Do This In Remembrance Of Me 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 with Pastor Barry Kerner
Order of Service for July 5th, 2020
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer
Worship Song
Community Prayer
Today’s Message
Responsive Reading
Service of Communion
Prayer and Benediction
Responsive Reading
Leader: As we come to the Lord’s table, let us come with a spirit of humility and penitence.
Members: Compassionate God, have mercy on us we pray.
Leader: Let us examine ourselves: out thoughts, our actions, our motives, and our attitudes toward others.
Members: O Holy God, have mercy and forgive us our shortcomings.
Leader: Help us to remember our responsibility to our families and our neighbors, our stewardship to you and the work you have given to our hands.
Members: O Living God, we stand in need of your grace, strength, and mercy.
Leader: As we eat the bread, which represents your body, which is the True and Living Bread, open our eyes to recognize the intimacy that you yearn to share with us.
Members: O Loving God, teach us to love you above all else.
Leader: As we drink the cup, which represents Christ’s blood shed for us, we thank you for the new covenant. “Love ye one another,” which is written on our hearts. Let us rejoice because our names are written in heaven.
Members: May your redeeming love renew us for loving service for others.
Leader: May this Lord’s Supper energize every area of our lives and enable us to transcend our circumstances, our inadequacies, and our enemies.
Members: Father, touch and empower us so that our lives will be renewed.
Leader: We praise you, O God, who make us Your own people through the death and resurrection of your Son, our Lord.
Members: Abide in us, and fill us with the life-giving power of your Spirit, now and forever.
Service Text
Do This In Remembrance Of Me
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Ever since the early Christians met secretly in homes to remember the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the church has been celebrating the Service of Holy Communion. Of all the things we do in the church, this one event should hold the most meaning for us, and it should cause us to be humbled by the message behind the service.
I think that, far too often, the Communion celebration is looked upon as being common place. It is just something “we do every month”. In reality, it is far more than this! In many churches throughout the world the elements of bread and wine or juice are placed on a stand with the words, “Table Of Remembrance” engraved across the front. This time we call Communion is an opportunity for the church to worship the Lord Jesus by using these simple elements to remember what Christ did for us at Calvary and at the garden tomb. It is a time when we can rehearse the message of the Gospel in the ears of those who may not know it. It is also a time to reflect upon our walk with Jesus as individuals.
Today, we are going to partake of the Communion once again. But, before we do, I want to draw your attention to what these verses teach us about this special time. Allow me to point out several marks of this time known as Communion. As I do, please look into your own heart and examine your life on the basis of what the Bible says about this event known as The Lord’s Supper.
Let us read from today’s passage 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 23-34.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
In verses 23-25 we are reminded that this is a time of COMMEMORATION.
These verses remind us that the Lord’s Supper Service is a time for “calling to mind” the great sacrifice and victorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we gather at the Lord’s Table for Communion, we are not offering a new sacrifice. We are remembering His “once for all” sacrifice, Hebrews 10:10 explains to us that, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The idea of remembering is more than just recalling that an event took place. It has the idea of stirring up the mind to relive with Jesus Christ as much of His life, death and resurrection as is humanly possible.
It is a time to remember that:
- He left heaven to be born in a human body – Philippians 2:5-6
- He became poor that we might be rich – 2 Corinthians 8:9
- He bore our sins in His Own body on the tree – 1 Peter 2:24
- He willingly took our place on Calvary – Isaiah 53:4-6
- He shed His blood for our redemption – Revelation 1:5, 5:9, 1 Peter 1:18-19.
- He conquered death for us forever – Matthew 28:1-6; Revelations 1:18
- He ascended back to Heaven to finish His redemptive work and to serve as out High Priest forever – Hebrews 7:25
These three verses also remind us that it is a time of COMTEMPLATION.
Not only are we to remember what Jesus has done for humanity, but we are to contemplate what His sacrifice means to us as individuals. 1 Timothy 1:15 tells us that came into this world and died on the cross to save sinners. But, what does that mean to you? Have you been saved? If you are saved, does His sacrifice move your heart toward Him in worship? Does the fact that He is alive forevermore thrill your soul and cause you to bow before Him in humility and worship?
We should use this time to reflect on what the finished work of Christ means to us as individuals. Our minds should reflect on what His death and resurrection has accomplished in our lives. It is a great time to consider your personal walk with the Lord! Is it all it should be? Are you living in a manner that pleases Him? Is your heart right with the Lord? Consider your relationship to the Lord during this special time.
Verses 23 through 25 also remind us that it is a time of IDENTIFICATION.
When we take the Lord’s Supper, we are publicly identifying ourselves with Jesus Christ. Now, it is possible for a lost person to partake of the Lord’s Supper and never be saved. This event holds no saving power! However, for those who are saved, it is a time for us to declare publicly that we believe His death and resurrection were for us!
Let us who have been saved by grace boldly identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible reminds us in Romans 10:9-11 that those who know Him are not to be ashamed of Him. The world may call us fools. They may say we use the Lord as a crutch. Regardless of what they say, let us take our stand with the redeemed and loudly proclaim our faith in Him and our dependence upon His sacrifice. Yes, The Lord’s Supper Service is a prime time to identify yourself with the Lord Jesus!
Verse 26 reminds us that the Service of Holy Communion is a time of DECLARATION.
This verse reminds us that when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are declaring His death and resurrection to new generations of people. This is to be a time of education as well as a time of worship. We must always take the time to explain what we are doing when we take the bread and juice. This service is a prime time for declaring the Gospel message to those who do not know it.
That is why we preach the Gospel message! We proclaim it so that men and women, boy and girls will have the opportunity to believe on Jesus Christ as all the redeemed have done. Therefore, let us determine that we will ever remind this lost and dying world that there is only one source of salvation and that His name is Jesus Christ.
In a day when many churches are becoming “seeker friendly” and others are abandoning the doctrines of salvation by grace through faith alone, let us determine that as long as there is breath in our bodies, we will strive to protect the message in this church! We could compromise and draw a crowd, but I had rather preach the truth to a few than to drag a crowd behind me into a Christ-less eternity!
Verse 26 also reminds us that the Lord’s Supper is a time of EXPECTATION.
We are also reminded that this time serves to stir up our thoughts concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The truth is, He died for us, He rose again for us and He ascended into Heaven for us. There, He makes intercession for us at the throne of God. John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 also help us to not forget that He has also promised to return someday for us.
The Lord’s Supper service should serve to remind us of the fact that He is coming! It should stir up our hearts by reminding us that one day soon, our Savior will return from glory to take His children home to Heaven. Therefore, when the bred and juice are passed in a few minutes, remember, Jesus is coming and He is coming for a redeemed people.
Are you ready for His coming? We are to live expectantly as Matthew 24:24 tells us, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Verses 27-31 remind us that it is a time of EXAMINATION.
While all the other truths we have considered today are important, this final one is very serious in its warning to you and me. The Lord’s Supper service is a time of reflection and worship, but it is also a time of self-examination. We are warned against partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.
First, It Is A Warning To The Lost – No one who has not been saved should take of the Lord’s Supper service. It is a dangerous thing to do so!
Second, It Is A Warning To The Backslider – When we come to the Lord’s table with sin in our lives, we open our lives up to God’s judgment. He will chasten His children when they profess to be right with God, and yet they are harboring sin in their hearts.
Third, It Is A Warning Against Taking It Lightly – Too often, people will come to the Lord’s table and will not take the time to search their hearts for sin, nor will they consider the great sacrifice Jesus gave for their redemption. They go through the motions, but ignore the emotions. Others participate in it ritualistically and not with their minds and hearts. Others trust the ceremony to save them and fail to trust the One to Whom the ceremony points. Others come with bitterness and hatred in their hearts toward other believers. All of these are dangerous and bring the chastisement of God into our lives.
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper in a manner which degrades the truth behind the celebration, we are guilty of trampling under foot the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. When someone walks on the flag of the United States in protest, they are doing more than damaging a piece of cloth. They are actually dishonoring this nation and all it stands for! The same is true at the Lord’s Table! Let us be careful to examine our hearts, our lives and our motives before we receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
Paul’s warning is serious! He reminds the Corinthians that some of there number is dead because they came to the Lord’s Table in an unworthy manner! The remedy for this is for us to examine ourselves, confess our sins and to right every wrong possible, before we come to the Lord’s Table! If we will take the time to judge our own lives, the Lord will not have to judge them for us. But, even when His chastisement comes upon us, it is for our own good, and is a product of His love for us.
Verses 33 and 34 remind us that the Communion Service is a time of COMMUNITY.
As the church is the Body of Christ we are extorted to eat and drink as a body. When we come together and celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are declaring to ourselves and those around us our resolve to reflect Christ’s love and forgiveness and so to be unified. There is power is the blood of Jesus and there is power when God’s people, led by his Holy Spirit work together as one. In Genesis 11:6 the Lord declared that if the people speak one language and are of one mind then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
As a child, many of us can remember our mothers telling us to “wash up for supper.” Well, that is what the Lord is telling you and me this morning! Are you in a right condition to receive the Lord’s Supper today?
Before we celebrate the service of Holy Communion, take a moment to examine yourself and to answer these questions:
- Are you saved?
- Is your life pleasing to the Lord?
- Are there hidden things in your life that need to be dealt with this morning?
- Is there ANY problem between you and another believer?
- Can you honestly say that your heart and life and pure?
- Are you ready to receive the bread and juice with a heart of true worship for God our Father?
Let us pray.