The Lord's Supper, Part 3
Abusing the Lord's Supper

Introduction:
We continue our discussion concerning the Lord's Supper.  This is the third and final installment.  We wish to discuss how the Lord's Supper may be abused.  A prime example of abuse is found in 1 Cor. 11. The Corinthians turned the Lord's Supper into a common meal.  Their purpose behind the Supper seemed to be recreational in nature.   Paul wrote to correct the situation.  There is much to learn from the last 18 verses of 1 Cor. 11.  Let us understand that we are expected to partake of the Lord's Supper in a manner well pleasing to God!  We may abuse it by:

I.  Not anticipating the worship service.
A.  Christianity to be a religion of the heart!  Must focus intently upon Christ!
1.  Mt. 15:8-9 - Jews worshipped in a way unpleasing to God!  We can too.
2.  Psa. 122:1; Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 20:7 - notice the motives behind worship.
B.  If we do not anticipate worship, the Lord's Supper can/will lose it's meaning!
C.  Do you look forward to worshipping God?
II.  Thinking the Lord's Supper is all that matters.
A.  Some elevate the Lord's Supper to the most important part of worship.
1.  Who has this right? 
B.  Acts 20:7 - main purpose of the assembling of FC Christians was to observe LS.
1.  But...other NT passages point out 4 other acts of worship observed.
2.  No scriptural evidence of the LS being elevated over other acts of worship.
III.  Sporadic Attendance.
A.  A growing problem by some brethren.
1.  Expected to partake of the LS every Sunday!
2.  See Heb. 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26.
B.  Sickness; Emergencies; Uncontrollable situations are understood absences.
C.  Some consider worldly concerns more important than attendance.
1.  This is pretending to be pleasing to God.  Remember, we can't fool Him!
IV.  Thinking the partaking of the Lord's Supper brings forgiveness of sin.
A.  LS not instituted to cleanse the soul from sin!
1.  Lk. 22:19 - Lord's Supper meant to cause one to remember Christ & His life!
2.  Refer to last week's lesson on purpose behind Lord's Supper.
B.  Rev. 1:5 - souls cleansed through blood of Christ!
1.  Partaking of LS doesn't make everything OK.
2.  How are we forgiven?  Acts 8:22-23 - by repentance/prayer…
V.  Being willfully absent Sunday Morning & showing up Sunday PM.
A.  1 Cor. 11:17-18, 20; 1 Cor. 10:16 - to be done when congregation assembled.
B.  Some believe it's OK to miss AM service and then make up by attending PM service.
1.  This is an abuse of the expedient of having the LS on Sunday PM.
2.  One may abuse the AM service as well as the PM service.
C.  Must make sure our attitude is pleasing before God!

               There are enough abuses in the world w/o abusing the Lord's Supper.

Are you abusing this wonderful privilege of Christians?  

Parts of this outline not originally by the editor.