Have you ever experienced the feeling when everyone in the room is on the same page? Maybe it was a meeting at work when every team member got on board with a new project. Or maybe it was the thrill of a concert when the entire audience sang along. Or even when everyone in the living room cheered at a winning touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harmony is a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yesterday we saw how the Corinthians used the Lord\u2019s Supper selfishly and caused division in the church. As we mentioned before, communion is supposed to be a time when all Christians come together\u2014where we\u2019re all on the same page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23\u201326. After reading these verses, how would you summarize the purpose of the Lord\u2019s Supper?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 23<\/strong> For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24<\/strong> and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, \u201cThis is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\u201d 25<\/strong> In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, \u201cThis cup is the new covenant between God and his people\u2014an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.\u201d 26<\/strong> For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord\u2019s death until he comes again.<\/p>\n1 Corinthians 11 (NLT)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Lord\u2019s Supper has several purposes and Paul highlights three in this passage. The first is that it helps us remember what Jesus has done for us through his death. The second purpose is to proclaim Jesus\u2019s death to each other until he returns. And finally, the third is to partake of the meal together as followers of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read John 19:28\u201337 and consider the elements of the Lord\u2019s Supper.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 28<\/strong> Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, \u201cI am thirsty.\u201d 29<\/strong> A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30<\/strong> When Jesus had tasted it, he said, \u201cIt is finished!\u201d Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 31<\/strong> It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn\u2019t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32<\/strong> So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33<\/strong> But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn\u2019t break his legs. 34<\/strong> One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35<\/strong> (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) 36<\/strong> These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, \u201cNot one of his bones will be broken,\u201d 37<\/strong> and \u201cThey will look on the one they pierced.\u201d<\/p>\nJohn 19:28\u201337 (NLT)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n We have the bread and the cup. The bread symbolizes Jesus\u2019s broken body. The cup represents Jesus\u2019s spilled blood. Take a moment to reflect, write, or draw about Jesus\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does his crucifixion affect you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord\u2019s Supper is a sacred practice that the church has followed since it first started. The Corinthians treated it flippantly\u2014as an intro to an indulgent, exclusive party. We can take the Lord\u2019s Supper too lightly as well. We can forget the weight of the symbolism behind the bread and cup. We can treat it like a routine. We can zone out and think about the chores for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord\u2019s Supper should bring us together. And that can only happen if we all take it seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Re-read the verses in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 two more times. <\/strong>Then think about the last time you took communion at church [a few days ago].<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was your attitude toward it? Would you say you treated it with reverence? What would help you keep the purposes of the Lord\u2019s Supper in mind next time you take the bread and cup?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a small piece of paper or a bookmark and mark 1 Corinthians 11:23\u201326 in your Bible. Next time you take communion, flip back to these verses. Take a few seconds to remind yourself why we take the Lord\u2019s Supper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pray for our church\u2014that we\u2019d all be on the same page.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and\/or share it as a comment below<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever experienced the feeling when everyone in the room is on the same page? Maybe it was a meeting at work when every team member got on board with a new project. Or maybe it was the thrill of a concert when the entire audience sang along. Or even when everyone in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n Welcome!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome to the book of 1 Corinthians. As we study this letter, we\u2019ll step into ancient Corinth while reading the words Paul wrote to the fledgling church. We\u2019re going to see that, like all churches, the Corinthian church wasn\u2019t perfect. They had a problem. A big problem. And it grew to such an epic proportion that it poisoned the church in various ways. Paul wrote to provide the antidote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this study, we\u2019re going to explore Paul\u2019s solution to both the problems in Corinth and in us. Through his words, we\u2019ll learn more about Jesus\u2019s plan for a people who live radically different lives than the world around them. But we\u2019ll also take a hard look in the mirror and ask the Spirit to point out our own self-centered attitudes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading the Bible isn\u2019t just something we do to impress people or to check off on a to-do list. It\u2019s about getting to know God. It\u2019s about shaping every minute of our lives to reflect Jesus. It\u2019s about thinking differently in the power of the Spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So as we approach each week, we\u2019ll focus on one main idea. That main idea will point us to change how we think, feel, and act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This week, we\u2019ll see that resolving relational disunity begins in our hearts because division is a symptom of self-focus. From this main idea, we have three goals: <\/p>\n\n\n\n First Corinthians will take us on a journey. We\u2019ll look at the struggles of one of the first local churches in all of history. We\u2019ll see that the Corinthians weren\u2019t much different from us. And we\u2019ll realize that Paul\u2019s words to them still ring true today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before we jump into 1 Corinthians, spend a few minutes writing out a short prayer to God. Ask him to use this study to change you. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Open up your Bible to 1 Corinthians. Go ahead and read the entire first chapter. As you read, ask yourself this question: What was the problem in the Corinthian church?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 1:1\u201331 (ESV): <\/p> 1\u00a0Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, \u201cI will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.\u201d<\/p> 20\u00a0Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21\u00a0For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22\u00a0For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23\u00a0but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24\u00a0but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25\u00a0For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.<\/p> 26\u00a0For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27\u00a0But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28\u00a0God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29\u00a0so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30\u00a0And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31\u00a0so that, as it is written, \u201cLet the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Corinthian church suffered from division. We\u2019ll see it all throughout the book. The struggling church fought over leadership, spiritual gifts, food, marriage, and theology. Since the theme of disunity runs throughout the letter, it\u2019s tempting to think that was the church\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it wasn\u2019t. Disunity was only a symptom of a far more insidious\u2014and common\u2014 disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you catch the real issue that was going on in Corinth? It was selfishness. They were so consumed with themselves that they tried to solve their problems their own way, held on to their culture, and, as a result, blasted chasms between them and other Christians.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one likes to admit to selfishness\u2014 especially people who claim to follow Jesus. But it often sneaks into our lives in ways we don\u2019t readily see. And then it spills over in ways we never expect. For the Corinthians, their selfishness led to severe divisions in the church. What is it for us? We\u2019ll spend the rest of the study unpacking that very question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know the main problem Paul\u2019s tackling in 1 Corinthians, take a moment to be honest with God. Write down any fears or concerns you have about confronting the problem of selfishness. Ask God to use this study to turn your gaze to him.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1corinthians"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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2\u00a0To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3\u00a0Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4\u00a0I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5\u00a0that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge\u2014 6\u00a0even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you\u2014 7\u00a0so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8\u00a0who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9\u00a0God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10\u00a0I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11\u00a0For it has been reported to me by Chloe\u2019s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12\u00a0What I mean is that each one of you says, \u201cI follow Paul,\u201d or \u201cI follow Apollos,\u201d or \u201cI follow Cephas,\u201d or \u201cI follow Christ.\u201d 13\u00a0Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14\u00a0I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15\u00a0so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16\u00a0(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17\u00a0For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18\u00a0For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19\u00a0For it is written, <\/p>