1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Now in giving you the instructions that follow I can't commend you, because when you meet together you cause more harm than good! First of all, I hear that when you have church meetings that you are split into different factions, and I believe there's some truth to this. Of course such splits among you must happen so those who are genuine can prove themselves by their evidence! When you meet together you're not really celebrating the Lord's Supper at all. Some want to eat first before everyone else, leaving others hungry. Still others get drunk. Don't you have your own houses to eat and drink in? Do you look down on God's church, and humiliate those who are poor? What should I tell you? That you're doing really well? I have nothing good to say about you for doing this! For I received from the Lord what I passed on to you: the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took some bread. After giving thanks, he broke the bread into pieces and said, “This bread is my body, which is given for you. Remember me by doing this.” In the same way he took the cup, after the meal, and said, “This cup is the new agreement sealed with my blood. Remember me when you drink it. For every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you announce the Lord's death, until he returns.” So anyone who eats the bread or drinks from the Lord's cup in a dishonorable way will be guilty of doing wrong against the body and blood of the Lord. Let each person examine themselves, and then let them eat the bread and drink from the cup. Those who eat and drink bring judgment on themselves if they don't recognize their relationship with the body of the Lord. That's the reason why many of you are weak and sick, and some even have died. However, if we really examined ourselves, we would not be judged like this. But when we are judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we won't be condemned along with the world. So my brothers and sisters, when you meet together to eat the Lord's Supper, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, then eat at home so that when you meet together you won't bring condemnation on yourselves. I'll give you more directions when I visit.