1st Corinthians 11:27-32
“Don’t be careless at the Table”
Careless communion means spiritual weakness; let us take due care.
Sunday morning Sermon
11.18.07
Intro: (Start with Text and Title)
We can be careless with many things in life -- and life will still go on. You could be careless with your driving -- and still arrive in good shape. You could be careless with your checkbook, and not file bankruptcy. You could be careless with relationships, car maintenance, a work or school project -- all sorts of things and not fall into a situation or problems that you couldn’t get out of. The Bible says whatever you do, in word or deed do it all for the glory of God -- Carelessness in anything should not be the standard for the Christian.
The problem occurs when we take that carelessness and we move it from work projects or car maintenance and we bring it to worship with us. Our carelessness affects our worship, it affects our prayer life, it affects the hearing of the word, and our fellowship.
Church you can be careless with many things in life -- and still go on, but don’t be careless at the Table.
Discussion:
The church in Corinth was careless -- they were reckless and it made them useless. Notice throughout the book of 1st Corinthians that Paul doesn’t ever hit on the evangelism of the gospel or tell them to go win the world. They had internal problems that needed to be fixed or addressed before they could be a witness to the world.
One of many problems were the issues concerning the Lord’s Supper and what we would consider a fellowship meal. Paul gives them and us a warning and some encouragement with this letter -- but his point is clear -- Careless communion means spiritual weakness; let us take due care.
Turn with me if you have your Bibles to (Advance) 1st Corinthians 11:27-32 (Read)
How can we keep from being careless at the Table? How can we keep ourselves in line with the will of God during the time of the Lord’s Supper? How do participate properly? All very good questions….and all will see some resolution this morning.
I see three things this morning -- three ways to keep ourselves from being careless at the Table. (Advance)
I. Eat and drink in a worthy manner (27-28)
a. Understand what you are doing
I used to think that the tray with the juice and bread was some sort of intermission, before the preaching, before the old boring guy got up front to preach his 7 point sermon, the church had to have a break first. I remember wanting to get baptized so I could take part in the intermission at church. But I didn’t understand – because it’s not intermission.
i. It is a time of remembrance
We remember what Jesus did for us through his self-sacrifice on the cross for our sins. We remember the grace offered to us over our lives that we could be free from sin and guilt and shame. We remember our commitment to the life that Jesus calls us to live. You come before God this morning – and you remember what he’s done for you, and all that he has given – through the person of Jesus. (Advance)
Romans 5:6-8 (NASB) 6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The NIV says that we were powerless.
We take time to remember this morning that this salvation thing is nothing we’ve done ourselves – we remember our powerless life – void of life, void of hope, void of grace – even while we were “ungodly”. That’s when Jesus died for you. When you couldn’t help yourself, he helped you. When you couldn’t save yourself – he reached out and offered his perfect salvation.
ii. It is a time for a reminder
1. We need reminders from time to time
If you honestly remember your powerless life, if you honestly remember all the things you’ve done, all the ways you’ve rejected and removed the power of God from your life, all the grace you’ve refused to embrace – You might not feel worthy to participate. “I’ve got something I’m dealing with, so I’ll refrain.” Listen church, Paul is not requiring a particular moral quality in the participants; rather he is looking for a manner of life that aligns itself to the gospel.
For some this is a time to apologize for all the bad stuff we’ve done during the week. We eat the bread and drink the cup thinking it’s a way to prevent the condemnation to hell for another week – that’s what the sermon is for.
There was a habit with some in the church I grew up in, to take communion and leave shortly after. For them it was a salvation pill. The bread offered this morning is not a salvation pill. It is a time to remember and it is a reminder.
iii. It is a time for proclamation (Advance)
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Listen we have the honor and the privilege of proclaiming what Jesus did on the cross, through the cup and the bread. We have the honor of acknowledging our understanding of his sacrifice in our lives through the bread and the cup. We have the honor of proclaiming our place as sons and daughters of God. It is a beautiful thing that we proclaim the name that is above every name.
iv. It is a time for examination
Notice the warning – if we don’t participate in this in a worthy manner – we become guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Literally – you are guilty with those who put Jesus on the cross.
1. We should examine ourselves
This is not a time to find fault in the activities you’ve done this past week. The examination is not a time to find yourself a failure or a loser or inadequate. Paul says that their examination of who they are – should be with the idea – that they are good enough, they are worthy, - it is a reminder of who they are and who they belong to. In the end – there is victory in this examination.
Hang on Preacher – I’ve done some bad stuff this week! If you only look at the deeds you’ve done you might come to the conclusion that you are not worthy to participate. How do we end up with victory – when we’ve fallen short of God’s glory?
It’s been a rough week – cuss out the neighbor and kick the dog – before you made it home from church last Sunday! How does that end in victory? This is not a license for sin – God’s grace covers our shortcomings. The grace of God covers the times when we fall short. If I understand where I fall short – or simply ask God to show me, and he does – I come to him and seek his forgiveness – the Bible says that I’m cleaned – washed whiter than snow. The examination is an affirmation not of our worthiness or even our goodness – but how good God is.
It is good to examine, it is good to remember and be reminded, church it is good to proclaim – all of those things allow us to eat and drink in a worthy manner.
Here’s something else we should do: (Advance)
II. Recognize the body of Christ (29-30)
Much has been written about the “body of Christ” – does he mean Jesus or the church? Let me give you the fruit of my study --
a. He’s talking about the church
First of all the language he uses – lends itself to this conclusion. It’s more about what he leaves off – the blood of Christ is not there.
i. We are the body of Christ –
The church is not the building it’s the people inside the building – you and me. The good the bad and the bald – we make up the church, part of the body of Christ. Paul is telling the church in Corinth – they should recognize each other. They should recognize his teachings – Christ and him crucified. For us – it might be easy to recognize each other – we’re a friendly church. We recognize the teachings of Jesus through the gospels and Paul through his letters. For them – it wasn’t so easy. They were following different leaders, they were divided – the people who had status in the church didn’t like the ones who had none. If they continued to eat and drink without recognizing the body --
b. They would drink judgment on themselves
i. The same is true for us
The table that should be a reminder of grace and mercy becomes a place for judgment and condemnation. Church, this is serious stuff. Our lives – everyday – not just at the table – should recognize the church.
There is nothing wrong with church. Jesus loves the church and we should too. I’m not saying we’re perfect – because we aren’t. If we are moving forward working towards the goal of reaching people with the gospel message – God will honor our efforts, and we will stand out and make a difference. Recognize the body of Christ has another meaning --
c. Recognize it’s teaching
i. We teach scripture – 95% of all churches would say the same.
For us scripture is alone the authority. I’m not the authority. I can’t proclaim that everyone with green eyes is going to heaven – because I’m not the authority. That sounds crazy – but you’d be surprised at the number of churches that make the one standing behind the pulpit the authority. When Paul says that we should recognize the church’s teaching – he really means scripture – for him there was not a difference, there shouldn’t be a difference for us either. If my well developed sermons are based in scripture – that is my authority, which should never be void of love and mercy. We recognize the body of the Lord by allowing scripture to be the authority in our lives – we don’t add to or take away from God’s word, allow it to be everything it is, and nothing it was not meant to be. We don’t sit mindlessly and allow someone to explain what they think it means – we study more for ourselves. Listen, it only helps us grow.
Here’s something else we do to make sure we are not careless at the table (Advance)
III. Avoid Condemnation (31-32)
Judge ourselves – we don’t come under judgment. If we allow our lives to be guided by the principles taught in God’s word – our judgment is through the blood of Christ.
a. What does it take to judge yourself?
i. Honesty –
1. Where am I in my relationship with Christ?
2. Where am I in my relationship with those around me?
They are very much connected!
ii. Transparency – be who you are
1. If you’ve made mistakes – admit them, apologize and move forward.
2. If you have different things you struggle with – over and over – talk to someone who can give you some accountability – someone you trust.
iii. Right self attitude
1. You are who you are by the grace of God. Most of wisdom is simply understanding that you don’t understand everything.
2. You and I have room to grow in our Christian faith. We aren’t everything God intended – and we need to work on it.
If I invent this idea that because I’m the preacher or because I’ve been going to church most of my life or because I have this degree or that piece of paper that I’m better than you – I’m not judging myself very well. Because the truth is – all of us – regardless of status or sin is in need of a savior – we have all in some form or fashion walked away from the call on our lives to live a better life.
If we are self-righteous, self-serving or self-promoting – then we aren’t going to reach the lost. We aren’t going to rescue those who are alone and weary. We aren’t going to bring the good news of Jesus to the sick and helpless. God doesn’t need a social club, he needs the church to be the church. He needs you and I to care for those who can’t take care of themselves – which might cost your time. I’ve learned not to ask people how they are doing unless I really want to know – 99% of the time Americans do it out of a meaningless gesture (as a rule, we don’t really care) – it’s that 1% of the time when the husband is in the hospital, and the sweet lady wants to tell you every detail – She needs a favor – but you are in a hurry – no one could blame you for rushing off – God says there is blessing in service, regardless of the time it takes.
You want to be in a social club, go join the Lion’s club and get your yellow vest. You want to move forward and be the church – don’t be careless at the table. Don’t half heartedly participate in the Lord’s supper. Careless communion will mean spiritual weakness – so let us take due care.
Let’s pray.
