You Can Stuff Your Face at Home

pray

I have a confession: I used to be the kind of guy who was going to go to a party or a group meal and find the food that I wanted and do my best to best the first in line to eat it and eat as much as I could. Like at a Mexican restaurant, I would’ve been funneling the cheese dip. Just the worst kind of person right? I’m much better now. Now I will let others go first, get a reasonable amount, and then when I’ve finished that it’s fair game! Everyone has had their chance!

The church in Corinth apparently had a bunch of these kinds of people! And they were behaving this way at the most sacred of meals! In the passage we’re looking at tonight, Paul addresses this selfish behavior and points them to the kind of attitude that they should have, one modeled by Jesus.

We must reflect Christ’s selflessness when we come together.

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Always consider others

17-22

Think of the other people around you, especially when worshipping the Lord and fellowshipping with others.

I usually have a lot of patience, but in the areas that I don’t have patience, I really don’t have any patience! One of those is when I’m driving. I don’t know if it’s because I feel like I can be a big guy when I’m inside my truck and people can’t hear or really see me, or if it is as valid as I feel like it is. I believe that when I get angry in the car it is a righteous anger. Cause I don’t just get mad when stuff happens to me, I’ll get mad if I see something wrong happen to someone else too. Anytime I see people be inconsiderate of other drivers around them, on the road or in a parking lot, I just get really frustrated! If someone…

The reason why is I really don’t feel like it’s that hard to think about how what you’re doing will affect the people around you! Just think… Don’t be so arrogant to only consider yourself.

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We are supposed to be known as Christians to the world by the love that we show to others. We must be thoughtful and considerate!

The Lord’s Supper

23-32

Jesus instituted it the night before He was crucified at the Passover dinner with his apostles. What we think of today when we think about it… is most likely very different from the way it was done here when the church was just getting started…

The Lord’s Supper

What is it?

The elements, bread and wine, represent something else. This is a good idea, to use the food to represent something else. It’s been done in other places in fact, there’s a commercial that I love that does it.

State Farm Andy Reid nuggies commercial

Here’s what we believe about it…

It is a memorial meal that invites the presence of Christ into the ceremony

only a memorial

nothing happens to the elements when we take it

Matthew 26:29 ESV

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

We observe it to remember what He did for us, to be reminded. And to look forward. Christ abstains, longing for the day He will enjoy it again with his people.

I want to make sure I clearly explain what this means, what Paul is referencing here…

present the Gospel

The Lord’s Supper

How do we do it?

Reverently! Respectfully! Considerately! Thoughtfully! Repentantly!

Matthew 7:5 ESV

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

So what is the proper way to observe the Lord’s Supper? First, you must believe the things that it represents. If you are not a Christian, meaning you have not… then this meal is not for you. And that’s not to be mean, but why would it be important to you?…

Next, you need to observe it! Too many Christians go years without it! We are instructed to do this!

Finally, you need to examine yourself, your heart, before taking it. Do you have sin that you have been living in that you need to repent of? Have you wronged someone and you need to make it right?

I have other thoughts about it, but I’m not prepared to present those arguments to you tonight! If you have questions, holler at me!

There should be great reverence. I’ve heard before of youth groups doing the Lord’s Supper with Skittles and Mountain Dew. No. Just no.

Model Jesus’ kindness

33-34

“So then”, I told y’all last week that what we believe determines how we live. Thursday morning I read this…

“Theology is a life activity. When you say you believe something, you are not just mentally assenting to that truth. True belief is always demonstrated by how you live. Every doctrine of Scripture is meant to set a culture for living. Every truth in the Bible calls you to a certain lifestyle.” –Paul David Tripp

In this, and in every, situation. Walk by the same principles that Jesus did.

When we go to the El Patio we can put the cheese dip on my tab and I will go real slow on it to make sure that you get plenty!

We take these ideas, these principles, that Jesus exemplified, and we apply them to our lives in every situation.

How kind is He to us?

Psalm 84:11 ESV

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

He went to the cross! So we have got to show kindness to one another in light of the kindness that He has shown to us!