The Lord’s Supper The BLESSING In The BREAD

1 Cor. 11:23-24; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M, D. Min.
December 4, 2022

Responsive Reading – 1 Corinthians 11:17-26 (ESV)

Leader: But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because
when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

Congregational: For, in the first place, when you come together as a
church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,

Leader: for there must be factions among you in order that those who are
genuine among you may be recognized.

Congregational: When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that
you eat.

Leader: For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes
hungry, another gets drunk.

Congregational: What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do
you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?
What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

Leader: For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the
Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

Congregational: 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.”

Leader: In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This
cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me.”

Everyone: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 10:16 (NKJV) – The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not
the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not
the communion of the body of Christ?

Communion – koinōnia;

1 Corinthians 11:17-19 (NLT) – But in the following instructions, I cannot
praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you
meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you
meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there
must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be
recognized!

1 Corinthians 11:21-22 (NLT) – For some of you hurry to eat your own
meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others
get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and
drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the
poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I
certainly will not praise you for this!

1. You must understand JESUS instituted The Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:23 (ESV) – For I received from the Lord what I also
delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed
took bread,

2. You need to know WHEN the Lord’s Supper was instituted.
1 Corinthians 11:23 (ESV) – For I received from the Lord what I also
delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed
took bread,

3. You need to understand the BREAD in The Lord’s Supper
symbolically represents Jesus’ BODY.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NLT) – For I pass on to you what I received from
the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took
some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and
said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

Luke 22:7-16 (NLT) – Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when
the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and
said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.” 9
“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. 10 He replied, “As
soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet
you. Follow him. At the house he enters, 11 say to the owner, ‘The Teacher
asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my
disciples?’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up.
That is where you should prepare our meal.” 13 They went off to the city and
found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover
meal there. 14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down
together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this
Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now
that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom
of God.”

4. You need to understand JESUS gave His body and DIED for
YOU.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NLT) – For I pass on to you what I received from
the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took
some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and
said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who
hangs on a tree”),

Hebrews 2:9 (NKJV) – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than
the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He,
by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 9:28 (NKJV) – so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of
many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time,
apart from sin, for salvation.

1 Peter 2:24-25 (NKJV) – who Himself bore our sins in His own body on
the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by
whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray,
but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but
made alive by the Spirit,

1 Peter 2:21-24 (NKJV) – For to this you were called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22
“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when
He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not
threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who
Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to
sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.

Discipleship Questions

1. What kinds of occasions do you and your family celebrate?
2. Are celebrations important to you? Explain
3. Why should Christians celebrate Communion?
4. How important is the Lord’s Supper in your life?
5. As a Christian why should you celebrate Communion? (1 Cor. 11:24)
6. What does it mean to know The Lord gave His body?
7. How does knowing The Lord gave His body for you affect how you
view yourself?
8. How does knowing The Lord gave His body for you affect your view
of Christmas?
9. What advice would you give to a new Christian who wants to
participate in Communion?
10. What are some things you can do to make Communion more
meaningful to you?