to observe the Lord’s Supper?
2) The word “bread” in vs.17 is literally, “loaf.” What is the 1 loaf intended to represent and even produce? Remember this, it will be important in understanding 1 Corinthians 11!
6. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
This section can be divided into 4 parts: 17-22; 23-26; 27-32; and 33-34.
1. The Problem – Abuse of the Poor (11:17-22)
2. The Problem – Abuse of the Lord (11:23-26)
3. The Answer – Discern the Body (11:27-32)
4. The Answer – Wait for One Another (11:33-34)
Let’s examine each in turn.
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 The Problem – Abuse of the Poor
1) What is Paul doing in this section?
2) Is he thinking of something these Corinthians are doing by themselves in private, or in a corporate gathering? How do you know?
3) What does Paul say in vs. 18 is happening when they gather together? How does that relate to what he had said in 1 Cor. 10:16-17?
4) Why does Paul say in vs.20 that when they met together it was not to eat the Lord’s Supper?
5) What was wrong with the way they were observing the Lord’s Supper? (vs.21)
6) Does vs.21 suggest they were eating a morsel of cracker and sip of juice or a full meal? What does the word “supper” mean?
7) From vs. 33, what can we presume was taking place?
8) Who does Paul have in mind by “those who have nothing”?
9) Was the “manner” in which they were partaking promoting unity? Why was Paul in such an outrage?
10) What does Eph.2:13-18 teach us about the purpose of the death of Christ?
11) What social groups were united by the cross? 1Cor.12:13
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The Problem – Abuse of the Lord
1) Why does Paul repeats the words of Jesus’ institution at the Last Supper? What abuse is he correcting?
2) In vs.25, Paul says that the cup is the new covenant in Christ’s blood. What is the rite Jesus gave for someone to enter once for all into that New Covenant? What is the rite which Jesus gave for someone to continually remember the saving benefits of that New Covenant? Do you think that someone who will not undergo the initiation rite, should have the privilege of participating in the ongoing rite?
3) What function did the Passover meal have for Israel? What function does the Lord’s Supper have for the True Israel? (vs.26)
4) Notice “after supper” in vs.25, and Mt.26:26 “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread…” What conclusions might we draw from this?
1 Corinthians 11:27-32 The Solution – Discern the Body
1) From the context of 11:17-22, what does Paul have in mind by eating and drinking in an “unworthy manner?” How is this verse usually explained?
2) What are we to examine ourselves in regards to before we eat and drink (consider the context). Does this passage have to do with making sure we are personally “worthy” to partake, or have gotten all sin out of our lives?
3) The word “judge” in vs.29 and the first reference to “judge” in vs.31 should be translated “discern”. What “body” are we to discern? Is this “body” the physical body of Christ that was crucified on the cross, or is it the church – the body of Christ? Notice that when Paul is speaking of the physical body of Christ that was crucified on the cross, he mentions the body and the blood “of the Lord.”
4) How do we discern the body rightly?
5) What kind of “judgment” were they bringing on themselves by not discerning the body rightly? (vs.30)
1 Corinthians 11:33-34 The Solution – Wait for One Another
1) Note the “so then”. Paul is summing up his entire argument. What is his solution to the entire paragraph? His conclusion is not, “When you come together to eat, make sure you recognize that the bread represents the physical body of Christ and the cup represents the blood of Christ”. Rather, it is “When you come together, wait for one another” — The very problem mentioned in 17-22.
2) This summation in 11:33-34, points back to the original problem in 11:17-22, telling us that Paul has not gone on to a new discussion in 11:23-32. He is dealing with the same problem and solution throughout the entire section! Thus, the “unworthy manner”, the self-examination, and the discerning of the body, must all be tied to the original problem in 11:17-22 which has to do with partaking of the Lord’s Supper in a way that promoted divisions, rather than unity.
3) What was the purpose of them coming together (vs.33)?
4) What does Paul tell them to do so that they won’t receive judgment? (34). Is it to discern that he is eating Christ’s body and drinking his blood?
Summary:
1. The Lord’s Supper should be observed by true believers who have been baptized. How will we be able to tell if our children are true believers? What will be true about them? (Ezek.36:25-27; Jer.31:31-34)
2. The Lord’s Supper should be the reason we gather, and should be a full meal.
3. The Lord’s Supper should be observed by a unified church. We should have no class or sociological distinctions.
4. The Lord’s Supper should be observed often in homes.
Ideas:
1. Heads of households distribute bread and juice to those who are baptized converts.
2. Bring the bread into midst of meal, and end meal with cup.
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