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Careful Examination 2021

Careful Examination

1 Corinthians 11: “27 Wherefore twhosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, uunworthily, shall be wguilty of xthe body and blood of the Lord. 28 But ylet a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [1]

I.   Wherefore

     A. Separated

     B. Selfish

II. Whosoever

     A. Cooperative

     B. Concerned

III. Worthily

     A. Disciplined

     B. Decided

Introduction:   If you follow the www.intelecs.com webpage for the sermons, today’s message is more or less a rerun.  The text and the title were used in a message just after our revival in 2019 when Norman was supposed to be headed back to Florida.  Turns out, Norman was diverted to speak in another church and much has happened in his and Debbie’s lives since.

We hear the text from Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth often as we gather for to commemorate Jesus’ last supper with His disciples.  The text is quoted by many preachers over and over again.  It is good to remember the things that were going on there in Corinth as they were about to observe the last supper which is the first communion.

Last Sunday we finished the exposition of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians.  He admonished them to exclude those who were exhibiting divisive behavior from causing further dissention in the church.  It was for the good of the congregation and to show love for the troublemakers.

There are occasions when separation from those we love is necessary as long as our purpose is love.  We temporarily separate as we pray for their own discomfort for being away from their church family.  The more we reward bad behavior the more bad behavior we get from the offenders.  They learn that offending is rewarded by attention and then when others tire of the mess and stop coddling them, the offender leaves and we wonder why they leave.

It’s like what old Barney Fife said.  Sometimes it’s better to nip it in the bud.  Prune the bad blossom before it has a chance to grow and good growth will result.  This is what Paul was facing there in Corinth.  He wanted to nip the problem in the bud so that the church could grow the right kind of fruit that would grow into the beautiful bouquet God expects us to be.

Let us examine ourselves with the Holy Spirit’s love and guidance for the sake of our church.  Merry Oaks has been through the tests of time and we are still here.  With His strength and love we will become stronger Christians.  We will weather this storm of virus and with God’s blessings we will lead new generations to follow in the footsteps Jesus has made as He carried us through to this point.  Remember what Jesus said in John 14: 27 “zPeace I leave with you, amy peace I give unto you: not bas the world giveth, give I unto you. cLet not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” [2]

Scripture:  Today’s scripture is 1 Corinthians 11:27-28.  When you have found it please rise to your feet for the reading of God’s written word.

Prayer: Please be seated

Message:  In a few minutes we will hear from 1 Corinthians 11:23 – 26, but for now let us search for Paul’s main point first.  The chapter begins in response to something that Paul had heard about.  People in the church at Corinth were divided about things that were secondary instead of being united in their primary worship of Jesus Christ.  They were arguing about which under-shepherd to follow and they were losing sight of the One True Shepherd.

Paul started with a statement that is hard.  Be ye followers of me.  Look there yourself at verse one; there in that first verse of 1Corinthians chapter eleven.  That is what we are supposed to do.  We are to be such close followers of Jesus that it would be good for people to follow us as their example of being a Christian!  The only way a pastor or anyone else can do that is to give all the attention over to Jesus.  Only then can anyone be the type of Christian fit to be followed.

As you read on, there is that thing that people argue about even today and many discount what Paul has to say because they confuse this thing about women covering their heads.  They use this as ammunition in the false argument that Paul was a sexist.  People twist this and say things like, “Paul didn’t like women much.  He encouraged women to be kept in their place.”

Paul warned about people who cause trouble in church.  If she was a troublemaker or if he was a troublemaker, Paul put you in the troublemaker bag.

Truth of the matter; women in that church were causing dissention and division.  They were gossiping about everything and often speaking in tongues to gain attention without having anyone to understand what they were saying.

This custom of wearing hats was being elevated to the place so that it was causing division.  Imagine that!  People taking a minor thing and talking about it so much that it became a major mess.

Paul described why and how they came to the conclusion to adopt this policy 1 Corinthians 11: 2 – 15.  This head covering thing started as an idea but the custom became an ordinance.  Notice there in verse two; Paul referred to that thing of head covering as an ordinance.  Later he expanded on what he really meant.  Following an ordinance is what we will do at the conclusion of this sermon today.  Ordinance is something ordained by God.  Marriage between a husband and a wife, communion or observance of the Last Supper, baptism, these are things ordained by God that we are to follow.

Sometimes we suppose that the church constitution or bylaws are the gospel, something ordained by God.  They are not.  If the customs adopted become contentious then it’s time to change them!  We are in the arduous process of reviewing and adopting our church covenant and it won’t be over after I’m gone.  It is a continuous process of change because God is the only thing that does not change.  When God confounded language when the tower at Babel was being constructed, language changed and it’s still evolving today.  That is why we translate the original text of the Bible into the different languages and have so many different versions so that everyone can understand the Bible in their own dialect.  People today use the different versions of the Bible as a source for division just as those in Corinth were divided over which preacher to listen to.  If you can hear God speak through the man speaking, that’s the right man for this particular time.  The same holds true for which version of the Bible God leads you to understand at any particular time.  He does not change and neither does His truth.

In verses 16, Paul wraps it all up into that one verse.  If anybody has a problem with a custom, and it really is just a custom that was once agreed upon, if now it is causing division then it’s time to change it because it is no longer a custom so let’s get back to being church, church!

Now follow as we hear 1 Corinthians 11:17 – 22 could never happen here could they?  People were fussing about having a church meal together.  Some people were taking care to have what they wanted to eat while others either decided not to eat with everyone else or they were being ignored.  Some were actually getting drunk at the church functions.  If y’all start getting drunk here, I’m gone.  Just so you know. 

Anyhow, the church meals were causing a big mess.  Is that why the Army calls the cafeteria a mess hall?  In 1 Corinthians 11:23 – 26 Paul switches gears to speak of the real ordinance of communion.  After the dissertation that we often use in our observance of communion, Paul switched back to his reprimand of the church.

If you are not worthy to eat this bread or drink from this cup, don’t do it!  What is the wherefore?  You have to go back to what was said before the dissertation about communion.  If you think it’s OK to be separated from the rest of the congregation in the way you honor Jesus, if you have selfish goals instead of selfless service in mind, wherefore you better examine yourself before you take communion.

Jesus said in John 3:16 that whosoever believeth would be saved.  Here Paul uses that same word to warn whosoever would divide but there must be that other whosoever too that is worthy.  When I was a child, still am by the way, I sure miss you momma, I would voice my concern about this to my mother.  Who in the world is worthy to partake in eating an example of the flesh and blood of Jesus?  How can I?  Why should I?  Momma had no good answer except, “you’ll know.”

So let’s look at the opposite of the contention maker to see who Paul considers worthy.  If you are not one that demands what doesn’t fit anymore and are willing to cooperate with your church family so that the good of the church is your goal, then you are worthy to partake in the Lord’s Last Supper ordinance.  If you are more concerned that others are taken care of than your own personal comforts and desires are being met, then you are worthy.

There it is!  How can you know if you’re worthy?  Examine yourself by these things that Paul has described.  Are you partaking in union with your church?  That is called communion.  If you love your church family because Jesus loved you enough to die for them and for you, you are worthy.

Are you more interested in what you want than what others need?  Better examine yourself and find out your motives.  I think maybe that’s one reason I’ve had a weight problem.  Who knows?  He knows, that’s who.

We need to finish the chapter before we partake.  “29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh ||damnation to himself, not zdiscerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and asickly among you, and many bsleep. 31 For cif we would djudge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, ewe are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And fif any man hunger, let him geat at home; that hye come not together unto ||condemnation. And the rest iwill I set in order kwhen I come.”  [3] 

This is Paul who wrote this but remember the beginning about who to follow.  Paul followed Jesus and here I suppose Paul is talking for himself yet we understand that Jesus Himself will be the One to set in order, the way He intended, when He comes for us.

Prayer:

Invitation:  Have you examined yourself?  Are you disciplined to the place of following Jesus so that others could use you for their example of a Christian?  Have you decided that the church is not the church until you have decided to be a part of the church?  Are you a truly a member of this body of Christ?  If you can answer yes to this, we are ready to observe the Last Supper worthily.



t Comp. Num. 9:10, 13.
u Comp. John 13:27.
w See Mark 3:29.
x John 6:51, 53–56.
y 2 Cor. 13:5. Gal. 6:4. So Ecclus. 18:20. 1 John 3:20, 21. See Rom. 2:18.
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 11:27–28). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
z Luke 24:36. ch. 20:19, 26.
a ch. 16:33. Phil. 4:7. So Col. 3:15.
b See 1 Sam. 1:17. Comp. Jer. 6:14.
c ver. 1.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Jn 14:27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
|| Or, judgment. Gk. as ver. 34. Rom. 13:2.
z Gk. as ch. 4:7 marg.
a Comp. Ecclus. 38:15. John 5:14.
b See Matt. 27:52.
c See Ps. 32:5.
d ch. 6:5. & 14:29.
e See Prov. 3:11. So Heb. 12:7–10.
f ver. 21.
g ver. 22.
h So ver. 17.
|| Or, judgment. ver. 29.
i ch. 7:17. Tit. 1:5. So ch. 16:1 in the Gk.
k See ch. 4:19.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 11:29–34). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.