Summary:
Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread and the cup, giving them as His body and blood for the new covenant and instructing believers to partake in remembrance of Him. By eating the bread and drinking the cup, they proclaim His death until He returns. However, Paul warns that anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body does so unworthily, bringing judgment upon themselves, and he urges self-examination and reverence when participating in the Lord’s Supper.
Teaching:
The reason we take Communion is to remember and proclaim the death of Jesus. Proclaiming His death is the core of the Gospel message in the church. Only by proclaiming His death can we proclaim His resurrection; with the resurrection comes Communion, and after that, the Second Coming.
Jesus’ death was for us—He shed His blood to redeem us. Because He died to forgive our sins, we repent. In other words, He purchased us with His blood.
Those who eat and drink without discernment or in an unworthy manner are said to sin against the body and blood of the Lord. “Unworthy” can mean taking part in Communion carelessly or without recognizing its value, or doing so in a disrespectful way.
When we are baptized and when we receive Communion, we must examine ourselves first, then partake. It means seeing ourselves not through others, but through the cross of Christ—finding ourselves in Christ, repenting, and then taking part in Communion.
Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Nov 3, 2025
1 Corinthian 11:23-29