Sermon Cloud

Main Point: Humbly consider others more important than yourself.

I. Selfish behavior embarrasses the church. (17-22)

A. The opportunity for conflict will come.

B. A potluck can be a place of offense.

C. The church’s reputation suffers.

II. The Lord’s Supper portrays unity. (23-26)

A. The bread represents the body of Jesus.

B. The cup represents the shed blood.

C. The focus is Jesus not self.

III. The Lord will discipline the offenders. (27-34)

A. Christ judges behavior that defies Him.

B. The judgment for saints is discipline.

C. The solution is an attitude check.

Discussion Questions for 1 Cor 11:17-34

1. The Apostle states in verse 19 that the factions or divisions have a purpose. What is the purpose? How do conflicts help reveal the mature in a church? Do you have a personal story to relate?

2. Church dinners are just as popular in the 21^st century as they were in the 1^st. Do you see room for improvement in how we eat together? Are you comfortable with instructing a young person on appropriate behavior (from Scripture right in this passage) at a church dinner? Do you?

3. Why did Jesus choose bread and wine as the symbols for remembering His sacrifice? What does this say about the need for us to have a physical way of remembering? What do you think of when we are sharing in communion?

4. The Apostle clearly states that some who have violated the spirit of communion are ill and even dead. What is God’s purpose in this? What is the difference between judgment and discipline?

5. We talked about being honest with ourselves and checking our attitude on a regular basis. Are any of you willing to empower your friends to ask at any time if your attitude is right?