I. The Problem
A. Self-Focused, Self-Serving
1. V. 17 Their church gatherings did more damage than good.
a. This was due to their carnality and selfishness.
2. V. 18 Result- divisions among the people.
3. V. 19 Divisions reveal carnality and godlessness. (Paul spoke sarcastically)
4. Vs. 20, 21 The focus of the church gatherings became self-gratification, not blessing God or blessing others.
5. V. 22 Selfishness turns to despising others.
a. The ancient world was filled with strong class divisions.
b. The Church adopted this worldly attitude and ignored the poor brethren.
c. Paul scolded them for that kind of attitude and behavior.
B. Religion Without Discerning God Vs. 20, 29
1. Their gatherings became self-serving. “What’s in it for me”?
2. Absence of discernment re. “Body of Christ”, the people of God.
3. Absence of discernment re. “Body of Christ”, the sacrifice of Jesus.
4. Absence of discernment re. the Lord’s Supper.
5. Absence of discernment re. what it meant to follow Jesus.
6. Imagine a married person not discerning their spouse.
7. Imagine a mother not discerning her child or a child their parent.
8. Self-centeredness brings spiritual & moral blindness re. God.
a. Judah seduced by Tamar-his daughter-in-law. He didn’t discern who she was. Genesis 38:12-19
b. Samson deceived by Delilah
Judges 16:20, 21 So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. 21Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
9. Religious acts without the awareness of God. That was the situation in Corinth.
II. The Consequences
A. They Forgot/Ignored Significance Of Lord’s Supper
1. V. 27 “Unworthy manner”- had nothing to do with their latest behavior.
2. Behavior reflects attitudes, values.
3. “Unworthy manner”- Their lack of discernment and consideration of the Lord’s Supper, what it meant regarding Jesus, and what it was supposed to mean to them.
4. They had reduced the Agape Love Feast, and the accompanying Lord’s Supper, to a time of gluttony, drunkenness, and selfishness.
5. V. 27 “Guilty of the body & blood”– ignoring the sacrifice that Christ made.
6. Treating it as a common, insignificant thing.
B. The Lord’s Supper had been reduced to an opportunity to get drunk and eat
1. Their view of Jesus had degenerated terribly.
2. Their view of their Christian responsibility had degenerated terribly
3. Our view of Christ will be reflected in our actions and words.
C. Their Sin Brought God’s Judgment (Discipline) Vs. 30-32
1. God’s chastening at Corinth: weakness, sickness, death.
2. God’s chastening –always motivated by His love for us.
3. Hebrews 12:5b, 6 “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.”
4. Illness, weakness– God may humble us to get our attention.
5. Our self-sufficiency and self-will brings us much trouble.
6. God loves His children and wants to bless them.
7. He will seek to stop us from destructive behavior or attitudes.
8. If a Christian becomes out of control in destructive behavior, God may lovingly end their life and take them home to heaven. (Acts 5:1-11)
9. Not every illness or untimely death is discipline.
10. This is not eternal judgment regarding salvation. It is discipline for right living.
III. The Remedy
A. Self Examination Re. Lord’s Supper Vs. 28, 31, 32
1. Examine yourself- prove, qualify yourself to partake of Lord’s Supper.
2. This does not speak of sinless living.
3. It speaks of your heart attitude towards the sacrifice of Jesus.
4. Recognize what the Lord’s Table means. Humility, honesty.
5. Be honest about your sins. Your need for a Savior.
6. Don’t mock the Lord’s sacrifice through indifference, insincerity.
B. Understand Significance Of Lord’s Supper Vs. 23-26
1. Bread- John 6:35 “I am the Bread of Life.”
2. Cup of the New Covenant– Jesus’ blood shed for forgiveness of sins.
3. Do this in remembrance of Him.
4. Live expectantly, awaiting His return. See 1 John 3:1-3
C. Apply These Truths To Yourself
1. Avoiding Lord’s Supper not the remedy to avoiding His discipline.
2. Honesty, humility, repentance- the true remedy.
3. Right understanding keeps you from self-centeredness.
4. Honesty re. your sins keeps you humble, results in loving others.
5. Jesus emptied Himself to save you. See Philippians 2:5-8
6. We are called to follow in His footsteps. “Let this mind be in you.”
7. John 12:24, 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
8. Ray Stedman– “…every time we take communion…We are consenting to follow our Lord, to go to death as He went to death, that we might rise again in the new life in the Spirit.”