Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-24
Song list

Message Outline

False Lord’s Supper: Discriminate

Discrimination of haves against have-nots
Don’t despise God’s church by humiliating others

True Lord’s Supper: Commemorate

Remember the Lord Jesus
Bread: for you
Cup: new covenant in blood
Proclaim the Lord’s sacrifice
Anticipate the Lord coming

Worthy Lord’s Supper: Recognize

Recognize your identity and the body of Christ
Otherwise the Lord will judge you
Welcome all to eat together

Group Discussion Questions

1. What have been your experiences with the Lord’s Supper over your life? What have you called it? When did you first take part in it?
2. Why is Paul so upset with the Corinthians over how they are conducting the Lord’s Supper (11:17-22)? What were they doing wrong?
3. When did Jesus institute the Lord’s Supper? Retell the story of the Last Supper and share how that origin gives meaning to our celebration of the Lord’s Supper today?
4. What does it mean that Christ’s body is “for you?” What does it mean that the cup is “the new covenant in my blood?”
5. How is remembrance much deeper than mere mental recall?
6. In addition to remembering, what does verse 26 add to the meaning of the Lord’s Supper? How does it express a present and future dimension in addition to remembering the past?
7. What does it mean to eat and drink “in an unworthy manner” (v. 27)? (Hint: look back at v. 18-22.)
8. What are we to do before we eat the bread and drink the cup (v. 28-31)? What could the consequence be if we don’t (v. 29-32)?
9. So how should we treat people in regard to the Lord’s Supper (v. 33-34)?

Family Discussion Questions

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-91.

1. Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-26 together as a family. What problem does Paul have with the way the Corinthian church is coming together in worship in verses 1 through 22? What does he do in the remaining verses (v. 23-26)?
2. What is the name of this special “meal” that we share in church periodically? What is a symbol (dictionary.com has a great definition)? Can you think of common symbols we use in every day life? What symbols do the “bread” we eat and the “juice” we drink represent when we take communion? Is everyone free to take communion? Who can and who should not? Can you only take communion in church?
3. Who is giving us the commands in verses 24 through 25? What does Jesus ask us to do when we take communion? What are we remembering? As a family, read out loud the crucifixion account of Jesus’ willing sacrifice for us (John 19, Matthew 27, Mark 15 or Luke 23). Does taking communion take on a new depth of meaning in light of these passages?
4. In addition to remembering Jesus’ payment for our sins, what else does Paul tell us we do when we eat the Lord’s Supper (v. 26)? When we proclaim something what are we doing? What interesting fact does he tell us about Jesus in this verse?

Other Resources

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