This week”™s sermon will look at 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 and how the Lord”™s Supper should be a clear, visible indication of who the church is. Think through the following as you prepare for Sunday:
Carefully Think
- Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. List as much as you can about the right ways we should approach the Lord”™s Supper.
- From what you read here, what were the Corinthians doing that prompted this instruction from Paul?
- In 11:28, we are called to examine ourselves so as not to participate in the supper in an unworthy way. How was the Corinthians”™ participation unworthy? What does that suggest about how we could participate this Sunday in an unworthy way?
- From what we learn about the Corinthian abuse of the Lord”™s Table, what does it suggest about how they improperly viewed the church?
- Read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. What is the “body” referred to here? How does this impact how we should view the church during the Lord”™s Table?
Prayerfully Meditate
- How do you normally prepare yourself to take the Lord”™s Table? How could what you see in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 help you?
- In what ways do you think about those in our church with whom you will take the elements of the table? How could 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 help you?
- In addition to personal reflection and confession of sin as a means of preparation, reflect on the benefits of the body of Christ and the relationships you share in the church. If your relationships with those in the body are weak, why? What can you do to strengthen them? If your participation in the lives of God”™s people in the church is small, what can you do to enlarge it?
Intentionally Act
- Because the Lord”™s Supper is for confessing believers who have openly identified themselves as members of Christ”™s church, if you have young children, plan now for how you will communicate what is happening during this time and use it in sharing the gospel with them.
- Look to rectify any relationship barriers with others in the church that you are aware of (Matthew 5:23-26).
- Pray for those who will be involved in the service or who will be leading the service (elders, minister of music, instrumentalists, choir, those singing, ushers, deacons, etc.). Pray their service will help us focus on God”™s word and responding to it.
- Pray for those who do not know Christ to hear and see the gospel displayed clearly as we take the table together. Pray that God will open their hearts to Christ.
- Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing Sunday (found below).
- Listen to the music we will sing and familiarize yourself with it so you can participate well in our congregational singing (found below).
Songs for this Sunday:
Lyrics for Sunday:
