1 Asking Bible questions helps us learn and teach the gospel – Acts 8:30, 34

2 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? Warning: Some are trying to revise the meaning & method of eating the Lord’s supper!Warning: Some are trying to revise the meaning & method of eating the Lord’s supper! From a quiet memorial & proclamation to a “celebratory, interactive fellowship meal with the Lord…a true meal, a supper in the fullest sense of the word.”From a quiet memorial & proclamation to a “celebratory, interactive fellowship meal with the Lord…a true meal, a supper in the fullest sense of the word.”

3 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? T HE L ORD’S S UPPER (1 Cor. 11:23-26) T HE L ORD’S S UPPER (1 Cor. 11:23-26) Remembrance – 11:24-25 Proclamation – 11:26 Communion – 1 Cor. 10:16

4 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? H OW TO E AT THE L ORD’S S UPPER (1 Cor. 11:24-29) H OW TO E AT THE L ORD’S S UPPER (1 Cor. 11:24-29) Discerning the Lord’s body – 11:29Discerning the Lord’s body – 11:29 -Remembering body & blood, 11: Proclaiming the Lord’s death – 11:26 -Communing with Christ– 1 Cor. 10:16 (the LORD’S supper – 11:20)

5 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? T HE O NE W HO E ATS THE S UPPER (1 Cor. 11:24-29) Examine himself, 11:28Examine himself, 11:28 Eat in a worthy manner, 11:27-29Eat in a worthy manner, 11:27-29

6 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? “E XAMINE H IMSELF ” (1 Cor. 11:28) dokimazo – Scrutinize & thus approve dokimazo – Scrutinize & thus approve - Am I discerning the Lord’s body? – 11:29 -Am I judging my conduct? – 11:31

7 Examine Yourself 2 Cor. 13:5 To see whether you are in the faith 1 Cor. 11:28 To see whether you properly eat & drink the L.S. This is NOT this!

8 Examine Yourself A.T. Robertson: “He does not say or imply that we ourselves must be “worthy” (axioi) to partake of the Lord’s Supper. No one would ever partake on those terms.” (Word Pictures, in the NT, IV:165)

9 Examine Yourself Albert Barnes: “Most persons interpret it as if it were unworthy, and not unworthily; and seem to suppose that it refers to their personal qualifications, to their unfitness to partake of it, rather than to the manner in which it is done. It is to be remembered, therefore, that the word here used is an adverb, and not an adjective, and has reference to the manner of observing the ordinance, and not to their personal qualifications or fitness.” (1 Corinthians, 217)

10 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? E AT IN A W ORTHY M ANNER (1 Cor. 11:27-29) Discern the Lord’s body: Remember, proclaim & commune – 11:24-25, 26; 10:16Discern the Lord’s body: Remember, proclaim & commune – 11:24-25, 26; 10:16 Regard the proper nature & design of the supper (Context: A memorial, not a meal!)Regard the proper nature & design of the supper (Context: A memorial, not a meal!)

11 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? E AT IN A W ORTHY M ANNER (1 Cor. 11:27-29) Unworthy manner?Unworthy manner? As a meal (11:20-22, 34)As a meal (11:20-22, 34) Carelessly, casually, irreverently (talking, disturbing, disrupting), etc.Carelessly, casually, irreverently (talking, disturbing, disrupting), etc.

12 #1: 1 Cor. 11:27-29: How do you examine yourself to prepare for partaking of the Lord’s Supper so that you don’t do so in an unworthy manner? E XAMINE AND E AT W ORTHILY (1 Cor. 11:27-29) Examine your thankfulness – 11:24-25Examine your thankfulness – 11:24-25 Examine your memory – 11:24-25, 29Examine your memory – 11:24-25, 29 Examine your focus (fixed on death of Jesus)Examine your focus (fixed on death of Jesus) Examine your actions (eliminate distractions)Examine your actions (eliminate distractions)

13 #2: Is it OK to have pictures, statues, images, etc. of Jesus, depictions of heaven, angels and/or the crucifixion on display at home? What about in the church building? Such depictions are inaccurateSuch depictions are inaccurate Such depictions do not help us know Jesus, heaven &/or angels – Jno. 8:17- 19; 14:6-11Such depictions do not help us know Jesus, heaven &/or angels – Jno. 8:17- 19; 14:6-11

14 #2: Is it OK to have pictures, statues, images, etc. of Jesus, depictions of heaven, angels and/or the crucifixion on display at home? What about in the church building? Why Have Such Images? “Christian iconography” An influence of Catholicism

15 #2: Is it OK to have pictures, statues, images, etc. of Jesus, depictions of heaven, angels and/or the crucifixion on display at home? What about in the church building? “Christian iconography: The science of the description, history, and interpretation of the traditional representations of God, the saints and other sacred subjects in art. Almost from the beginning the Church has employed the arts as potent means of instruction and edification.” (The Catholic Encyclopedia)

16 #2: Is it OK to have pictures, statues, images, etc. of Jesus, depictions of heaven, angels and/or the crucifixion on display at home? What about in the church building? Why Have Such Images? No Bible authority – Col. 3:17No Bible authority – Col. 3:17 Specific prohibition of images used as religious objects – Deut. 4:15-16 (5:8-9)Specific prohibition of images used as religious objects – Deut. 4:15-16 (5:8-9)

17 #2: Is it OK to have pictures, statues, images, etc. of Jesus, depictions of heaven, angels and/or the crucifixion on display at home? What about in the church building? Influence of Such Images? A message of veneration & devotionA message of veneration & devotion How can it be done to the glory of God? (1 Cor. 10:31-33)How can it be done to the glory of God? (1 Cor. 10:31-33) The building? (worship & edify)The building? (worship & edify)

18 #3: If we’re not under the OT anymore, what does it matter if we properly understand what it says? What does it matter if we teach something incorrectly about the OT if we teach correctly from the NT? OT is inspired & profitable (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:1-12)OT is inspired & profitable (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:1-12) OT useful to bring sinner to salvation – 2 Tim. 3:15 (Acts 8:32-35); Jno. 5:39, 46-47OT useful to bring sinner to salvation – 2 Tim. 3:15 (Acts 8:32-35); Jno. 5:39, 46-47

19 Misunderstand OT – Misuse NT Israel: Chosen people, Exo. 19:5-6Israel: Chosen people, Exo. 19:5-6 Israel of God, Rom. 9:6-8 (Gal. 6:16)Israel of God, Rom. 9:6-8 (Gal. 6:16) Nat’l conversion of Israel, Isa. 4:2-6Nat’l conversion of Israel, Isa. 4:2-6 Now, by the gospel, Rom. 11:26-27; Acts 15:11Now, by the gospel, Rom. 11:26-27; Acts 15:11 Kingdom prophecies, Dan. 2:44Kingdom prophecies, Dan. 2:44 Kingdom exists, Mk. 1:14-15; Jno. 18:36; Col. 1:13Kingdom exists, Mk. 1:14-15; Jno. 18:36; Col. 1:13