The Meaning of Communion

1 Corinthians 11:17-341 Corinthians 11:17-34

Corinthians:A Window into the 1st Century Church Rapid GrowthRapid Growth

Coleman Coleman (Master Plan of Discipleship)(Master Plan of Discipleship):: Acts 1: 100-200 Christians.Acts 1: 100-200 Christians. 22% Growth Every Year for 2 Centuries22% Growth Every Year for 2 Centuries 200,000 Christians by Acts 28200,000 Christians by Acts 28 End of 1st Century: .5 MillionEnd of 1st Century: .5 Million Nero: “Multitudes [in Rome & elsewhere] are…Nero: “Multitudes [in Rome & elsewhere] are…

embracing the new religion.”embracing the new religion.” Tacitus says Nero martyred “immense multitudes.”Tacitus says Nero martyred “immense multitudes.” Justin Martyr “throughout the cities of the world… Justin Martyr “throughout the cities of the world…

barbarians, Greeks, nomads, vagrants, herdsmen…”barbarians, Greeks, nomads, vagrants, herdsmen…”

Corinthians:A Window into the 1st Century Church

Rapid GrowthRapid Growth A Different Kind of MeetingA Different Kind of Meeting

In HomesIn Homes Not Institutional, formal, ritualistic.Not Institutional, formal, ritualistic. ““Love Feast”Love Feast” CommunionCommunion Reading/Teaching Reading/Teaching for 4 hoursfor 4 hours!! Corporate PrayerCorporate Prayer

Corinthians:A Window into the 1st Century Church

Rapid GrowthRapid Growth A Different Kind of MeetingA Different Kind of Meeting A Spirit-Led ChurchA Spirit-Led Church

Paul’s Rebuke 11:17-23 A Really A Really BadBad Meeting. Meeting.

““But in giving this instruction, I do not praise But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.”better but for the worse.”

Paul’s Rebuke 11:17-23 A Really A Really BadBad Meeting. Meeting. DivisionsDivisions

v.18v.18 For, in the first place, when you come For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part, I believe it.among you; and in part, I believe it.

v.19v.19 For there must also be factions among you, in For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have order that those who are approved may have become evident among you.become evident among you.

Paul’s Rebuke 11:17-23 A Really A Really BadBad Meeting. Meeting. DivisionsDivisions Rampant Self-FocusRampant Self-Focusv. 20-21 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the v. 20-21 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the

Lord's Supper for in your eating each one takes his own supper Lord's Supper for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

v. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or v. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I

will not praise you.will not praise you.

“You come together not for the better but for the worse.” 1 Cor. 11:17

Having a Successful Meeting

1.1. Get God’s perspective Get God’s perspective beforehandbeforehand.. ““When you come together as a church…”When you come together as a church…”

Ekklesia - “Called Out”

James 3:15 on divisions: “This wisdom is not that which comes down from

above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”

1 Cor. 11:18 …When you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you…

James 2:2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes

in a poor man in dirty clothes,

James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

James 2:3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good

place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

Having a Successful Meeting

1.1. Get God’s perspective Get God’s perspective beforehandbeforehand..

2.2. Come together to Come together to FellowshipFellowship.. - - “Fellowship”, “Share”, “Make “Fellowship”, “Share”, “Make

Common”Common”

Finding Role as Contributor / Investor.Finding Role as Contributor / Investor.Acts 2:42 “And they were Acts 2:42 “And they were continually devoting themselves continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to to the apostles' teaching and to fellowshipfellowship, to the breaking of , to the breaking of

bread and to prayer.”bread and to prayer.”

Having a Successful Meeting

1.1. Get God’s perspective Get God’s perspective beforehandbeforehand..

2.2. Come together to Come together to FellowshipFellowship..

3.3. Our Heart Attitudes are Paramount.Our Heart Attitudes are Paramount. It’s not a It’s not a ChristianChristian meeting otherwise. meeting otherwise.

1 Cor. 11:20 “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper…”

Communion: An Example of 23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered 23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered

to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; betrayed took bread;

and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "This is 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.“My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.“

In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.“as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.“

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

Communion: An Example of Remembering Christ’s Death on the Cross.Remembering Christ’s Death on the Cross.

Appreciation and worship.Appreciation and worship. Rejecting self-glorification.Rejecting self-glorification. Basis for Basis for ..

A Corporate Act: Proclaims our A Corporate Act: Proclaims our unity.unity.

1 Cor. 10:16-17 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

The Story of Eutychus Acts 20:7-9And on the first day of the week, when we were

gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them…and he prolonged his message until midnight.

And there was a certain young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he…fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.