A Bad Loaf

Protocol

1 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV 1900)

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Prayer

Setting the Scene

Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, emerges in the New Testament as a pivotal figure in early Christianity.

Once a zealous persecutor of the church, his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus transformed him into one of the most influential apostles and theologians of the Christian faith.

Though not one of the original twelve apostles, Paul played a vital role in the spread of Christianity, undertaking several missionary journeys across the Mediterranean world.

His work in establishing and nurturing new communities of believers laid the foundation for much of the early church's growth and development.

Paul's connection to the Corinthian church is particularly significant for understanding his first letter to the Corinthians.

He spent 18 months in Corinth during his second missionary journey, working tirelessly to establish a church in this bustling, cosmopolitan center of ancient Greece.

Paul's Letter: A Passionate Address to a Troubled Church

1 Corinthians is characterized by its direct, often confrontational tone, addressing a wide range of issues plaguing the young Corinthian church.

It wastes no time on pleasantries, plunging the reader directly into the heart of the problems facing this community.

Paul's Core Purpose:

Paul's primary aim in writing 1 Corinthians is to address serious issues within the Corinthian church and to reaffirm the centrality of the gospel message.

He seeks to correct misconceptions, resolve conflicts, and provide guidance on various doctrinal and practical matters.

Through this letter, Paul invites his readers to grapple with the true nature of Christian faith and community.

Paul's Narrative: A Chronological Overview (Up to Chapter 5)

Chapter 1: Addressing Division

Paul confronts the problem of factions within the church, emphasizing unity in Christ. He challenges human wisdom, exalting instead the "foolishness" of the cross.

Chapter 2: True Wisdom and Spirituality

Paul contrasts worldly wisdom with the wisdom of God revealed through the Spirit. He emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding spiritual truths.

Chapter 3: The Nature of Christian Ministry

Paul uses metaphors of planting and building to illustrate the collaborative nature of ministry. He warns against divisive loyalty to human leaders.

In Chapter 4, Paul adopts a fatherly tone, emphasizing his role as a spiritual parent to the Corinthian believers:

Verse 14: Paul writes, "I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children."

Here, he explicitly positions himself as a caring father, correcting his children out of love rather than to humiliate them.

Verse 15: Paul states, "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

He distinguishes himself from other teachers, claiming a unique, paternal relationship with the Corinthians through his role in their spiritual birth.

Verse 18: "Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you."

Like a father dealing with rebellious children, Paul addresses the attitude of those who think they can misbehave in his absence.

Verse 20: "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." Here, Paul speaks with paternal authority, emphasizing the importance of genuine spiritual power over empty words.

Verse 21: "What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?"

Paul presents himself as a father figure who can either discipline sternly or approach with gentle love, depending on the Corinthians' response.

Chapter 5: Confronting Immorality

Paul addresses a case of sexual immorality within the church, calling for decisive action. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the church's holiness and witness.

Transition 1: The Call to Keep the Feast - Avoiding the Bad Loaf

"Therefore..." This powerful word acts as a conjunctive adverb, serving as a linguistic bridge that connects ideas and propels the reader towards a conclusion.

It's more than just a transition; it's a call to action based on the preceding arguments.

"Therefore" is an important word that connects ideas.

It does three main things:

It shows that what comes next is a result of what was said before.

It helps tie different parts of the text together.

It helps the reader understand that a conclusion or outcome is coming.

In Paul's writing, "therefore" acts like a hinge, swinging open the door from theological exposition to practical application.

It's the moment where abstract truth becomes concrete action, where belief transforms into behavior.

Paul isn't offering a polite suggestion; he's issuing a firm command based on the grim reality of sin in Corinth.

Just as a baker must address a bad loaf before it spoils the entire bakery, we must confront the "bad loaf" in our lives and communities.

Punchline 1: Let us keep the feast, but beware the bad loaf.

Subpoint 1: A Charge to Remember - The Danger of a Bad Loaf:

Passover's Shadow:

Paul's letter arrived just before Passover (1 Corinthians 16:8), a feast steeped in memory – the blood on the doorposts, the exodus from slavery.

It was a foreshadowing of a greater liberation, bought not with the blood of lambs but with the blood of Christ.

It's a feast pointing to Pentecost, where the Spirit would descend, and the church would be born.

But imagine if the Israelites had used spoiled lamb's blood or contaminated unleavened bread.

The consequences would have been dire. Similarly, we must ensure our spiritual lives aren't tainted by a "bad loaf" of sin or compromise.

Modern-Day Passover: Think about your family's most cherished holiday meal. Now imagine if one dish was prepared with rancid ingredients. It would ruin the entire celebration. Our spiritual lives can suffer the same fate if we allow a "bad loaf" of sin to persist.

Subpoint 2: Communion's Roots - Recognizing the Bad Loaf:

Breaking Bread, Deeper Meaning:

We say "communion," but what does it truly mean?

It's sharing, participating, it's connection.

1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV 1900)

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Picture that Upper Room, Jesus taking bread, saying, "This is my body."

Not a ritual, but a relationship.

Yet, how often do we approach communion with unconfessed sin to be seated at the table with Jesus

Lost in Translation?:

Theologians argue that we've shrunk the feast.

We focus on the wafer and the sip, forgetting the Passover origin – the full table, the shared meal, the deep connection with Christ and one another.

Have we allowed a "bad loaf" of individualism to creep in, losing sight of the communal nature of our faith?

The Coffee Shop Test:

Imagine meeting a friend for coffee, but you're harboring resentment towards them.

That hidden "bad loaf" of anger would poison the entire interaction.

Our approach to communion can suffer similarly if we don't address the impurities in our hearts.

Subpoint 3: Reverence in Assembly - Purging the Bad Loaf:

Sacred, Not Social:

When we gather, it's not a church potluck, it's a holy convocation.

Yet, how often do our gatherings center on gossip, grievances, our own agendas?

We lose the awe, the reverence. It's like bringing a "bad loaf" of worldly attitudes into a sacred space.

Ruined Recipe:

Imagine baking your grandmother's famous bread for a special occasion.

It looks perfect on the outside, but one taste reveals a bitter aftertaste – you accidentally used salt instead of sugar.

Our impurities, our hidden sins, do the same to our fellowship.

A bad loaf can't produce a good feast. Have you ever experienced a church service or small group meeting that left you feeling spiritually empty?

It might be a sign that a "bad loaf" of sin or apathy has infiltrated the community.

The Workplace Parallel:

Think about a toxic work environment where negativity spreads like a "bad loaf" of yeast.

One person's bad attitude can infect an entire team.

Our church gatherings can suffer the same fate if we don't actively work to maintain a spirit of reverence and love.

Transition 2: The Old Leaven - Identifying the Bad Loaf

Punchline 2: Not with old leaven... Recognizing the bad loaf in our midst.

Subpoint 1: Naming the Poison - The Ingredients of a Bad Loaf:

No Sugarcoating:

Paul doesn't mince words. The old leaven? It's malice and wickedness (verses 6-7).

It's the bitterness, the rot, that puffs up the dough but leaves it inedible.

In our lives, this "bad loaf" might manifest as holding grudges, indulging in gossip, or harboring secret addictions.

The Moldy Bread Analogy:

You wouldn't eat a sandwich made with moldy bread, even if the other ingredients were fresh.

Similarly, we can't expect our spiritual lives to thrive if we allow even a small amount of sin to fester.

Subpoint 2: Corinth's Contamination - Learning from Their Bad Loaf:

The Diagnosis:

We might think, "Not us, not our church!"

But read those early chapters.

Division, immorality, lawsuits among believers – Corinth was a spiritual hazmat zone.

Their "bad loaf" was threatening to spoil the entire community.

Self-Examination:

It's easy to point fingers.

But what about our own lives, our own congregations?

Are we harboring malice, jealousy, unforgiveness?

These are the contaminants that spoil the loaf.

Consider a time when you allowed a "bad loaf" of resentment or pride to affect your relationships or your worship.

How did it impact your spiritual growth?

The Social Media Test:

Scroll through your recent posts or comments.

Would they be considered part of a "good loaf" or a "bad loaf" in terms of building up others and glorifying God?

Subpoint 3: How the Bad Loaf Began - The Spread of Contamination:

The Contagion:

Paul warns against keeping company with the immoral (verses 9-11).

One bad apple does spoil the barrel. We're influenced by those we surround ourselves with.

Their choices, their values, seep into us.

Think about how quickly a rumor can spread through a community – sin can proliferate just as rapidly if left unchecked.

Guarding the Gates:

We must be vigilant.

What are we watching, reading, listening to?

Are we inviting contamination into our lives, into our church?

Consider your media consumption habits.

Are you allowing a "bad loaf" of worldly influences to shape your thoughts and actions?

The Friendship Filter:

Reflect on your closest relationships.

Are they helping you cultivate a "good loaf" of godly character, or are they potentially introducing impurities into your spiritual life?

Transition 3: Can the Loaf Be Saved? - Redeeming the Bad Loaf

Punchline 3: But with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth - Transforming the bad loaf.

Subpoint 1: The Baker's Wisdom - God's Redemptive Power:

Salvaging the Spoiled:

A good baker doesn't just toss out the bad loaf.

They might add more flour, more sweetener, trying to balance the flavors.

God, in His mercy, doesn't discard us.

He offers a way to redeem even the most contaminated loaf.

Think of a time when you felt beyond hope – perhaps a major moral failure or a season of doubt.

God's grace can transform even our worst "bad loaves" into something beautiful.

The Compost Analogy: In gardening, even rotten food waste can be transformed into rich, life-giving compost.

Similarly, God can take our failures and sins, when we bring them to Him in repentance, and use them to cultivate spiritual growth and wisdom.

Subpoint 2: Sincerity and Truth: The Antidote to the Bad Loaf

Leaven vs Unleavened:

Leaven represents the puffery of pride, the hidden corruption.

Unleavened bread?

It's pure, simple, honest.

That's what God desires. In your daily life, are you presenting an "unleavened" version of yourself to God and others, or are you hiding behind a façade?

Worship in Spirit and Truth:

Jesus said it plainly

John 4:24 (KJV 1900)

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Not empty rituals, not going through the motions.

God wants our hearts, laid bare before Him.

Reflect on a time when you experienced genuine, heartfelt worship.

How did it differ from times when you were simply going through the motions?

The Mirror Test:

James talks about looking into the perfect law of liberty

James 1:25 (KJV 1900)

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

When you examine your life in light of God's Word, are you willing to address the "bad loaves" you see, or do you quickly forget and move on?

Subpoint 3: The Perfect Recipe - Christ as Our Model:

Christ, Our Passover:

Paul reminds us, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (verse 7).

Jesus is the perfect bread, the pure offering. He's the blueprint, the way to cleanse the bad loaf.

In your daily choices, are you striving to follow Christ's example of purity and sacrificial love?

The Yeast of the Kingdom:

Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God being like yeast that spreads through dough (Matthew 13:33).

As we allow Christ's influence to permeate our lives, it can transform even our "bad loaves" into something that glorifies God.

The Bread of Life: Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

How can feeding on His Word and presence daily help us to identify and eliminate the "bad loaves" in our lives?

Conclusion: From Bad Loaf to Bread of Life

No More Bad Loaves:

We've seen the spoiled bread, the contaminated church.

It's a sobering picture.

But there's hope.

Through Christ, even our worst "bad loaves" can be redeemed and transformed.

The Invitation:

Today, examine your heart.

Confess the impurities, the 'old leaven.'

God is faithful to forgive, to cleanse.

What "bad loaf" in your life needs to be brought before God for transformation?

A New Beginning:

Through Christ, we can come to the table with sincerity and truth.

No more bad loaves, only the sweet fellowship of His presence.

Imagine the impact our churches could have if we all committed to addressing our "bad loaves" and pursuing purity in Christ.

Call to Action: From Bad Loaf to Blessing

Personal Reflection: Take a moment of silent prayer. Ask God to reveal any hidden impurities, any "bad loaves" in your life. Commit to addressing them with His help. Communion with Reverence: When we partake next, let it be with a renewed sense of awe, of gratitude. Approach the table having dealt with any "bad loaves" in your heart. Accountability and Growth: Find a trusted brother or sister in Christ. Commit to walking together, encouraging each other towards purity and truth. Share your struggles with "bad loaves" and celebrate victories as God transforms you.

Let us leave here today, not as a bad loaf, but as unleavened bread, fit for the Master's use. May our lives be a sweet aroma to God and a blessing to those around us. Amen.