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
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