Examining Our Hearts: The True Meaning of the Lord's Supper

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound significance of the Lord's Supper as outlined in 1 Corinthians 11. Paul addresses the church at Corinth, highlighting the importance of approaching the Lord's Supper with reverence and self-examination. The issue at Corinth was that some were partaking in the meal without understanding its true purpose, leading to a loss of focus on its sacred meaning. Paul urges us to prepare ourselves before partaking in the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the need for a self-examined life. This involves a deep introspection to ensure that our faith is genuine and not superficial, much like a jeweler discerning the authenticity of precious metals.

Paul's message is clear: we must examine our lives to avoid self-deception and to ensure we are living in a manner worthy of the sacrifice of Christ. This examination is not about comparing ourselves to others but about a personal, honest assessment of our own spiritual state. It requires us to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need change, much like a goldsmith refining gold to remove impurities. This process can be daunting, as it may uncover sins and flaws we are unaware of, but it is essential for spiritual growth.

Furthermore, Paul calls us to live broken lives, acknowledging that our sins are what put Christ on the cross. This realization should lead to a deep sense of humility and a plea for God's grace and mercy. As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we proclaim the death of Christ and reflect on the immense love and sacrifice that made our redemption possible. This reflection should inspire us to live lives that honor God, not just during the Lord's Supper but in our daily walk with Him.

Ultimately, the Lord's Supper is a reminder of the relationship God desires with us, a relationship made possible through Christ's sacrifice. It is an invitation to examine our lives, discern our spiritual state, and live in a way that honors the profound gift of salvation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Self-Examination: We are called to examine our lives with the same scrutiny a jeweler uses to assess the authenticity of precious metals. This involves a deep, honest introspection to ensure our faith is genuine and not superficial. It is a personal journey, not a comparison with others, and requires us to confront our own spiritual state. [26:00]

2. Discernment through the Holy Spirit: True discernment comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our self-examination. This means inviting God to reveal areas in our lives that need change, even those we are unaware of. It is a process of refining, where impurities are brought to the surface and addressed. [29:28]

3. Brokenness and Humility: Recognizing that our sins put Christ on the cross should lead to a broken and humble spirit. This realization prompts us to seek God's grace and mercy, acknowledging our unworthiness and the immense love that made our redemption possible. [33:24]

4. Reflective Living: The Lord's Supper is a time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice and the relationship God desires with us. It is a reminder of the love that overcame sin and death, inviting us to live lives that honor this profound gift. [35:32]

5. Honoring God Daily: Our lives should consistently honor God, not just during the Lord's Supper. This involves regular self-examination, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, and living in a way that reflects the sacrifice of Christ. It is a daily commitment to say no to worldly desires and yes to a life that glorifies God. [39:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [21:40] - Introduction to the Lord's Supper
- [22:14] - The Problem at Corinth
- [23:12] - Paul's Instructions
- [24:02] - The Call for Self-Examination
- [25:29] - Understanding Worthiness
- [26:00] - The Greek Concept of Examination
- [27:17] - Avoiding Self-Deception
- [28:29] - The Importance of Personal Examination
- [29:28] - Discernment through the Holy Spirit
- [30:58] - The Refining Process
- [32:06] - Proclaiming the Lord's Death
- [33:24] - The Personal Nature of Sin
- [35:32] - Reflecting on Christ's Sacrifice
- [38:48] - Living a Life that Honors God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 11:23-32

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Observation Questions:

1. What problem was Paul addressing in the Corinthian church regarding the Lord's Supper? ([22:14])
2. According to the sermon, what does the Greek word "dokimazo" mean, and how does it relate to self-examination? ([26:00])
3. How does Paul describe the consequences of partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner? ([24:02])
4. What does Paul mean by "proclaiming the Lord's death" when participating in the Lord's Supper? ([32:06])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of self-examination in the sermon compare to the process of a jeweler assessing the authenticity of precious metals? ([26:15])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Holy Spirit aids in the process of discernment and self-examination? ([29:28])
3. How does recognizing our sins as the reason for Christ's crucifixion lead to a sense of brokenness and humility, according to the sermon? ([33:24])
4. What does it mean to live a life that honors God daily, beyond just participating in the Lord's Supper? ([38:48])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be deceiving yourself about your spiritual state? How can you begin a process of honest self-examination this week? ([27:17])
2. The sermon emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing areas that need change. How can you invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life to guide you in this process? ([29:28])
3. Consider the idea of brokenness and humility. How does acknowledging that your sins put Christ on the cross change your perspective on seeking God's grace and mercy? ([33:24])
4. The Lord's Supper is a time for reflection on Christ's sacrifice. How can you incorporate this reflective mindset into your daily routine to honor God consistently? ([35:32])
5. What specific steps can you take to ensure that your life is a reflection of the sacrifice of Christ, not just during the Lord's Supper but in your everyday actions and decisions? ([38:48])
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel you are not living in a manner worthy of Christ's sacrifice. What practical changes can you make to align this area with your faith? ([39:01])
7. How can you create a habit of regular self-examination and discernment to avoid self-deception and live a life that truly honors God? ([41:32])

Devotional

Day 1: The Jewel of Genuine Faith
Approaching the Lord's Supper requires a deep, honest introspection to ensure that one's faith is genuine and not superficial. This self-examination is akin to a jeweler assessing the authenticity of precious metals, requiring a personal journey of reflection rather than a comparison with others. It involves confronting one's own spiritual state and inviting the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that need change. This process is essential to avoid self-deception and to live a life worthy of Christ's sacrifice. [26:00]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to examine more closely to ensure your faith is genuine? How can you begin this process today?


Day 2: Guided by the Spirit's Light
True discernment in self-examination comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the process. This means inviting God to reveal areas in one's life that need change, even those that are hidden or unknown. The Holy Spirit acts as a refiner, bringing impurities to the surface so they can be addressed. This refining process, though challenging, is crucial for spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. [29:28]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your self-examination today? What steps will you take to listen and respond to His guidance?


Day 3: Embracing Brokenness and Humility
Recognizing that one's sins put Christ on the cross should lead to a broken and humble spirit. This realization prompts a plea for God's grace and mercy, acknowledging one's unworthiness and the immense love that made redemption possible. Embracing brokenness and humility is essential for a deeper relationship with God and a life that reflects His love and sacrifice. [33:24]

Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and brokenness in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to seek God's grace and mercy today?


Day 4: Reflecting on Christ's Sacrifice
The Lord's Supper is a time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice and the relationship God desires with humanity. It serves as a reminder of the love that overcame sin and death, inviting believers to live lives that honor this profound gift. This reflection should inspire a commitment to live in a way that glorifies God, not just during the Lord's Supper but in everyday life. [35:32]

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

Reflection: How does reflecting on Christ's sacrifice change the way you live your daily life? What specific changes can you make to ensure your life honors His sacrifice?


Day 5: A Daily Commitment to Honor God
Honoring God is a daily commitment that involves regular self-examination, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide one's actions, and living in a way that reflects the sacrifice of Christ. It requires saying no to worldly desires and yes to a life that glorifies God. This commitment is not limited to the Lord's Supper but extends to every aspect of life, inviting believers to consistently live in a manner worthy of their calling. [39:01]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can more consistently honor God? How will you commit to making this change starting today?

Quotes


I want us to examine our lives uh we're going to look at a passage of scripture here where Paul talks about how we are to eat and drink in a the Lord's Supper in a certain way if we don't do it we eat or drink unworthily and so I want us to take some time to make sure that we are um handling this the right way the proper way um and examining our lives in doing that. [00:21:25]

Paul is telling us we're supposed to eat or drink this in in a certain way a manner that is worthy the the question is what does that mean how how do we do that what what are the steps to that and and I want to give you five different things that are here I think in in the text that that help us to examine Our Lives to really prepare ourselves for how we receive the Lord's supper. [00:25:14]

The word for examine here is a Greek word of dokimazo it is a word that is uh to examine to determine the value of something the authenticity of something something of that matter it comes out of the world of metal working so it comes out of those that would work primarily probably with gold or silver or things of that nature in other words they are the individuals who understand whether or not the metal itself is pure uh its quality its value. [00:26:58]

Paul here is encouraging us not to do that to examine Our Lives been going through the Book of Revelation and what we know is there's coming a time where God judges so we can either examine our lives and and we can make the adjustments we need to now we can come to God and say okay help me know where I'm at or we can just excuse it away and one day we'll stand before him and then our lives will be examined again but at that point there will be no fooling God he'll know the real real value of our life. [00:28:00]

There has to be a point where we say I want to examine my life I want to know where I really am but then we have to figure out well what's the standard I'm going to examine My Life by can't be what I say is good it can't be why what I think is important because I will deceive myself we live in a world of social media where we know how to make ourselves look good no we need to ask God to examine our lives. [00:29:23]

David prays a prayer in the old Testament that I think is one of the scariest prayers to pray he says this search me oh God and see if there is any wicked way in me that's a scary thing to think about laying your life before God that he would take out his magnifying glass or he would put you under his microscope and God would begin to evaluate your life that he would begin to put his finger on things this Holy Spirit has a way of identifying where we need change. [00:30:00]

When we say I want an examined life it's like taking our life and putting in The Crucible when we say I want the Holy Spirit to discern my life it's like moving it over the fire and what begins to come to the surface is the impurities the very thing that robs us of the value and with discern discernment the Holy Spirit begins to bring our life into Focus Holy Spirit has an ability to put his finger on the things that are wrong and we need to get rid of the places where he calls us to be obedient and courageous and move forward in some way he starts to evaluate our life. [00:31:11]

When Jesus is on trial and the religious leaders are questioning him he makes a reference about how he will return and coming in the clouds and how every eye will see him it's an Old Testament prophecy the prophet Zachariah actually wrote it back in chapter 12 and verse 10 here's what he said I will pour out on the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of Grace and pleas for Mercy you know what happens when I get broken of my sin I need a spirit of Grace and I cry out with please and mercy. [00:33:58]

When we really wrestle with the fact that Jesus died for my sin me and the personal nature of that sin when I own it is my sin that nailed him to the cross there's a Mourning there's a Brokenness there's a weeping there's a realization the only thing I really have is to cry out for Mercy to plead for Grace but that's why Jesus came so he says we're supposed to have these examined lives these Discerning lives and then he wants us to have these lives that are broken because we recognize that we're proclaiming the death ofes Jesus. [00:34:46]

Why would Jesus die for me why would he die for my sins well at one it was the only way that sin could be taken away but two it was because God desired a relationship with us it's our sin that separates us from God and what he desires is for us to be with him and so he does all that is necessary to take care of our sin to remove our sin so a relationship with God could be restored literally we come to the table to be with him. [00:36:18]

We want to honor him with our lives Not Just In This Moment not just as we we celebrate a Lord's supper together but but in every day in every way that we live that we are supposed to be examining Our Lives regularly not just on a Sunday where we celebrate the Lord's supper we're supposed to be asking the Holy Spirit to put his finger on things in our life every day we're supposed to be keep coming back and remember that it was because of my sin that he was crucified on the cross and that what his sacrifice did was make a relationship with God possible and I can be with him. [00:38:39]

Are we disciplined in our life in a way to say I will say no to the things of the world yes to the things of Jesus because I want to honor him with my life not just show up and go through the motions you see if we really examine Our Lives I think we begin to wrestle with that question am I really honoring him and how I live you see if we remember that Jesus died for our sins if we really say I want to be with him we say I want my life to honor him. [00:40:35]

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Transcript
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