This is my body

Intro

Now that the Vikings and the Packers are out of the playoffs, can we just get along?

Families need to come together.

We see it over and over again. In times of strife, families will come together against a greater threat.

It’s somehow OK for me to pick on my sister, but if anyone else does it, I defend her. Don’t mess with family.

We’re asking the question each week, Who are you becoming? This week is no different.

So, how is your love for one another?

I’m going to press this point home pretty straightforwardly today.

Today we celebrate the body and blood of Christ. Paul warns us against coming to the Lord’s table if we are not in unity with our brothers and sisters.

If we are becoming more like Christ, and yet, we are not at peace with brothers and sisters in Christ, we still have a long way to go.

2 Peter 1:5–8 NIV

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mutual Affection = love each other as family

1. Look at the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:17–34 NIV

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

Lots of looks in this passage.

Look at the cross

Look at the cost

Look at the Christ

Look up to the Father

Look inside your heart

Look ahead to Christ’s return

Look around at the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:29 NIV

For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

Unity

Some eating before others

division by economic status

division by national status (slave or free)

Meetings were in the homes for the rich, but they forgot about the slaves who worked longer hours.

In this weather I’ve already seen news about feeding the birds. But I am well aware that my brothers and sisters who are homeless are really in danger because of these extended low temps.

My son spent a week homeless for a documentary that he shot and entered in the Twin Cities film festival. If you have Amazon Prime you can catch it. Look for Out in the Cold.

Moe and I put together some cold weather kits for people on the street corners near our home in St Louis Park. Socks, hand warmers, and a gift card. 5 bucks gets you a couple hours inside a warm restaurant.

But it’s one thing to talk about the homeless. It’s another to talk about our little family here.

How is your mutual affection doing relative to the people you’ve worshipped with over several years.

To paraphrase Paul in a different part of the letter,

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 NIV

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

I follow Paris. I follow Joe. I follow Branchline. I follow Christ.

I’ve heard a common thread in private conversations with people in the last few weeks. Forgiveness.

I hope to spend some time teaching on reconciliation from Jesus first sermon. But until then, let’s take just a snap shot of what Jesus means about reconciliation.

2. Make it Right

Matthew 5:23–24 NIV

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Broken relationship

During worship / sacrifice

Geography

sacrifice done in Jerusalem

Matthew written to Galileans. distance from Jerusalem to Tiberias (on the sea of Galilee) is about 100 miles. (6 days) Shortest, but rougher travel is 60-70 miles. (4 days)

Round trip = 9-13 days (with a full day at home to make things right).

how important is it to make things right?

important enough to leave your gift at the altar, travel for a week and a half. (no paid time off, extra travel expense, no guarantee of reconciliation)

Important enough that God cares more about your relationship with one another than he cares about his relationship with you.

If you are not in step with your brother or sister. God is willing to not stay in step with you until you make it right.

What does sacrifice look like?

It looks like a man washing the feet of his betrayer just hours before his act of disloyalty.

It looks like a man on the cross, whose body is broken and his blood pouring out from his head, his hands, his feet.

It looks like you and me taking a look around the room to see if there is a person who needs to forgive you. Or for you to forgive them. It means looking not only at the faces. But look at the empty chairs where someone used to sit. But they are now gone. And you haven’t reached out to make things right.

It’s a risk. It’s scary. You don’t feel prepared. (Don’t worry. over the course of a six-day walk, you’ll figure it out.)

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Transition to Communion.

We are going to listen to some music by Ian at the piano.

Look at the body and blood of Christ

Remember how much it cost him to make things right with you.

Look around the room and around the recesses of your mind.

Be ready to pay the price to make things right with them.

If there is nothing in your heart keeping you from communion, then take it whenever you are ready in the next few minutes.

If there is some work to be done, don’t open your communion packet. Quietly slip it in your pocket. Save it for the moment you make things right. In fact, you might just want to take another packet or three as you leave. And if you are able to make things right by confessing wrongs and forgiving one another, share communion together.

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.