A Picture Worth 1,000 Words

Connecting Thoughts

God calls us to surrender everything about us so that the light of the Gospel moves freely in our lives.

Paul reminds his audience that we are called to give up our rights in Christ when those who are weak in the church might be led astray by our freedom.

We are reminded that worship is not to reflect the culture in which the church lives, rather it must reflect the scenes of the Kingdom that is already at work, but yet to come.

Dear ones, we are called to fix our minds on Jesus Christ and his perfect vision for this world and the world to come.

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Paul is contrasting two pictures, one which misrepresents Jesus Christ and His Church, and another, which is a vision of the Kingdom of God as we worship, even at the Lord’s table (Communion).

A Divided Table

When culture enters the most sacred aspect of our worship to God, there are little parallels to the world form which we are rescued.

the Lord’s Supper was a meal shared by all disciples, as they celebrated the victory over Satan, the grave, and in expectation of Jesus’ return to establish the Kingdom of God forever.

People’s divisions are causing trouble in the Corinthian church. Some divisions are:

The “Haves” and the “Have Nots.”

There are those who are “Freedom-Driven” and “The Literalists.”

The “Faithful” and the “Faithless.”

The behavior, pouring out from the heart, impacted the very way the church celebrated the most sacred time of worship in fellowship.

The Corinthians treated the Lord’s table as any other banquet or club gathering.

The rich would have time to congregate early, enjoy the choice foods, and indulge, even to the point of gluttony and drunkeness.

The poor, having to labor in the public square, or doing field work, would arrive later on during the Lord’s Supper, and the provision of the table would be gone, leaving only leftovers for those who worked for a living, rather than managing holdings and supervising wealth management.

The Lord’s table became a shameful ordeal for the poor, while it became a false honor and comfort to the rich.

The Lord’s table became less an act of worship, and more a casual social event that appeared to deepen socio-economic divides. Paul is emphatic:

English Standard Version Chapter 11

What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise vthe church of God and whumiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

The Corinthian church mocked, intentionally, or unintentionally, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and in so doing were mocking the central difference between true faith and idol/demon worship—The remembrance and hope of Jesus’ dead and resurrection.

A Gathering of Hope in the Gospel

Paul points to the source of the Gospel as the One who institutes the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper connects the Disciples to God’s overarching redemption story.

Flashback to Exodus 12:1-28.

Foreshadowing to Revelation 19:6-10.

Paul sets the record straight and realigns what the communion table means.

A reminder of what the Triune God has done.

The hope for a life that is no longer under fear of death or holy wrath.

The anticipation of a joyful eternal existence of fellowship and worship focused on the Living God.

Communion is a small glimpse of the glorious future that is to come when we enter eternity. The Corinthian church forgot that; I wonder do we forget this as well?

The warning and encouragement is simple and true, In surrendering to God as our Lord and Savior, we surrender everything, loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).

A Picture Recaptured

As a father to his child, Paul expresses the weight and consequence of misappropriating the Lord’s table.

It is more than a meal.

It is more than a club gathering.

It is not a motion to go through mindlessly.

What the Corinthian church learned through hard knocks, we can learn through God’s inspired counsel in the Bible.

Because Jesus Christ is Lord, we surrender any status we hold.

Because Jesus Christ is our Priest, we are all humbled before his finished work.

Because Jesus Christ is our King, we do not hold some below us, or above us, but are all equal before his majesty.

Where preferences rule sin abides; where love and concern for our brothers and sisters abide, the Spirit rests and works to honor Jesus Christ.

The Old Hymn carries us to the end of unity through humility before our God:

“Should nothing of our efforts stand

No Legacy survive

Unless the Lord does raise the house

In vain its builders strive

To you who boasts tomorrow’s gain

Tell me what is your life?

A mist that vanishes at dawn

All glory be to Christ

All Glory be to Christ our King!

All glory be to Christ!

His rule and reign will ever sing

All glory be to Christ!

~~Dustin Kensrue

As the Spirit leads will you come and confess Jesus as your King and Savior?

Does your heart and soul need respite from the weight of life? Where you are lift your spirit before Him, or let one of us minister to you in prayer.

Benediction

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.