Preparing for the Lord’s Supper

Text: Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)


Intro: Corinth

It’s position

It’s advantage


I. 1Cor 11

V18 - impossible to believe

V20 - their purpose in coming together

V21 - no sharing; no waiting

V22 - nothing wrong with having a feast

V23-26 - the teaching of Jesus

V27 - Your celebration of the Lord’s Supper is disgraceful

V28 - The remedy


Application 1: Self-examination necessary

Paul

Jesus


Application 2: Self-examination, what is it?

It is not…

Vertical & Horizontal

Looking within; looking without

Canons of Dordt; head 5, article 10: Accordingly, this assurance does not derive from some private revelation beyond or outside the Word, but

  1. from faith in the promises of God which he has very plentifully revealed in his Word for our comfort,

  2. from the testimony “of the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are God’s children and heirs” (Rom. 8:16–17), and finally

  3. from a serious and holy pursuit of a clear conscience and of good works.

And if God’s chosen ones in this world did not have this well-founded comfort that the victory will be theirs and this reliable guarantee of eternal glory, they would be of all people most miserable.


Application 3: Self-examination, the result

Failure

The form