1 Corinthians Week 26

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:27-28 

²⁷ So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 

No one is worthy of what Jesus has done for lost mankind. The unworthy manner that the Corinthians were displaying had to do with the love feast where they were not showing love to others. All believers are in the body of Christ, the Church. Paul urged believers to examine themselves to be sure there is no sin that needs to be confessed or made right with others. 

REFLECT 

When your church group participates in the Lord’s Supper, does it give time for believers to quietly examine themselves? 

RESPOND 

Notice with a friend how Jesus feels when believers in His body are attacked. Unbelieving Saul was on the road to Damascus for the purpose of persecuting Christians. Jesus appeared to him and asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” (see Acts 9:4). Jesus considered anyone persecuting Christ-followers are actually persecuting Him.  

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:29-30 

²⁹ For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 

Paul gave a serious warning to the Corinthian church. The group was acting in an unworthy manner as it had a love feast followed by the Lord’s Supper. Some had a bad attitude toward fellow believers and God had disciplined them. As a result, some were weak and sick and some had died. This does not mean they lost their eternal salvation but they lost their physical life. 

REFLECT 

Do you understand that sometimes God disciplines His children?  

RESPOND 

With a friend read Hebrews 12:5-11. This passage tells how God sometimes deals with His spiritual children.  

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 

³¹ But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. ³² Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 

Paul instructed believers to examine themselves so God would not have to discipline them. This assumes any sin would be confessed and made right with anyone who had been offended. When the heart is made right, then one is qualified to participate in the Lord’s Supper. 

REFLECT 

Have you experienced having to deal with an issue in your heart before taking the Lord’s Supper? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading 2 Corinthians 13:5. This passage tells of the need to determine whether one is in the faith. Talk with your friend about how each of you has assurance of your salvation. 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:33-34 

³³ So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. ³⁴ If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive. 

Paul gave his final instructions about how the love feast should be handled before the people participated in the Lord’s Supper. He did not want them to bring God’s judgment on themselves. There were other things that needed to be commented on, but Paul assured them he would address those when he visited them. 

REFLECT 

Have Paul’s instructions about observing the Lord’s Supper been helpful to you? What have you had emphasized in your mind about his instructions? 

RESPOND 

Take the time with a friend to reread 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. Talk about what has especially impressed each of you about Paul’s instructions. 

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 12:1-3 

¹ Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. ² You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. ³ So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 

Paul turned his attention to answering another question the Corinthian believers had asked. It had to do with special gifts the Holy Spirit gives to believers. Paul reminded them that when they were without Jesus they worshiped idols that couldn’t talk. Now they seemed to be especially concerned about what talk was of the Spirit and what was not. 

REFLECT 

This begins an important topic in the New Testament. It is worth your careful attention. 

RESPOND 

In preparation for 1 Corinthians 12 talk with your friend about spiritual gifts. As you discuss the topic it will increase your desire to know what the apostle Paul said about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. It is a topic that will extend through 1 Corinthians 14.