Discerning the Body
Discerning the Body
-Introduction
-Sun. class – Paul at Corinth and his correspondence with them
-As I’ve pointed out – Corinth was a very sin-filled city. Yet, the Gospel made a
tremendous impact. Amongst all the sinfulness, the church began and grew.
-So, these Christians in Corinth had to undergo a process of change and growth.
-There was much that they had to overcome – 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
-So, of course, the experienced some difficulties along the way. (issues in 1 Corinthians)
-Lord’s Supper – 1 Cor. 11:17-34
-vs 17 – “I do not commend you” – contrasted to vs 2
-Notice the repeated phrase – “when you come together” (vs 17, 18, 20, 33)
-vs 18 – first place – divisions; vs 19 – factions
-vs 20 – What you are doing is not the Lord’s Supper
-vs 23-28 – basically straightforward
-vs 29-32 – more challenging verses
-Remembering the Purpose of the Lord’s Supper
-Matt. 26:26-28
-“Do this in remembrance of me” (vs 24,25)
-vs 26 “as often” – How often? – “when you come together” – Acts 20:7
-The emphasis of these verses are the purpose – Remembrance of Jesus
-body and blood; victory through His resurrection
-comment regarding resurrection and baptism – Rom. 6:3-4
-vs 27 – avoiding an “unworthy manner”
-“Unworthy” is not being applied to the person partaking. None of us are worthy.
“Unworthy” is being applied to the manner is which one partakes.
-vs 28 – examine himself – How? Remember the context – examine the manner in which
he partakes – “and so eat…and drink” – In the proper manner – in remembrance.
-God has placed an emphasis upon Jesus – both in the O.T. and N.T. The Lord’s Supper
places an emphasis on Jesus in that aspect of our worship.
-Discerning the Body
-Obviously, the Corinthians were not properly observing the Lord’s Supper. It seems that
they were bringing they banqueting and feasting common in their society into the
worship service.
-Today, we live in an entertainment-rich society. And, much of that is being brought
into worship in the religious world around us. Often times, so-called “worship” is
entertainment of self rather than worship of the Almighty God.
-But, there was something else wrong in Corinth which involves this passage.
-Paul was telling them: “There is still something wrong in the way that you are
doing this wrong.” Even doing it wrong, they were wrong.
-vs 21-22
-“each one;” “one…another;” “humiliate those…” – Divisions and factions
-Paraphrase: You’re coming together but not thinking about one another.
-Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
-Now then, back to verses 29 and following:
-Up to this point: body and blood – (vs 24 – body, vs 25 – blood, vs 27 – both)
-vs 28 – so eat…bread (body) and drink the cup (blood)
-Is it possible, that in verse 29, Paul transitions back to their feasting?
-This is where the topic of “love” feasts enters into the equation. But, in their so-
called “love” feast (if that’s what were talking about here), there wasn’t much love.
-They were leaving out their Christian principles.
-concept of our pot-luck meals – each contributes to the whole – all eat equally
-Paul isn’t telling them that it is ok to replace the Lord’s Supper with a meal as long as
they kept Christian principles in tact. He already addressed that.
-However, he is not saying that they could not eat at the same location where they
worshipped; for us, the building.
-What about churches that met in houses? (1 Cor. 16:19, Rom. 16:5, Col. 4:15,
Philem. 2)
-The key is: separating the common meals from the worship service – In Corinth, this
blending together seemingly came out of the Lord’s Supper.
-Paul was saying, “If you can’t separate the two, eat at home.”
-Don’t violate conscience – 1 Cor. 8; Rom. 14
-Closing and Invitation
-So, could vs 29 – discerning the body” be a return to verses 21-22? Discerning the
Lord’s body in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper – discerning the body (the
congregation as a whole) in all else.
-If this is the case in this passage, we are reminded that we will be held accountable
for our attitude and approach to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
-That’s another area in which we are so fortunate here at 26th – unity and love of the
brethren.