Sermon Tone Analysis

\\ Teddy Roosevelt, the man who would become the 26th President of the United States, was afraid to go to church when he was a child because of a creature he called "The Zeal."

His mother eventually realized the reason for Teddy’s fear was a Scripture verse he had heard the pastor read,

 

John 2:17

17  Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

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Teddy did not really know what that verse of Scripture meant.

There are other parts of the Bible, however, which can cause some fear even when we do understand what they mean.

One frightening Bible passage is our text today, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

I remember reading this portion of Scripture when I was a teenager and getting a little nervous.

What disturbed me was verse 11:27

 

1 Corinthians 11:27

27 Examine Yourself

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

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 And also verse 11:30

 

1 Corinthians 11:30

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

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I also knew that "and many sleep" was really just a nice way of saying that "some of you have died."

I got concerned that every time I took communion, I might be risking my life.

What would happen if I ate the bread or drank the cup in an "unworthy manner"?

And how was I supposed to know what an "unworthy manner" was?

Well, eventually my fears subsided, but it was not until quite a few years later that I really started to understand what the Lord is saying to us through this text.

As that has happened, I have also grown to realize what a wonderful privilege we as Christians have in coming to the Lord’s Table together.

So, let’s *pause and pray* that God would use His Word to help us grow in our understanding and appreciation of this important part of our Christian life.

\\ \\ We start with the Lord’s Supper in 1st Century Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

17 Conduct at the Lord's Supper

Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.

21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

22 What!

Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?

Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?

What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this?

I do not praise you.

23 Institution of the Lord's Supper

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,  "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood.

This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment.

And the rest I will set in order when I come.

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Christian congregations in the 1st Century liked to eat together.

That is one tradition we’ve kept up real well.

Apparently they would gather regularly, maybe once a week, for what they called an Agape Feast, or a Love Feast.

To close their meal together, they would share the bread and the wine, the elements of the Lord’s Supper.

But, it was not working out in Corinth.

I don’t know what type of picture came to your mind as we read these verses, but it sounds pretty chaotic.

They are all trying to grab food and drink for themselves, afraid there will not be enough for everybody to get what they want.

It reminds me of when I was in college eating at the student cafeteria.

One of the workers would bring in a big tray of Rice Krispy bars, and students would jump up and grab them off the tray before that person could even put them on a counter.

The result in Corinth is that some gorge themselves on food and get drunk, while others get nothing to eat.

Paul finds the whole thing totally disgusting.

And so does God.

\\ \\ In verses 23-26, Paul reminds the Corinthians what the Lord’s Supper is really about, and we will come back to that later.

27 Examine Yourself

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an *unworthy manner* will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Now, what is the *"unworthy manner"* of which Paul speaks?

That is an important question.

The word, "therefore" probably gives us a big clue.

Does "therefore" refer back to something Paul said in verses 23-26 where Jesus’ words at the Last Supper are recorded?

I don’t think so.

I think "therefore" refers back to verses 20-22, where Paul is talking about the conflict and division in Corinth.

Thus, I am convinced Paul is saying that those who take part in the Lord’s Supper after they have been grabbing everything they can at the meal; who mistreat others in the fellowship; whose lives are characterized by total selfishness and lack of concern for others, those folks are eating and drinking in a manner which is unworthy of the Lord.

\\ \\ Paul then says, 11:28,29

 

1 Corinthians 11:28-29

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

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Participating in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner is not a good thing to do.

So, he says, before you eat...examine yourself.

Make sure you are qualified to participate.

What should we look for in a spiritual self-exam?

Should we look for sin?

Some folks say, "Examine yourself to make sure there is no sin in your life."

No sin in my life??

Remember, 1 John 1:8 says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves..." Or, we are lying.

Others say, "Make sure you don’t have any known sin or any serious sin."

Really?

Are there types of sin which are not serious to God? \\ \\ Friends, sometimes as I pray at night, I confess my sin by going through the Ten Commandments, that marvelous summary of God’s law.

I find that pretty much each day I break almost every one of them.

Oh, I would never bow down to a statue of Buddha, but I’m often guilty of idolatry because I put something else, or someone, especially myself, ahead of God.

Oh, I don’t tell any bald-faced lies, but I might shade the truth just a little bit in an uncomfortable situation.

I have never committed adultery, but I can’t say that lustful thoughts don’t sometimes enter my head.

About the only commandment I do pretty well on is "keeping the Sabbath day holy."

At least six out of seven days I don’t have any problem with that.

Friends, whenever I examine my heart, I find some sin, either something I have done, said or thought that I should not have, or something I have not done, said or thought that I should have.

I guess I would think I was a pretty rotten, creepy person if I didn’t know that almost all the Christian leaders I admire -- Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Spurgeon, Billy Graham -- all say the same thing.

We are sinners saved by grace.

So, if the prerequisite for coming to the Lord’s Table is that we need to have stopped sinning before we come, I don’t think anyone would be worthy to partake.

\\ \\ Others say, "Yes, we all sin, but the way to prepare for taking communion is to confess those sins.