"Gathering in His Name"(1 Corinthians 11:17-27)

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

 

Paul accuses some members of the church of Corinth are doing more harm than good. Although some say they were gathering in the name of Christ, they were assembling for other reasons. Today, we sometime congregate for reasons other than Christ.

 

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 ESV

 

There were many heresies in Corinth as this was a city with many beliefs, cultures, and religions. People who brought in their own interpretations of Christianity and then merged these beliefs with the Christian communities. Of course, there other Christians who had a solid understanding of the fundamentals as well as a superior knowledge of the scriptures than others. The ones with superior knowledge could correct those with inferior understanding of the Bible. This did not always have the results that a church would want. In fact, Paul explains that we need to accept our weaknesses and have an understanding that others are weak as well.

 

When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

1 Corinthians 11:20-22 ESV

 

In the early church, it was common for the congregation to bring their own food and wine. The rich could come with much tasty food and often they did not share. The poor might not be able to bring anything and would go hungry. In the world today, the top 10% own 90% of the world's wealth. If you own your home and car in North America, you are in the top 10%. If this is you, then you are rich compared to others. Just as in the past, the rich can afford to help, but often do not see the needs of others. Rich Christians might think they are full of grace

 

We come to church to glorify God. We need to be one with Christ. Therefore, we celebrate communion. The purpose of coming to church us to glorify God and to encourage one another.

 

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV

 

We should come to church with the understanding that we gather as imperfect individuals who draw closer to the truth that makes us perfect. We need to work together, to encourage one another, to learn from one another and to love one another as individuals working in a community as one.

  

so, we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:5-8 ESV

 

Our homework is to be able to express our ideas, beliefs, and thoughts in such a way that we can have dialogues and not influence people in a haughty, loveless or terrifying way, but rather with love, understanding and sacrifice.

Mighty To Save 
Here I Am To Worship 
In Christ alone