SOME THINGS WE NEED TO REMEMBER!
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Introduction: Throughout the course of Biblical history, there
were certain things that God wanted his people to remember. To highlight the
importance and to bring to memory the significance of particular events the
Lord commanded that His people observe feasts to commemorate these events.
A. “Remember the Sabbath day” (Exo.
20:8-11)
1. Proper
observance described (Isa. 56:2-7)
2. Purpose
for observance (Deu.
B. “Remember this day in which you went out of
1. God
never wanted
2. Involved
specific elements
3. Only
certain ones were permitted to observe
C. “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke
1. Why is
it to be observed?
2. How and
when is it to be observed?
3. Who can
observe?
I. What is
the significance of the Lord's Supper? (1 Cor. 11:17-34)
A. "Proclaim
the Lord's death" (v. 26) -- What should we be thinking?
1. There
must be a recognition of the facts of Jesus death in behalf of sinners
2. Inherent
in His death is his suffering (Exo. 13:3) bread of suffering exemplifying a
body given to suffering (Heb. 10:5-10) – comment on “broken”
B. Show's
forth our unity in Christ (1 Cor.
1. We must
avoid division where possible (1 Cor.
2. We all
benefit from Jesus death
C. Such expresses our hope (1 Cor.
1. Jesus is coming (John 14:1-3)
2. Remember what it took to pave
the way for our departure (1 Pet. 1:1-9)
D. Provokes one's self examination
(v. 28) -- Christians who pass on communion
1. Only
those who are Worthy should partake -- to partake worthily is to partake in a
reverent manner (Proper focus; proper way; proper emblems)
2. Self
examination includes a determination of whether we are in the faith or in
fellowship with God (2 Cor 13:5) --
communion implies fellowship; those who are out of fellowship are not worthy to
sup with the Lord at His table (Luke
3. Must
discern the emblems (1 Cor.
II. How and
when is the supper to be observed?
A. “Often” (1 Cor.
1. First day of the week (Acts
20:7)
2. Until that day (Mark
B. Steve Cawthon
made the following observations about the frequency in which we partake of the
Lord's supper and the manner in which we partake:
Our religious neighbors who object to our
insistence upon the weekly observance of the supper sometimes charge that such
frequency diminishes the sanctity of that act of worship in our minds. While we could use the same argument to
object to daily prayer or any other frequent mode of worship, we must
acknowledge the practical need to center our minds on the significance of the
supper. Must we hurriedly race through
this memorial so we can quickly check off another item on the worship agenda
and be on our way? Do we not realize the
time we take to pause, ponder, read sing, and pray in connection with our
eating and drinking are part of the essence of our communion with the body and
blood of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16)? To how many
of our assemblies can the apostles words be applied, "Ye come together not for the better but for the worse' (1 Cor.
C. When the members have gathered
together as a church in one place (1 Cor.
1. To be done in the assembly
2. No authority to partake
anywhere other than where specified (sin of presumption (Jereboham;
Nadab and Abihu)
D. Proper observance is according
to revelation (1 Cor.
1. Such was received by Paul
2. Such was delivered to the
saints (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-4)
3. Cannot substitute emblems, day,
or method
Conclusion: When a person fails to come together on the
first day of the week, he fails to provoke his remembrance of Jesus
Christ. He fails to express his
fellowship with the saints. He misses
out on the opportunity to examine himself as to his spiritual fitness. He gives every indication that he lacks faith
and hope. He spurns the Lords invitation
to sup with Him (Luke