The Lord’s Supper

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-18-2026

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

Introduction: 

A.  What a blessing it is to partake of the Lord’s Supper or Communion, as many call it. I want to look at its proceedings and purpose tonight.  The Lord’s Supper has not only been a blessing, but also a curse to many who have either misused it or taken it lightly in a sinful condition. 

 

B.  It is a serious matter to participate, and our people need to be informed as to the why, how, and manner of it.  The Corinthian church had perverted it, either out of willfulness or ignorance, and, for this cause, many were sickly among them, and many died.

 

C.  It is a Divine Ordinance, not manmade, not denomination, not traditional, nor optional.  It is a command, therefore an ordinance of the local church. 

 

D.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 17-22  Paul wrote this section, with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, because of the problems in the Corinthian church. 

 

1.  Their motives were wrong – their desire – vs. 17  “ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”  Communion is referenced in 3 of the 4 Gospels.  It is of interest that there is no Scripture commanding us to commemorate the Lord’s Birth, but this one to remember His death!  People love Christmas but miss Communion.

 

2.  Their minds were wrong – their division – vs. 18  “I hear that there be divisions among you”  The Bible promotes unity while division and confusion are Satan’s devices.

 

3.  Their manners were wrong – their disorder – vs. 19  “For there must be also heresies among you”  This is the crux of my message tonight, the misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and misuse of this Divine Command.

 

E.  The Problems In The Continued Church.  In our day, we find so much confusion and division in our Communion.  Most is based upon biblical ignorance, willful or otherwise.  I will deal with several tonight.

 

1.  That the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament or imparts grace to the believer.  Many call it “Holy Communion,” a term adopted by Catholic, Protestant, and liberal Baptist churches.  Nowhere in the Bible is “Holy Communion” found. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

2.  That the Lord’s Supper contains the literal body and blood of Christ.  Transubstantiation and Co-substantiation.  These two heresies make the mass a re-crucifixion and essential to salvation and produce grace for those who receive it.  Grace is a gift, an unmerited favor, given by God, and cannot be produced or reproduced through human ritual.

 

Hebrews 10:10-12  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (11)  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  (12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 

3.  The actual use of wine, which is fermented or leavened, instead of the fruit of the wine.  Wine, as a strong drink, is a product of fermentation and, therefore, leaven.  Wine is also a mocker and is to be totally abstained from by the believer.  Also, the fruit of the vine was to be drunk by all who partake and not just a priest.

 

Matthew 26:28-29  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

 

Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

 

4.  The use of leavened bread.  Once again, leaven is a type of sin and brings the sinfulness of man into the Lord’s Supper, which defiles the type.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  (8)  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

5.  Open Communion – where everyone, saved or lost, fundamental or heretical .at you believe, you are welcome to partake.) 

 

1 Corinthians 11:18a, 20a  For first of all, when ye come together in the church … When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

 

6.  Closed Communion – where other Bible-believing Christians who visit from another local church are excluded from the fellowship.  Only those who are members of the church in communion are welcome to participate. All others, including those who are saved and fundamental but are members of other good local churches, are rejected and cannot participate.

 

F.  The Proceeding Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-25

 

1.  The Thanksgiving – vs. 24  Thank God for Calvary!  It is sad to see the number of so-called Christians who never attend the Lord’s Supper.  We have some who never attend Sunday night services.  We normally hold the Lord’s Supper on Sunday night because there are fewer visitors.

 

2.  The Taking – vs. 24-25  The taking of both bread and juice.  It was not just the death of Christ that saved, but the precious blood that has been applied!

 

G.  The Purpose Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 23-26

 

          1.  The Receiving – vs. 23  (From generation to generation.)

 

2.  The Remembering – vs. 24-25 – (In remembrance of me.  What Christ did for us!)

 

          3.  The Revealing – vs. 26 – “shew the Lord’s death till he come”

 

H.  The Problems Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 27-32

 

          1.  The Problem Of Improper Actions – vs. 27-29 - unconfessed sinfulness

 

2.  The Problem Of An Improper Attitude – vs. 29 – “not discerning” A mere rite or ceremony.  The Lord’s Supper is a serious matter and needs to be taken as such.

 

J.  The People Associated With The Lord’s Supper – vs. 33 - The Saved – “brethren”