How can we ensure our church gatherings honor the Lord's Supper today? Scripture Focus “Therefore when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.” (1 Corinthians 11:20) Diagnosing the Problem at Corinth Paul highlights why their meal could no longer be called the Lord’s Supper: • Selfish haste—some rushed ahead and ate before others arrived (v. 21). • Social division—the wealthy feasted while the poor went hungry (vv. 21–22). • Forgetting Christ—the gathering centered on personal appetite rather than His sacrifice (v. 29). • Unexamined hearts—participants failed to judge themselves rightly, inviting discipline (vv. 28, 30). Timeless Principles for Today • The Supper is Christ-centered, not self-centered (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 10:16). • Unity matters; the Table proclaims “one body” (1 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 4:3–4). • Reverence is non-negotiable—this meal remembers His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26; Hebrews 12:28). • Self-examination precedes participation (2 Corinthians 13:5; Psalm 139:23–24). • Discerning the body means recognizing both the Lord’s physical body given for us and His spiritual body—the church (Colossians 1:18; Romans 12:5). Practical Steps for Our Gatherings 1. Teach the purpose clearly – Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 each time; remind all that this is Christ’s ordinance. 2. Foster visible unity – Serve together, wait for one another, and ensure all believers present are included (Acts 2:46). 3. Provide time for confession and reconciliation – Encourage silent prayer and, where needed, face-to-face forgiveness (Matthew 5:23-24). 4. Use simple, meaningful elements – Unleavened bread and fruit of the vine underscore the historical reality of the cross (Matthew 26:26-29). 5. Guard from distraction – Limit announcements and transitions; keep focus on Christ’s body and blood (Hebrews 12:2). 6. Invite only those who belong to Christ – Baptized believers who understand the gospel share this family meal (Acts 2:41-42). 7. Balance sobriety with joy – Remember sin’s cost, yet rejoice in full atonement (Romans 5:8–11). Guarding Hearts Before the Table • Examine motives—seek humility, not routine (1 Corinthians 11:28). • Confess hidden sin—agree with God’s Word about it (1 John 1:9). • Renew gratitude—ponder the cross personally (Galatians 2:20). • Look around—value fellow believers as Christ’s purchased people (John 13:34). Celebrating Christ Together When we gather with minds fixed on His sacrifice, hearts knit in unity, and lives yielded in obedience, our observance truly becomes the Lord’s Supper—not merely bread and cup, but a living proclamation: “Christ died for us, Christ lives in us, Christ will return for us.” |
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