"The Ties That Bind"
Intro: Food is a place of "common unity"
Context: Paul is addressing issues related to public worship. The beginning of Chap. 11 deals with issues of men and women (or more specifically husbands and wives). This passages deals with issues related to the Lord's Supper. Chap. 12 deals with issues related to spiritual gifts.
Discovery: Paul is clearly upset with the lack of focus regarding the true nature and spirit of the Lord's Supper. Rather than a time to celebrate the common unity of believers, it has become a time of continued divisions. Earlier in Chap. 1, we see divisions that formed around individual human leaders and schools of thought and now we see social-economic and class divisions. There is a clear divide between those who "have" versus those who "have not."
Application: Verse 17 cuts to the heart of the issue, "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good." Paul's word of rebuke in verse 27 is this: "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread of drink of the cup." I am trying to take to heart these two verses this week. Lord, are there ways that my fellowship with others is not constructive and edifying? Lord, are there ways that my focus is on "feeding myself" at my own private supper rather than the serving of others and building of the Kingdom? Lord, in what ways can I be more thoughtful when I come to sermon prep, daily devotions, small group times, meetings with individuals, and every other spiritual or interpersonal endeavor that I engage in this week? Ultimately, I want to be intentional about living with God's glory in view, as well as to striving to be encourage and edify everyone I come in contact with this week.
Prayer: Help me be thoughtful and prayerful in everything I do this week. Give me the boldness to approach each day with a desire to share all the good things that you have given me.
