Are You Covered?
Are You Covered?
1Corinthians 11:1-16 May 11, 2003
Scripture Reading:
John 19:25-27
Introduction:
Covered: at work, with insurance, with the babysitter, with an alibi, with a down-payment, with salvation
So far in 1Cor. we have discussed the topics of the cross, sexuality, freedom, and now we come to the topic of worship as Paul continues to address the situation in the Corinthian church in order to bring them unity and direction.
We left last week’s message with the truth that the use of our Christian freedom best brings glory to God when we realize we are free to follow the example of Christ.
Quite naturally then, this leads us to the worship of the Father as the highest example of Christ among us.
His work was to bring us unfettered access to the Father in worship – and is not this salvation in order to worship the Father in spirit and in truth as the kind of worshippers the Father seeks (John 4:23-24)?
Big Question:
What must we understand about Christian headship for our worship to be acceptable and effective in bringing glory to God?
I. Cycle One
A. Narrative (vv. 1-2)
B. Implication
We must understand that there is a headship order for worship.
Jesus gives us an example in service:
“13 "You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:13-17 NIVUS)
Jesus gives us an example in suffering:
“21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24 NIVUS)
Jesus gives us an example of worship:
“Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’"” (Luke 4:8 NIVUS)
“21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."” (John 4:21-24 NIVUS)
Matthew 15:36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
Mark 8:6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so.
John 6:23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
1 Corinthians 11:24 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."
Paul’s example in following Christ’s example
Our example in following Paul’s example
C. Illustration
Many people learn best by example. They must be able to visualize what they are to do.
D. Application
II. Cycle Two
A. Narrative (v. 3)
B. Implication
We must understand that headship order in the Godhead extends through Christ to family relations.
C. Illustration
D. Application
III. Cycle Three
A. Narrative (vv. 4-5)
B. Implication
We must understand that appropriate expressions of headship in the family are vital for appropriate worship.
C. Illustration
D. Application
IV. Cycle Four
A. Narrative (v. 6)
B. Implication
We must understand the seriousness of appropriate headship expression in worship.
C. Illustration
D. Application
V. Cycle Five
A. Narrative (v. 7)
B. Implication
We must understand these expressions of headship as the assignment of God’s glory in worship.
C. Illustration
D. Application
VI. Cycle Six
A. Narrative (vv. 8-10)
B. Implication
We must understand these expressions of headship as representing God’s creation order in worship.
C. Illustration
D. Application
VII. Cycle Seven
A. Narrative (vv. 11-12)
B. Implication
We must not abuse these expressions of headship order beyond their application for appropriate worship and family relations.
C. Illustration
D. Application
VIII. Cycle Eight
A. Narrative (vv. 13-16)
B. Implication
We must understand the universal nature of these teachings about headship expression in worship.
C. Illustration
D. Application
Conclusion:
Big Answer:
Timeless Truth:
The principle of headship expresses God’s glory in worship.
Are you covered? You’ll never get ahead if you’re not.
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:7 NIVUS)
“But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father’s nakedness.” (Genesis 9:23 NIVUS)
“Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” (Isaiah 6:2 NIVUS)
“29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.” (Exodus 34:29-35 NIVUS)
“12 ¶ Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 NIVUS)
“4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Romans 4:4-7 NIVUS)
“1 ¶ Of David. A <maskil.> Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” (Psalms 32:1-2 NIVUS)
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. <Selah>” (Psalms 32:5 NIVUS)
“2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. <Selah> 3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.” (Psalms 85:2-3 NIVUS)
“26 ¶ As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then "‘they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" ‘ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"” (Luke 23:26-31 NIVUS)
“18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."” (Exodus 33:18-23 NIVUS)