Jeffrey C. Long

This is part 3 of a sermon I taught at Filer Mennonite Church on June 5th, 2005

Four steps to examine your life in preparation for the Lord’s supper.

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

1. First is Remain in Jesus. I believe that we start from faith in our heart in Jesus. and move out to good works. We cannot begin with good works and move to faith. When we go that direction, we are trying to justify ourselves, rather then receiving justification from faith in Jesus. The first great commandment is to love God with all your heart. Examine your heart. Do you love God? Are you remaining in Jesus?

2. Are you bearing fruit?

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2. Are you bearing fruit? John 15:5 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing Is there fruit? It’s important here to not focus on the fruit that you don’t have. The fruit in our life may be very simple and very basic. Is there love in you? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? Galatians 5:22. Examine yourself. Do you have some fruit? Are you growing more? James says

if we only have faith but it is not followed by our good works, James says our religion is vain. So examine yourself for fruit.

3. How are your relationships in the church? The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Take some time this week and examine your relationships with others in the church. Are their people with whom you have strained relationship. Go to them this week and be reconciled. Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

4. Check that you have not fallen into any the deeds of the flesh. Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

We’d like to believe that Christians cannot fall into these traps. But we all know how sin can sneak up on us. Sometimes they can be so severe that they fall under this area of the deeds of the flesh. If this is you, don’t let a moment go by. Repent of your sin. Seek God’s forgiveness. Seek counsel from someone that can help you break from this pattern of sin in your life.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves:

I can’t tell you whether or not you should take communion. You have to take responsibility for yourself.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.



Charles Krauthammer says “You have been rightly taught Socrates’ dictum that the unexamined life is not worth living. I would add: The too examined life is not worth living either”

Paul does not discourage us from taking communion. He says “Examine yourself, and get on with it.”