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1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ESV
17 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. 18 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, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 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. 23 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, 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

I. LAST PASSOVER & THE LORD’S SUPPER (23-26)
A. Jesus was crucified during Passover, a Jewish mealthat commemorated God setting them free from slavery and sparing them through the blood of a perfect lamb.
B. The disciples gathered to celebrate the Passover, but Jesus redefinedthe meal around His impending crucifixion.
C. The Passover was now the Lord’s Supper symbolizing that God had made a new dealwith humanity through the death of Jesus.
II. COMMUNION CONTINUED IN THE CHURCH (25-26)
A. The church continues the practice of communion so that we are constantly reminded of the Gospel.
B. The church also continues the practice of communion as a reminder of our unitywith one another and with Jesus.
III. THE LORD’S SUPPER, NOT YOUR SUPPER (17-22)
A. The Lord’s Supper had become a source of divisionin Corinth rather than a unifying experience.
B. The diversity of the church is unified by the crossand cupof Jesus, not split into elitist factions based on classism.
C. There is power in the themes of brotherhood and sisterhood expressed in the Lord’s Supper that we lose when we segregateour churches.
IV. CONFESSION BEFORE CHOWING DOWN (27-34)
A. To take the Lord’s Supper without confessing your sin and seeking to reconcile conflictswith those in the church is a dangerous game.
B. Confession before communion is catharticand causes celebration of Christ and His cross.