Kress Biblical Resources :: The Wisdom of the Cross and Communion / The Lord's Supper (1Co 11:17-34)

Detailed Outline of 1 Corinthians

The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides

7. The wisdom of the cross and Communion/The Lord’s Supper (1Co 11:17-34)
   1. The rebuke of selfishness in regard to the Lord’s Supper (1Co 11:17-22)
      1. The problem summarized (1Co 11:17)
         1. Not praiseworthy
         2. Not good
      2. The problem detailed (1Co 11:18-21)
         1. The people of the church were segmented/divided (1Co 11:18-19)
            1. The report of divisions (1Co 11:18)
            2. The result of divisions that could be deemed positive (1Co 11:19)
         2. The people of the church were selfish (1Co 11:20-21)
            1. A ceremony is not necessarily worship (1Co 11:20)
            2. A ceremony can actually be sin (1Co 11:21)
      3. The problem rebuked (1Co 11:22)
         1. Think ahead (1Co 11:22a)
         2. Think of others rather than yourself (1Co 11:22b)
         3. Think about what is praiseworthy before God (1Co 11:22c)
   2. The right practice and purpose of the Lord’s Supper [commemoration, proclamation, anticipation] (1Co 11:23-26)
      1. The practice of the Lord’s Supper should be based on divine revelation (1Co 11:23a)
      2. The purpose of the Lord’s Supper includes commemoration, proclamation, and anticipation (1Co 11:23b-26)
         1. The commemoration of the incarnation (1Co 11:23b)
         2. The commemoration of the humiliation and substitution (1Co 11:24)
         3. The commemoration of the ratification of the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood (1Co 11:25)
         4. The proclamation of the Lord’s atonement (1Co 11:26a)
         5. The anticipation of the Lord’s return (1Co 11:26b)
   3. The requirement of self-examination in regard to the Lord’s Supper [self-examination] (1Co 11:27-32)
      1. The call to self-examination (1Co 11:27-28)
         1. Are you partaking of Communion in an unworthy manner—i.e., without genuine care and concern for other believers? (1Co 11:27a)
         2. If so, you are dishonoring Christ (1Co 11:27b)
         3. If you pass the examination—celebrate the Lord’s Supper (1Co 11:28)
      2. The consequences of not judging oneself rightly (1Co 11:29-32)
         1. Self-condemnation (1Co 11:29)
         2. Sovereign discipline (1Co 11:30-32)
            1. In the form physical sickness and death (1Co 11:30)
            2. Is avoided when we examine ourselves rightly (1Co 11:31)
            3. Is for temporal training and mercy rather than eternal damnation (1Co 11:32)
   4. The requirement of selflessness in the practice of the Lord’s Supper [unification] (1Co 11:33-34)
      1. The command for mutual consideration (1Co 11:33)
         1. Remember the relationship believers share (1Co 11:33a)
         2. Recognize the reason we come together to eat (1Co 11:33b)
         3. Respect God’s command to wait for one another (1Co 11:33c)
      2. The caution concerning a lack of preparation (1Co 11:34ab)
         1. Prepare yourself physically for worship (1Co 11:34a)
         2. Prepare yourself spiritually for worship (1Co 11:34b)
      3. The call to teachability and flexibility in regard to worship (1Co 11:34c)