Sermon Notes "In Remembrance of Me" based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

 My goal: Understand communion in a fresh or deeper way.

Elements (vs. 23-26)

·         Vs. 23-I received from the Lord and deliver to you…

·         My Body

o   OT Imagery: Covenant-animals broken-Genesis 15

o   Vs. 23-Bread

§  Unleavened bread used in Passover-Exodus 12:11,20- 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover… You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

§  Manna in the wilderness-Exodus 16:13-15

§  Jesus’ own words “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35

o   Vs. 24-Broken

§  Jesus said, my body broken for you; God in the flesh-Jesus as fully God and fully man

o   Unity in the Body-Pastor Brad mentioned last time we celebrated communion

·         My Blood

o   OT Imagery: Sacrifices

§  Blood from a human made someone unclean; but from a sacrifice made them clean or holy.

o   Blood on door posts-saves-Exodus 12:7,13- “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it… 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you…”

o   Blood-makes atonement- Leviticus 17:11- “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

§  Atonement- the act by which God and man are brought together in personal relationship[1]

o   Vs. 25-New Covenant

§  Leads to forgiveness of sin (Matt. 26:28); justified by blood (Romans 5:9); Redeemed or Purchased by the blood (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:9); Reconciled or Brought near by the blood (Ephesians 2:13); Makes peace through the blood (Colossians 1:20); Enter the holy place by His blood (Hebrews 9:11-12); Blood cleanses or purifies us outwardly and inwardly (Hebrews 9:13-14: 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14); Freed by His blood (Revelation 1:5); Overcome Satan by His blood (Revelation 12:11)

·         Both

o   OT Imagery: Passover--Luke 22:15-Jesus wanted to celebrate this with his disciples

o   Vs. 26-Proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes

o   John 6:53-58- 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Examine (vs. 27-32)

·         Unworthy

o   What does unworthy mean here? I believe the church has taught this incorrectly over the years.  We have made people examine themselves to see if they have any sin in their lives and if they do, they should not take communion.

o   Paul refers to those who are partaking in an unworthy manner, not to persons who are themselves unworthy.[2]

o   Unworthily.—unbelievingly, unlovingly--the unworthiness lies in a lack of living active faith in the atonement which has been achieved by the death of Christ; and this is the source of the various moral disqualifications by which the celebration of the Supper may be dishonored[3]

o   Can a believer be unworthy in Jesus’ eyes?  NO.  We are made worthy by what Jesus has done not by what we do. The focus of communion is NOT US, it is JESUS. 

·         Judgment

o   Leads to discipline so we are not condemned along with the world

Response: Communion

·         Is Jesus body broken and blood poured out enough?  Can we do anything to add to it?

·         As we prepare to receive communion this morning, may we not focus on ourselves but may we focus on Jesus body and blood.  Meditate and think on what the body and blood have accomplished for you.  Focus on Jesus gift to you. 


[1] Lyon, R. W., & Toon, P. (1988). Atonement. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 231). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

[2] Witherington, B., III. (1995). Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (p. 251). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

[3] Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Kling, C. F., & Poor, D. W. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 Corinthians (p. 238). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

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