Sermon Tone Analysis

Why do we come to church?

Some of us come because it socially accepted to come to church.

Others come because they feel guilty if they don’t come to church.

Still others come because they gain something by coming.

Still others come because they want to share something.

I come to church because you pay me too.

Even if you didn’t pay, I’d be here.

Please don’t stop paying me, though!

I remember being in Dallas.

Everyone was very busy.

There were actually fellow students at the seminary, who were studying to be a pastor, who would skip going to church because they had school papers and projects to prepare.

Some of my friends and I couldn’t understand it.

We actually told our employers that we wouldn’t work on Sunday, as a condition of our hiring.

Then, we made a commitment to being in church, even if it meant turning in an assignment late.

Worshiping the Lord is important.

There is a danger to our soul if we do not make worshiping God a commitment.

And there is a danger to our church if we misuse that worship for our own benefit or pleasure.

When worshiping God is a priority, there is a blessing that comes both to the individual and to the whole church.

We will read the passage we have been studying and then review what we have learned the past few weeks.

The Corinthians had been dividing their church into the “have’s” and the “have-not’s”.

Every time the early church would meet for a service, they would have a meal after the service.

During that meal, they would celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Unfortunately, that division happened.

The rich would have their supper and celebration in the main dining room.

The rest were in the courtyard.

The rich would be served first and ate their fill, even if it meant those in the courtyard would not get enough.

Paul says that such things should not be.

And through this passage, he presented important principles about worship.

He said that our attitude of worship should be humility, unity, service, and focus.

Our focus of worship should be Jesus Christ, his life, death, redemption, and proclamation.

When we have the right attitude and the right focus in worship, there is a certain result, a blessing that comes to those who seek God.

However, when we have the wrong focus and the wrong attitude, there is a different result.

We will talk about that first, before circling back to the blessing.

1. Result of Worship: Discipline

Paul warns the Corinthians that they are being disciplined because of their sinfulness while taking the Lord’s Supper.

But, what was the sin, again?

A. The Sin

Many people read this passage and are confused about what is going on.

They read this passage and forget the context in which it was written.

The Corinthians were using their worship services, specifically the Lord’s Supper, to divide the church.

Those who were rich and of a certain social status could eat over there.

The rest, who were not worthy, could eat over there.

Those guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord were those who despised a poorer member by utter disregard for his need.

The rich were reclining at the table, gorging themselves, while the poor ate scraps in the courtyard.

The rich did this, knowing that the poor would go home to empty cupboards.

Paul wrote:

What is meant by “the body of Christ.”

Interestingly, in the original language “of Christ” is not there.

It is just “without discerning the body.”

I believe that Paul is referring to the body of Christ, but what body is he referring to?

The sin of the Corinthians is against the body of Christ, as in the church, not the physical body of Christ that hung on the cross.

They were not discerning, they were not seeing that they were part of one unit.

Therefore, they ate in an unworthy manner, because it was us and them, instead of us.

It was, how can I meet my desires, instead of: how can I meet their needs.

B. The Result

The result of the Corinthian’s sin was drastic.

The Corinthians did not sin against the elements of the Lord’s Supper but were being held accountable for sin against Christ.

They claimed to be identified with him, but were using the celebration of the mal as an occasion for social enjoyment or even for boosting their status, without regard for the unity that sharing the Lord’s supper is supposed to proclaim.

Because of their sin against the Body of Christ, the body was hurting.

Many people in Corinth were sick because of their sin.

Some had even died because of their sin.

Some might look at this and say: well, isn’t that harsh?

I respond with: what is the appropriate response to what is going on in Corinth?

Paul’s warning was not to those who were leading unworthy lives and were longing for forgiveness.

His warning was to those who were making a mockery by their behavior of that which should have been most sacred and solemn.

So, God disciplines them, because a good parent will discipline their child.

Believe me, you all should be very glad that my parents disciplined me.

I’ve told some stories before.

They could tell even more.... and my sister would gladly tell even more.

God disciplines us so that we would stop sinning and turn back to him.

And, sometimes, he take us home.

C. The Hope

The Corinthians sinned in their worship and were disciplined for it.

But, Paul offers hope.

They were being disciplined so that they would repent and turn back to Jesus.

When God disciplines us, that is one of the proofs that we are his.

The author of Hebrews says it this way:

The discipline, when it happens, causes us to stop and wonder what is happening.

Then, God makes clear what needs to change.

There was a period in my life when I struggled with some serious sin.

Then God brought someone special into my life, and because of my sin, I almost lost that person.

Discipline is hard.

It hurts.

But it happens so that we will change and not be finally condemned.

Paul urges the Corinthians to change, to start seeing their church as the Body of Christ and to worship in that unity.

And he knows that they will change.

He expects it.

He doesn’t hold their sin against them, but looks to the future when he will visit them again, continuing in more teaching.

In the same way, God continues to pursue relationship with us.

The Corinthians sinned.

They were disciplined.

But, there was hope through it.

2. Result of Worship: Blessing

What was waiting on the other side of this ordeal for the Corinthians was the result of a proper attitude and focus of worship.

All the blessings that come from pursuing our Creator.

There are personal blessings, but also corporate blessings, given to the whole church.

We will leave the personal blessings for another day, and look at three corporate blessings.

A. Lack of Judgment

I will just briefly say it.

When we have the correct attitude and focus of worship, there is no judgment.