Unity around the Table

UNITY Around THE TABLE (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-34 – UNITY AROUND THE TABLE

Here are some quotes about Christian Unity:

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.” Vesta Kelly.

“There are two ways of being united — one is by being frozen together, and the other is by being melted together. What Christians need is to be united in brotherly love, and then they may expect to have power.” Moody’s Anecdotes

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be.” A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

Jesus’ intent for His Church is that Christians be unified, not necessarily in denomination, but in love and basic doctrine.

John 17:20–21 KJV 1900

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

They started off well!

Acts 2:46–47 KJV 1900

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

It was not long however before there were problems with unity.

The church is made up of redeemed sinners.

Redeemed sinners are not sinless, so many in churches there is not unity.

We regularly celebrate the Lord’s Table, also called Communion and the Last Supper.

Sadly, one of the places that the Corinthians lacked unity is here.

Unity does not mean we agree on everything, but it does mean that we are accepting of each other.

Philippians 2:1–4 KJV 1900

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

As we prepare our hearts for the Lord’s Table, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

INTRODUCTION

The intent of Jesus is that His Church be unified.

John 17:20–21 KJV 1900

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

The church in Jerusalem practiced unity.

Acts 2:46–47 KJV 1900

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

There was a need for unity in the Church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

A REBUKE

1 Corinthians 11:17–22 KJV 1900

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Vs. 18 – There were divisions at the Lord’s Table.

Animosity existed between the “haves” and the “have nots”.

Instead of the Lord’s Table being a true “love feast”, it was a source of division among the brothers and sisters.

Although, this specific problem does not exist in our church today, we do need to ask,

“What attitudes, actions, or conversations have I participated in that cause division?”

A REVIEW

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 KJV 1900

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

The Lord’s Table is a memorial commemorating our Lord’s death for our sins.

We proclaim our faith in the sacrificed body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We all that are born again, have this in common and this is why we are here tonight

A REQUIREMENT

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 KJV 1900

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

A guest at a meal should never show disrespect for the host or hostess.

You would not sit down at a table with dirty hands and face would you?

NO, you would be sure to wash up

You would be sure there is no dirt on you

Remeber when you were a kid. You would come in from playing and wouldnt stop and get cleaned up before you sat down.

You might have just got popped in the back of the head

You wouldnt allow your kids to come and sit down at the dinner table filthy.

Why do you think it is alright for you to come to the Lord’s table dirty?

Christ is the host at the Lord’s Table.

We must be careful to show no disrespect.

IV. A Reminder

1 Corinthians 11:33–34 KJV 1900

Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

The word tarry means ‘welcome or accept’

Remember they had a problem of coming to the table with the intent to eat a full meal and get drunk.

Paul also had to rebuke the Corinithians about causing a stubling block to other believers

Paul wants the Corinthian believers to remember that this supper is not for fulfilling the flesh, this supper is to remember what Christ did for them.

If we go to a lets say a birthday party and it is just cake and ice cream, you are not going to go there with they intention of making a whole meal out of it.

It would be disrespectful to the host and the others in attendence.

The Lords Supper is placed upon the Lord’s table to being all those that are born again by the grace of God, together to remember what it was that Christ did and to remember that we all share in a blessed hope. His Return!