Spiritual Gifts, Part 3: Our Declaration of INTERdependence! I Corinthians 12:20-31

Our Declaration of INTERdependence!

I Corinthians 12:20-31

Introduction:  Next week my second youngest brother is doing a full Iron Man race down in Maryland. 100 mile bike ride, 2 mile swim, and a full 26 mile marathon run one after another! That makes me tired just saying it! Just to compete in a race like that requires a tremendous individual effort. Some sports, like like many events in track and field, or like wrestling, might have “teams” but the individual performances are usually emphasized.   Other sports require team work. Like relay races. Each member contributes, but the result is a victory for the team.  It doesn’t matter if you are the fastest runner in the world, if your team mate drops the baton, you are finished.  You need each other, and you know it!  So it is with the church. We each have a role to fill.  

Context: Last week we saw the error of a believer thinking they are of little worth, with nothing to contribute. Paul has been talking about the church as the body of Christ. Each member is important to the proper working of the whole.

       This week the emphasis seems to be on the error of thinking we can do fine alone, we don’t need the body.  We should recognize our value. Since God values us and has made us a part of His team we must have something to contribute!  Today’s verses balance that in saying that yes, we have value, we are gifted, we have a role to fulfill, but we are also in need of others in the church. We have something to give, but we also need to benefit from the gifts of others.  From our American perspective, one extreme might be viewed as weakness and the other as strength; but the point is both are wrong, both are sin. God has placed us in the body, He has “SHAPEd” us and gifted us to fill a specific role. So we have value, in fact each of us is important for the proper working together of the body.  We’re each a vital part of the team. The other extreme is equally wrong, thinking we are “self-sufficient.” None of us can do everything. None of us can do “just fine” on our own. We need the accountability and the encouragement of the church. The church needs your gifts and, guess what, you need the gifts of others in the church!  I think most of us vacillate toward one or other of these errors at different times in our lives, and we need to be reminded of God’s plan for us as a part of His church. He designed us to be interdependent. The point I want to emphasize is...

The Big Idea: We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created to be interdependent, we can do more together than we could do alone.

I. The Premise: God has designed us to be interdependent, we need one another (20-21).

²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

“As it is...” This short phrase is repeated from v.18, tying this paragraph together with the previous context. God’s design for the body means there is no room for thinking one person is useless, or has nothing to contribute. It is God’s design, He has planned the body, He has called us, placed us, and equipped us, and for the body to complete we have to recognize and submit to that truth, acknowledging His work is good.  Remember in creation God spoke, and it happened, and He said “It is good.” Paul uses creation language in Ephesians 2:10 when he said, “You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God before ordained that you should walk in them...” God has a plan, diversity of gifted and called members, unified in the body, “...there are many parts, yet one body...” V.21 draws another implication from this illustration. We cannot be healthy apart from the body.

“The eye cannot say: ‘I have no need of you’...”  Rather than the error of thinking I have no value, the warning is directed to the one who might think, “I have no need of others in the church. I can go it alone. I have it together. People just get in the way, they slow me down!” It is not so uncommon to hear people say, “I read my Bible on my own, I don’t need to come to church!” Or, “Sunday School is valuable for those who need it, but I’d rather sleep in.” Or, “A small group? I am a private person, I don’t like all of that sharing!”  The truth is, we need one another. None of us is complete on our own. You are not an exception. God designed us to be interdependent.  We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created to be interdependent, we can do more together than we could do alone.

II. The Picture: As each part of the body is important in its own way, so also the members of the church (22-25).

²² On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,  ²³ and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,  ²⁴ which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,  ²⁵ that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

The idea seems to be that some are more or less prominent. Some parts are internal, hidden, but essential. Some parts we cover to preserve our modesty.  The result is that some of the parts that are unseen are most important to the life and function of the body!  I don’t think we need to push every detail, Paul’s point is simply this: prominent or not, visible or not, every part of the body has purpose and importance.  After all, whether visible or hidden, whether external or internal, each has a role designed by our Maker! Paul’s point is that we should recognize that God has designed the church purposefully, and we were made to be a part of the whole. We need each other. We need the gifts of others to be all that we can be, and they need us as well. 

       “...so that there should be no division...”  God’s purpose is unity; caring for one another, in mission, together, for His glory.  Psalm 133 is toward the end of a group of psalms of ascent, what I call “Songs for the Journey.” It spoke of a united community, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!”  Like the dew on the slopes of the mountain, and the anointing oil poured over the Old Testament priest, unity is an outward indication of the election and blessing of God!  For the glory of God, for the sake of the lost, we need to be the body, united and useful for the Master.  Don’t let the enemy have a foothold! He is the one who would divide, who would tell us that we can do just fine on our own.  We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created to be interdependent, we can do more together than we could do alone.

III. The Possibilities: Being part of the Body means we should bear each other’s burdens, and we celebrate each other’s blessings (26-27).

²⁶ If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.  ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

“If one member suffers, all suffer together... in one member is honored, all rejoice together...”  At our small group on Thursday night Tim told of how, about 30 years ago, a nail gun malfunctioned and sent a nail through the side of his boot about two inches into his foot. That nail only went into one small part of his body. But the whole body suffered!  What a great illustration of the church. If you are hurting, God doesn’t intend for you to bear your burden alone. If you withdraw from the church or isolate yourself, you are not only hurting yourself, but you are diminishing the body, and ultimately hurting the mission God has given us. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ...”! 

       And we share in each other’s victories and blessings. This too is the “one another” principle of the New Testament. We are one, and since we are all about lifting up Jesus, our attitude should be that expressed in the song, “If I should gain any praise, let it go to Calvary! To God be the glory!” We need to talk more about “God sightings” and rejoice together in what He is doing among us!  NB. the end of v.27: we are the body, and each of us is a member of the body. That means we need the rest of the body to be what God wants us to be.  We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created to be interdependent not independent.  We can do more together than any of us could do alone.

IV.: The Plan: God has placed us, He appointed our place in His church... (28-31).

²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.  ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

“And God has appointed in the church...” Notice first of all that God is in charge. He gives the gifts, He builds the church (cf. 12:18).  As Paul gets specific here the point is to again emphasize the diversity of gifts in God’s design. He is the architect and builder of the body.

“...first apostles, second prophets, third teachers...” What does Paul mean here? First, second, and third in terms of importance? That would seem to contradict the mutual interdependence and the singular importance of each member that Paul has been talking about.  At least in this first part, it may be that there is a chronological element, especially in putting “apostles and prophets” at the head of the list. It made me think of Ephesians chapters 2 and 3 where Paul is using a different metaphor to describe the church. There he describes it as a building.

¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit...”  (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Just a few verses down into the next chapter we read,

⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,  ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel...” (Ephesians 3:4-6).

From these passages it is clear that Paul is referring to the New Testament apostles and prophets who had a foundational role in the building of the Church. They were the recipients of the revelation, by the Spirit, of the mystery of the church. So it seems to me, when Paul says to the Corinthians, “...first apostles, second prophets...” he is not speaking in terms of importance, but rather chronologically. The first thing you do is lay a foundation. Jesus chose the twelve. After Judas fulfilled his role and died, Matthias was chosen to take his place. And then as one “born out of due time” Paul was uniquely commissioned by Christ himself as the “apostle to the gentiles.”  The foundation had to be laid. The apostolic revelation had to be given. And then the church would be built on that. During that transitional period there were New Testament prophets, men like Agabus (see Acts 11:28; 21:10) who brought revelation and direction concerning specific events. 

       Are there apostles and prophets today? I would say there are not, at least not in the strict New Testament sense. The foundation has been laid, you only do that once, but the revelation they brought needs to be taught and studied, and applied to our everyday life situations.  So after the apostles and prophets Paul mentions, “...third, teachers...”  They teach and help us apply the revelation God has given us, so that we can be strengthened and equipped to use our gifts for the building up of the body and for reaching out to the lost.

       The point of the rhetorical questions in vv. 29-30 is not to present an exhaustive list of gifts present in every age.  “Are all apostles?” Of course not! God gives the gifts that are relevant and necessary for the building of the church and for the carrying out of the church’s mission. And we are not all the same. Each of us is unique, and each of us is necessary. No one can fill every role, no one can do everything, but we can all do something!  We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created to be interdependent, we can do more together than we could do alone.

 V. The Perspective we need: humility motivated by love  (31).  I am going out on a limb and giving a “minority report” with respect to the translation of the first phrase in v.31. If you have an NIV Bible you can find in the margin or in a note at the bottom of the page. It is grammatically defensible, and seems to me to make the most sense in the context...

“But you seek [zealously] the [so-called] more excellent gifts...”

There is some question of the translation here. The grammatical form of the word “seek” could be either an imperative (“Seek first...”) or an indicative, “You [indicative] seek...” or “You are seeking...”  The form is exactly the same, so we need to determine from the context which Paul intended.  Either he is telling the Corinthians what to do (if it is an imperative) or he is summarizing what they are doing (if it is an indicative).  The second seems more likely in this context.  The Corinthians viewed certain gifts as “more excellent” and by that they mean the more prominent and flashy gifts, and are pridefully desiring those, rather than stirring up the gift that God in His sovereignty has chosen to bestow on them. Paul is saying, "You are looking for more excellent gifts, let me show you a more excellent way!"

       “...and yet a more excellent way to you I make known...” Most English translations set the second phrase of v.31 off from the last paragraph and tie it in with chapter 13.  That is valid, since the chapter divisions and verse numbers are not a part of the original manuscripts, and Paul does give the details of the “more excellent way” in chapter 13. Remember this is a letter that Paul was writing to the Corinthians!  I do think we need to see that chapter 12 leads into and ties in with the exposition of “love” in chapter 13.  Just to reinforce that, we’ll see that he returns to the question of the abuse of spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 14.  The point is, that rather than the prideful lusting after certain, more visible or flashy gifts, things that might be abused by humans to draw attention to themselves, Paul wants us to know a “more excellent way.”  Love God, and love your neighbor. Biblical love should guide our worship, it should frame our life in the body, and it should motivate our mission to the world.

What is God saying to me in this passage?  We must guard against the sin of self-reliance, thinking we can live the Christian life and fulfill our calling on our own. We are created for the body, created to be interdependent. We can do more together than we could do alone.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?  How connected are you to the body?  If you are not, why not? 

       You have been “shaped” by God to be a part of the body. He has been working on you since before you were born, in fact He knew you from before the foundation of the world!  And if you know Jesus, the moment you believed, He endowed you with a spiritual gift, some exceptional capacity to encourage or build up others in their faith, or perhaps to share your faith with those who need to hear.  Are you seeking the Giver? Are you available and yielded to Him? Are you willing to step in where you are needed to do your part in the mission of the church? He has a plan for you!

       Some of us heard a webinar this week from a ministry called “oikos” (which is the Greek word for a house, or a household). They spoke about a principle called 8-15. Each of us has a group of people that we are close to, that we interact with on a regular basis, on average a group of 8-15 people. For most of us, that will include family members, people at work or school, and neighbors. A number of them are not connected to a church. They don’t go to a small group. They have little or no spiritual input into their lives. You are God’s missionary in your 8-15.  What do you do?  First make a list of those in your sphere of influence. Then pray. Pray that God would open their hearts, that he would stir up a hunger within them. Pray for opportunities to say something about what God has done for you. Then invite them to your small group or to a church meeting!

       God has created us and equipped us to be a member of the body. If you are not connected you need to be. I am convinced that it is essential for each of us to be a part of some kind of a small group where we can discover and develop our gifts, and where we can be encouraged and built up by the gifts of others. We need the transparency and accountability and koinonia that can only happen in that kind of setting. That is God’s design for the church!  If you are not yet a part of such a group, talk to me, or to one of the other elders and we will either get you connected or start another group where you can be! You were created to be a part of what He is doing, for your good, for mission of the church, and for the glory of God.  AMEN.

Spiritual Gifts, Part 2: Finding Our Place in God's Story I Corinthians 12:12-19

Spiritual Gifts, Part 2: Finding Our Place in God’s Story

I Corinthians 12:12-19

Introduction: I remember growing up that we would often have a carnival that came through our area in the summer. One of the things they had was a house of mirrors. When you walked in, you would have those trick mirrors that would reflect a distorted image of yourself, thin like a rail, or "well rounded", One of the issues that troubles many people at some level is a distorted idea about themselves, including their own body. Some have eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia, and no matter how much weight they lose, they perceive themselves as “fat.” I guess there can be the other extreme of narcissism, people that think we are the greatest thing out there!  [Is that what is behind the multiplication of “selfies” on Facebook?] There was an old country song that said something like, "It's hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way!" As I get older, I don’t have much interest in seeing pictures of me! In fact I need to renew my driver’s license this year, and I hope they let me do it online and use the old photo!  When I had it taken five years ago I thought, “Man, I look old!” Now I think it looks pretty good! It's all relative! I guess there has to be a balance, we don’t want to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but we do want to recognize that we have value, in fact each of us is special, we are unique, and God himself has guided our story to make us what we are, so that we are uniquely equipped to carry out our place in His story. And He is still working on us!

       In these verses I think Paul is first talking to the spiritual anorexics in the church, those who think they have no value.  There are plenty of other problems in the church with pride and arrogance and a divisive Spirit. But he wants those that have been convinced that they have little or no value to the church to be convinced that they are important to God, and to the work of the church. They look in the mirror and see nothing good, they are a failure, they have nothing to contribute. They think that only the most visible and flashy gifts are important. Paul says Jesus is the author and architect of the church, he has a plan, and if you know Him, you are a part of His plan!

       God doesn’t look primarily on the outward appearance, He looks on the heart. We are the body, HE is the head!  He has included each of us on purpose, for a purpose.  We are each what we are and where we are by design.  For the body to function at its best, we each have to do our part. Is His mission our top priority? Have you found your place in God’s story?  We need to understand that God has a plan for his church in the world, and He has a plan for us in His church. Do you believe him? Are you available to him?

The Big Idea: God has designed the church, the body of Christ, empowered and united by the Spirit, with each believer uniquely contributing to the whole.

I. One Body: We are each part of the One Body (12).  Of all the images that Paul could use to describe the unity of the church-this one is the most emphatic. A body by definition is unified!  If it isn’t, it can’t function!

¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 

Illustrations help us visualize sometimes complex ideas.  Remember the context, Paul has just used the unity of the triune God to state the truth of the unity of the church (see “...the same Spirit... the same Lord... the same God...”). As there are three persons in the one God, every one of us is part of the one Body.  Remember Jesus’ prayer to the Father in the upper room, “That they might be one, as we are one...” The point is, we are “one,” we just don’t always live like we believe it!

“For just as the body is one and has many members...”  The complexity of the human body is amazing. A lot of the time we take things for granted, until something is hurting or is not working just right.  My youngest brother has been out of work and pretty much immobilized for about six weeks, just because of an infection and a circulation problem in his toes on one foot.  It’s a little thing right? It’s only one foot, and just a couple of toes, how bad could it be? Have you ever stubbed your toe in the night?  Enough said! Even a little member contributes to the whole, and when something goes wrong it can really shake the working of an otherwise healthy body.  Paul is not giving us an anatomy lesson. He is teaching us about the diversity and the unity of the church. Just as there are many members in the one body, so there are many members, each unique, each important, in church.  He used the body imagery is a slightly different way back in 1 Corinthians 10:17,   “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” The main point is the same, the many are one. Here in chapter 12 he goes on to say...

“...so it is with Christ...”  Think of what Paul is saying here. He doesn’t say “so it is with the church,” even though he is talking about the church. Rather, unexpectedly he says, “so it is with Christ.”  As he is talking about the church he assumes what he has stated, the church IS the body of Christ. Think about that, we are “in Christ” and Christ is in us. By design, on purpose, we are “members” of his body. What differences there are between us, have either been permitted by God (maybe to teach us grace!) or designed by him for the benefit of others. That one sitting next to you or across the aisle has been placed there by God, he or she too is part of the body of Christ! (We are going to be together forever, we had better get used to it!). Think about the implications of that! For one thing if we love Jesus, we had better love each other! Realize also that He has chosen to carry out his mission in the world through us—we are the body! WWJD?  What would Jesus do? In many situations that isn’t so hard to figure out.  What’s the problem? Just do it!  God has designed the church, the body of Christ, empowered and united by the Spirit, with each believer, including you and me, uniquely contributing to the whole. One Body, and...

II. One Spirit: We have all, without distinction, been baptized with one Spirit into the one Body (13).

¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

“For in (or with) one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...”  There is some variation in the English translations here that has led to some confusion. Is Paul speaking about a work of the Spirit in which believers receive a “second blessing?” I don’t think the text allows for it: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body....”   The normal use of the preposition allows for “with” or “by” but the most common translation is simply “in.” When we consider the words of John the Baptist at the outset of Jesus’ public ministry, there is no doubt that “this is that.” We read in Luke 3:15,16,

¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,  ¹⁶ John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Then, after the resurrection, we read in Acts 1:4-5,   

⁴ And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;  ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

He was talking about the pouring out on the Spirit ten days later, on the day of Pentecost. That signaled the beginning of a New Age, the church, the “last days” had arrived, and in this dispensation every believer, when they a born again through faith in Christ, is baptized in the Spirit. It’s not a few, not a subset, but “...in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...” (I Cor 12:13). Paul said in Romans 8:9,  

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

When we believe in Jesus we are united to Christ, we become part of the Body, we are baptized in the Spirit and indwelt with the Spirit.  All of us. Every believer.

“...Jews or Greeks, slaves or free...” We are all different – remember God has uniquely S.H.A.P.E.d every one of us. The diversity of our backgrounds and experiences deepens and enriches us as a church family, it gives us a little glimpse of what heaven will be like. Think about the scene in Revelation 7:9-10,

⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Remember Paul is talking in this section of the letter about the church, “when you gather together.” Get used to it, enjoy it, we’ll be blessed with “blended worship” forever!

“...and all were made to drink of one Spirit...” It’s interesting that the language shifted a bit – from being baptized in the Spirit to drinking of the one Spirit. When you are baptized your are immersed in water, when you take a drink, the water goes into you! It seems Paul intends us to recognize the importance of being immersed in the Spirit, identified with Him, along with every other believer from every race and nation; and also of the Spirit in us, the source of life and power, and the reminder of our “oneness” in Christ.  Ironically, the very thing that epitomizes our unity, the presence of the Spirit, has frequently become a point of division among believers (as apparently had happened in Corinth!). I think we are enriched in our church in having people from a variety of background and faith traditions. The Bible is our authority. So together we seek the truth in love. Notice also that we receive the Spirit, we don’t “seek” the baptism of the Spirit, Paul says “...we were all made to drink of the one Spirit...” It is God’s work in us that he is emphasizing. That’s the big idea: God has designed the church, the body of Christ, empowered and united by the Spirit, with each believer uniquely contributing to the whole. One Body, One Spirit, and...

III. Many Members: Every member is part of the body and each makes a unique contribution (14-17).

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many.  ¹⁵ If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.  ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.  ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 

       God has designed the body to be a diversity of members (14). By definition and by design the body, the church, is composed of many members, many parts. God didn’t use a cookie cutter when he made the church.  That would be boring! He shaped each member individually, intentionally, to contribute to the working together of the whole. There are all kinds of people, all kinds of gifts.  That is not a bad thing. We are different by design.

       No one should think their contribution to the body is expendable (15-16), and conversely, no one should think they are more important than anyone else. You might not be a hand, you might not be an eye, but you are an essential part of the body.  Much of the “working” of the body goes on behind the scenes, unseen, without attention or applause. We don’t even notice, as long as it is working that is.  No one knows, no one notices, but God knows. And that’s what really matters. And whether you get the recognition or not, the church benefits. It’s not about applause for any one of us. That is the flesh. It is about applause for the Lord. Our vision statement says that we envision a body of Christ followers rooted in the word, who treasure God as supremely valuable, and proclaim the riches of His grace to the world.  The song says, “And if I should gain any praise, let it go to Calvary... to God be the glory!”  That needs to be our heart beat, as individual members, and as a church. We want to glorify Him!

        If we were all the same, the body would suffer (17).  We need others to do what they were made to do, because we can’t do it as well or as effectively. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. For the church to function as Christ designed it, we each have to find that something we were created for, we need to find our place in God’s story.  God has designed the church, the body of Christ, empowered and united by the Spirit, with each believer uniquely contributing to the whole. On Body, One Spirit, Many members...

IV. By His Design: God has purposefully placed each member in the body (18,19; cf. 12:11). He is the Architect and Builder of the church.

¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be?

            Most of you know that for many of years I operated heavy equipment, a good part of that time working at a dump.  Every now and then, we would have the opportunity for overtime and were assigned other jobs. I remember one Saturday the boss asked me and Willie to build a cistern out of cement and blocks. I was a loader operator, Willie was a welder. It did not go well. Everyone can do something, no one can do everything! God is our creator, and He is the architect and builder of the church. He has gifted each of us who know Christ.

       “But as it is...” We might think things would be better if everyone would be just like us, “But... God arranged the members in the body...” A uniform collection of cookie cutter members might seem easier, but the Author of the church had a different plan!  Have you ever heard it said, that a Camel is a race horse designed by a committee? God is a committee of one (ok, three in one!) and He arranged the members in the body according to His design. In the universal church, and in this church, He has “arranged” us according to His will.

“...each one of them, as he chose...” Don’t think for a minute that, ok this body talk is true in general, but I am an exception to the rule! I’ve got nothing to give! The language here is emphatic. God is working, Jesus is building his church.  “Each one” is chosen on purpose for a purpose. God doesn’t make any mistakes!

       Think about how the mission would suffer if we were all exactly the same (19)! Where would the body be?  A body that was all one part, or every part was exactly the same, wouldn’t really be a body. God didn’t intend for a church full of cookie cutter Christians, all of us being exactly the same.  God’s plan, a diversity of gifts: One body. One Body, One Spirit, Many Members, by His Design.  

What is God saying to me in this passage? God has designed the church, the body of Christ, empowered and united by the Spirit, with each believer uniquely contributing to the whole.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? I am obviously not anorexic. But just like some of you I can have moments when I get a distorted view of myself. At times I can become prideful. Other times come when I question my worth, when I doubt my contribution, when I don’t think I am making a difference. But you know what, on the authority of this scripture I can say that we each have a role to play.  Have you questioned your value to the mission of the church? If you know Christ as your savior know this: God chose you on purpose, for a purpose. He, the Potter, has been shaping you into who you are. He gave you what it takes to carry out your role in His story. 

       The Great Story of redemption reached a climax in the Cross and resurrection, and the Story continues as Jesus is building His church! We all have a part in that, each one of us who know Him. You are here by God’s design.  And you are who you are, because He, the Potter, has molded you into what he wants you to be. You may not feel you have a lot to contribute, but you are an essential part of the body. Do you know what your gifts are? Do you know what God has created you to do?  Someone said in our Thursday night group, seek the Giver, not the gift! Be available for Him to use. Are you available? Is God’s glory your heart’s desire? Howard Hendrix asked his students, “If you knew that you couldn’t fail, what would you do for the glory of God?”  You are a part of this team, this body. Let us help you find your place in God’s story. AMEN!

Spiritual Gifts, Part 1, "Diversity with Unity" I Corinthians 12:1-11

Spiritual Gifts, Part 1: Diversity with Unity

I Corinthians 12:1-11

Introduction:   The school year has started and the sports teams are on the fields! A lot of noise comes from the sidelines, but the game is played on the field. On the best teams, each player contributes.  If you know Christ, you have a role to carry out on His team! He has chosen you for the team, and we’ll see in this section of I Corinthians, He not only has called you to play on His team, He has also equipped you for your position!

       We see three (or four) key New Testament passages that deal with spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and I Peter 4. None of these texts agrees fully with the others. I think it is clear that none of them is intended to be an exhaustive list, nor should we assume that all of them together lists every spiritual gift in the church. It is “things like these” that the Spirit has given to each of us.  As a pastor, I find a lot of encouragement in Ephesians 4. First we are reminded of the unity of the church in Ephesians 4:4-7,

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-  ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  ⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift...

I also see clear instruction in the context about my role in the church in 4:11-15...

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ...(4:11-15).

Part of my calling is equip the saints for ministry. Did you know that you are a minister?  God’s plan, His design for the church, is that every member would use his gift(s) for the edification of the body and the evangelization of the lost. My hope and prayer is, that as we go through these chapters dealing with spiritual gifts, that the Holy Spirit will “stir up” the gift He has given you.  You might think, “Yeah, been there, done that!”  Now it’s time to relax and let others do the work. Someone said, “God will give you work until your life is over, and life until your work is done.”

       I don’t think the New Testament necessarily gives us an exhaustive list of spiritual gifts. I think the idea is that these present general categories and examples, the Spirit gives “things like this” for the building of the church and for the carrying out of our mission.  The ultimate goal is God’s glory: “...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God!”

The Big Idea: Jesus is building his church, and every believer is sovereignly given a special ability to carry out a part of God’s program, for the glory of God.

I. Discerning truth for the glory of God:  Jesus will be glorified through the work of the Spirit when the gifts are properly used (1-3).

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.  ² You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.  ³ Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit (12:1-3).

The subject: rightly understanding spiritual gifts (1). Paul begins this verse with the phrase “now concerning,” which he uses for the fourth time in this second part of the letter (see 7:1, 25; 8:1). It seems to serve as a signal to the issues the Corinthians had asked Paul about in a letter, a letter that we no longer have. It is pretty clear as we read through chapters 12-14, that the gifts of the Spirit, which were given by God for the edification of the church, were in some ways being misunderstood and misapplied.  Ironically the Corinthians praised “knowledge” and “wisdom” and evidently felt they had these in abundance.  Paul says here, “I don’t want you to be ignorant...” literally, agnoein, “without knowledge,” concerning spiritual gifts.  They thought they had knowledge, Paul fears their actions reveal their ignorance in this area.

       It may be that they asked Paul a question, something like, “Which are the greatest gifts?” And possibly Paul had received news as well concerning the abuse of certain gifts, especially the gift of speaking in tongues, in Corinth. We’ll reflect on this more as we work through the next couple of chapters. The point is that the Corinthians had lost sight of the fact that God gifts us not simply to bless us, but rather so that we can serve others and be a blessing to them, and so that together, we can engage the world with the Gospel.

What you were: Led astray by dumb idols (2). “When you were pagans...” That is an honest reflection on where they had come from. Not only the Corinthians, but the truth is, that is also the testimony of all of us (even if a few of you were only very young pagans!).  Paul described the truth of our spiritual past in Ephesians,

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-  ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind (Eph 2:1-3).

How is that for a hard look in the rear-view mirror?!  There was no life in us, nothing good, nothing commendable. Children of wrath! By the way the next context in Ephesians talks about God’s saving grace.  THAT is good news!

What you are: recipients and discerners of truth (3)!  It seems clear that Paul is not saying only believers can mouth the words “Jesus is Lord.”  Remember Jesus himself said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘lord, lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven” (Matt 7:21). The point isn’t saying the words, the point is making the confession, and believing it.   Believing in Christ means acknowledging that He is who He claimed to be, God the Son, and trusting in what He did as our only hope of salvation. HE is building His church, and every believer is sovereignly endowed with a special ability to carry out a part of God’s program, for the glory of God.

II. God’s Design: Unity in Diversity (4-6).

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 

Father, Son, and Spirit, in unity, empower the ministry of the church. The wording here is amazing. We see three parallel lines expressing the unity of God’s design and the diversity of gifts He gives.  We also see that God himself is the ultimate example of unity in diversity.  Reflect on this: Three persons, one God, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. We see here the Godhead, fully involved in gifting and empowering believers for ministry. 

       The unity of God is a biblical foundation. The “shema” of Judaism states it emphatically, “The Lord is our God, the Lord is one...” [or, “The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!”] (Deuteronomy 6:4). We are not polytheists, we believe in one God. But the Bible sets for diversity in the Godhead, The Father is God, The Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son, and the Spirit is not the Father, and the Son is not the Spirit. God is one. Three persons, one God. The doctrine of the Triune God is mysterious, but it is unambiguous, orthodox Christianity. Somehow that unity is also expressed among God’s people. Remember that Jesus prayed to the Father for the church saying “...that they may be one, as we are one...” (John 17:11). We are one body, but each of us is unique, each of us has been “shaped” by God to carry out a specific role in his church.

[Remember Warren’s acrostic, S.H.A.P.E., that is, “Spritual gifts, Heart’s desire, Abilities,  Personality, and Experiences,” all of these orchestrated intentionally by the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe! He providentially guided the circumstances of your life from before you were born.  He has been shaping you into exactly what he wanted you to be so that you can most effectively fulfill your part in His mission.  And, then, when you came to faith, He gave you a specific spiritual gift(s) so that you would have what was needed to carry out your role in His church].

Gifts are given for ministry to the body and outreach.

First, 12:4 speaks of the Spirit giving gifts, charisma – Graciously given enablement for service. That is the general theme of this section of the letter. They are “gifts,” and as such God alone decides what he will give. He has a plan for each of us. He is the Potter, we are the clay. And He is molding us into exactly the kind of “pot” He wants us to be.

The next line in 12:5 speaks of varieties of service, diakonia. Paul is talking about the same gifts, but here is emphasizing what we do with our gifts. They aren’t trophies for the shelf. They aren’t crowns to put on our head.  They are given to us to serve others. They are for the benefit of others. Gifts don’t bring us praise or applause, at least they shouldn’t. It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus. As our gifts are used for the building up of the saints and the reaching of the lost, they bring glory to GOD.   

            The third line, it seems to me, emphasizes empowerment for mission – The third parallel line has a diversity of translations! A variety of “activites,” “effects,” or “workings.”  The word here is energema [the source of our English word, “energy”).  The New Living Translation paraphrases, “God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” God works in us, and He works through us! The idea seems to be that these gifts are used by God as He is accomplishing His will in us and as he works out His mission through us.  Jesus is building his church, and every believer is sovereignly endowed with a special ability to carry out a part of God’s program, for the glory of God.

III. God’s Purpose—Diversity by design for the common good (7-11).

⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  ⁸ To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  ¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

       To whom: “To each is given...” Not a few, not just the super spiritual, not the ones with a Bible college or seminary degree, certainly not just to pastors or evangelists, but “to each is given...” That means every one of us, every believer, is spiritually equipped by God to have a part in building up the church and reaching the world!  Listen God hasn’t missed any one of us! He has intentionally brought us together in this body and each one of us has a gift to use for the benefit of others and for the carrying out of our mission. Do you believe that?  What is your part in the mission of this church? 

       What is given: “A manifestation of the Spirit...” The working of spiritual gifts is something that can be seen, something that is evident. It is clear that it is God’s work and not merely human effort. The wind blows, we hear it, but we don’t see it. We see the branches move, or the leaves carried along, or the sail filled, but we don’t actually see the wind. It is manifested, or shown, in what is happening. The same is true in the working of the Spirit in our midst. We might not all discern where the Spirit is working all the time, but some will, in fact many will see it. Because God is manifesting himself through his work in and through his people. It is not about entertainment, it is about God’s presence and God’s work, and ultimately God’s glory.

       Why they are given: “...for the common good...” For the body to function properly, all of the parts have to be in place and in working order. My youngest brother has been out of work for weeks, dealing with some kind of circulation problem and infection in his toes on one foot!  99% of his body is fine, but he can barely walk, can’t drive, can’t sleep, just because of his toes!

       Many of these gifts mentioned here appear to have been gifts of speaking: utterance, languages...  Some speak of miracles of healings.  Someone will ask, why don’t we see these gifts being practiced in the same way in the church today?  God is sovereign. He gives the gifts we need when we need them! For one thing, the so-called “revelatory gifts” aren’t necessary in the same way today. Why? Because we have God’s Word in its complete form, we have the entire Bible, the Old and New Testaments. All scripture is “God-breathed,” and is profitable, for instruction, for correction, for training in righteousness, that we might be complete, mature, and equipped for the work God has for us to do (cf. 2 Tim 3:16,17).

        Notice by whom the gifts are given, by “...one and the same Spirit...  as He wills...”  We are not the architect. God is. He is the designer. He is the captain of this ship.  He gives gifts as he wills. And He is in charge.  We’ll read a little further on, in v.18, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose...”

What is God saying to me in this passage?  Jesus is building his church, and every believer is sovereignly endowed with a special ability to carry out a part of God’s program, for the glory of God.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Before you can concern yourself with your spiritual gift(s) you have to be certain that you have received the greatest gift of all. Paul said “...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...” (Rom 6:23b).  Have you received that gift through faith in Christ?  Have you believed in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for your sins, and that he was raised again the third day?  Have you put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation? The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved...” (Rom 10:9,10). Faith is believing God, taking Him at His word. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give to them eternal life and they shall never perish...” Have you heard the Shepherd’s voice? Trust Him, follow Him!

       When we trust in Jesus we receive a new life, and this passage makes it clear that if we receive that life we are gifted by Him for service. Believer, have you discerned your spiritual gift(s)? How are you using that gift in this church?  Visiting shut ins and the elderly?  Giving rides to appointments or even to church? Using your skills with the computer or on the sound board?  Would you be interested in hosting or even leading a small group?  We’ll give you the help you need to gt started with that.  Perhaps teaching or helping with Sunday School, children’s church or nursery?  How about having a part in our new Sunday night youth meeting? There are plenty of needs and plenty of opportunities.  

       By the way, we are talking about “intergenerational ministry.” This applies to our children’s ministries as well as to working with our junior high and high school students. One of the main reasons that youth don’t stay in church after they graduate from high school is that all they know of the church is the youth leader and the youth ministry. We want our teens to value the church and to know that Jesus wants them present and involved. A key step for that to happen is for them to know that several of us know them and care about them, and we are on their team. We’ll be looking for opportunities to make those connections. Often it is through involvement, after “trying out” a ministry, that we discover our gifts and God moves us to want to serve Him. God has chosen you for His team. And He has given you exactly what you need to do your part. This body will be most effective in carrying out its mission if we each are obedient and available for God to use. Think about that, AMEN.

A Time for Worship: The Table of the Lord I Corinthians 11:17-34

“The Table of the Lord”

I Corinthians 11:17-34

Introduction: In God’s providence, this week we come to this passage dealing with communion. A key phrase repeated in the context is “When you come together...”  The text begins and ends with multiple references to “coming together” as believers for worship.  The text is asking us an important question: What is our attitude as we gather for worship?  Think about what this gathering represents: sinful humans, because of the death of Jesus, joining together and approaching the holy, majestic, creator of the universe! What grace! As we reflect on His grace we are driven to examine our hearts, and to come in humility and with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. The Gospel has to always be in our hearts and on our minds, filling us with thanksgiving and wonder at the grace of God, and motivating us to bring Him glory as we carry out the mission He has entrusted to us.

       The ordinances he left us remind us of the Gospel Story. Baptism points to our cleansing from sin, and our unity with Christ in His death and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of God’s plan of redemption, carried out through the sacrifice of the One who was sinless, the One who willingly laid down His life for His sheep.  In the earliest days of the church, “Communion” was an outward sharing, a fellowship, that demonstrated the unity of the body (see Acts 2:42-46). Some in Corinth had lost track of the spiritual and were focusing on the temporal, on their flesh. We need an attitude check when we come together for worship. We need to guard our hearts.

The Big Idea:  All worship, including the Lord’s Table, is an opportunity to focus on Jesus, to lift up His name, and to celebrate His amazing grace.

I. The Sin of Selfishness (17-22): It’s not all about me!

“¹⁷ But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.  ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,  ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.  ²⁰ When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.  ²¹ For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.  ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not” (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).

       Paul had just commended the Corinthians in 11:2 for remembering him and for holding to his teaching (17-19). But now he has some things to instruct them about, some areas where they needed to be corrected. He begins, “...But in the following instructions I do not commend you...”  It is always easier to receive commendation than correction. But every one of us needs to be humble enough to realize that we have more to learn, room to grow, and areas that need correction!  Remember Paul’s words to the Philippians,  “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own...” (Philippians 3:12). If Paul had not yet arrived, I think we can recognize the same is true for the rest of us!  God isn’t finished with me yet! How about you?

       “...when you come together as a church...” Paul uses the phrase “come together” several times in this passage, three times toward the beginning of the passage (vv.17,18,20) and a couple of more times toward the end (vv.33,34), like bookends that tie together this teaching on this ordinance.  In fact in all of Paul’s letters he only uses sunerchomai seven times, all in I Corinthians, and five of the seven right here (the other two are in the near context, in I Corinthians 14:23,26).  This is the coming together of believers as a local body, the assembly.  Notice he says, “...when you come together as a church...”

       The church is not a building, it is God’s people, the believers in Jesus.  The word “church” itself, ekklesia, is used in the Septuagint to describe the “assembly” or coming together of the Old Testament people of God. The root comes from words that express the idea of being “called out.” The Jews were called out of Egypt and ultimately brought into the Promised Land. We too are set free from slavery and called into a new life (see Eph 2:1-4). We’ll see a lot about the church in this section of I Corinthians, but it never refers to a building. Sometimes it refers to the universal church, all believers in Jesus where ever they are (as in “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for her...”). Most often it is used of the believers in a particular place, under the leadership of a plurality of elders, as in “the church at Corinth” (or “the church in Boothbay!”).  Here Paul uses the word to describe the meeting together of the people of God for worship, instruction, and mutual encouragement.

       The first thing to notice here is that Paul understands and assumes that the Corinthians were regularly coming together. They were doing that because of v.2, they had learned from Paul certain things about the life of the body and they were at least doing that correctly. That is not something that we can assume with believers everywhere and at all times. In fact the writer to the Hebrews had to warn,

“...²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near...” (Hebrews 10:24,25).

At least the Corinthians got that right!  They were coming together on a regular basis!  Unfortunately their hearts were so carnal they were doing more harm than good! [Side note: We need to guard against thinking that we can be independent from the church, thinking that we don’t need other believers.  I’ve heard it said, “I can read my Bible and pray at home.” Or “I worship as I listen to Christian music in my car.”  Great.  You should be doing those things. But God has ordained the church. He calls elders to shepherd the flock. He gifts Pastors and teachers to equip us for ministry and mission. And he gifts all of us so that we can encourage and build each other up, and carry out the mission He has entrusted to us]. As Paul goes on in chapters 12-14 to talk about spiritual gifts he will make the point that we are interdependent, we need one another. That is God’s design for the church. That means times of public worship. It means times of dedicated prayer. It means committing ourselves to using our gifts for the edification of others and for the effective carrying out of the mission He has entrusted to us.

       “...there are divisions among you...” (v.18). The word “division” comes from the Greek word, schisma (the source of our English word “schism”). It comes from a word that literally meant “to tear, rip apart,” and came to have the sense “division.” The church is one, positionally, but sadly we don’t always live like it!  That was the problem in Corinth. Some of the “division” was along economic lines, rich and poor, the “haves” and the “have nots.”   

       The root problem: selfishness! Verses 20-22 express what was going on. In Corinth it seems the communion was being shared at a common meal, and apparently it was not a typical “pot luck”! Each brought their own and fed their own. Some were eating filet mignon and others were going hungry! The result was separating the wealthy from the poor, and Paul is saying that ought not to be! Think about this moment of the table and how inappropriate it is for us to be thinking only about ourselves, to be ignoring the needs of others. We are remembering Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant...  He demonstrated the supreme act of selflessness, He laid down his life for his friends! All of us. Jew and Greek, male and female, rich and poor, we are all one in Christ Jesus. The ground is level at the Cross. So...

       It’s not about me, because I am not worthy. It’s about Jesus, about His sacrifice which is of infinite worth.  He is the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for His sheep. All worship, including the Lord’s Table, is an opportunity to focus on Him, to lift up His name, and to celebrate His amazing grace.

II. The Sacrifice of the Servant (23-26): It is all about Jesus!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,  ²⁴ 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."  ²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."  ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he come” (11:23-26).

       Paul begins by reminding them of the tradition he had taught them. He received it and he taught it to them. Jesus himself had gathered around a table with the twelve that Passover eve. He took the familiar elements from the table, and explained to them that this would be a constant reminder to them, and to generations of believers after them, of what was about to happen. Note that Paul was not there with the twelve, but he received this teaching “...from the Lord.” As with the gospel he preached (see Galatians 1:1-12) Paul received revelation from Christ himself concerning the upper room and the last supper. He had taught these things during his time in Corinth, and now it was necessary to remind them.

       There is no instruction here about how often it should be done, simply the reminder of our attitude when we come, and the significance of the ordinance. The danger of repeating something like this in the context of worship is that it can become tradition, recited from memory, something we do because we have always done it. This explanation is a reminder to help us avoid falling into that sin. Think of it: we are remembering facts of history.  2,000 years are not such a long time. The “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem was part of the foundation of the Temple, is older. So are the Pyramids in Egypt—much older.  Yes, for 2,000 years the church has continued this ordinance, inaugurated by Jesus that last Passover, remembering the events to which it points. There is no historical doubt about the facts: Jesus lived, and taught, and that he was betrayed and crucified. And by the way there is no doubt that he rose again the third day. These are facts of history.  Jesus was the only human born without sin, and who never sinned. Yet he suffered a criminal’s death, and in some sense, God laid our iniquities on Him (see Isaiah 53:6), He bore our sins in His body on the tree.  

       The Bread and the Body (v.24). Paul recalls the actions and teachings of Jesus that night in the upper room. There is a lot of discussion among theologians about what Jesus meant by his words. The Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (and the similar Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation) implies a literal transformation of the elements into the body and blood of the Lord. For the Roman church it even goes on to talk about the sacrament as a sacrifice, as though Christ is being offered again. But think about it, as Jesus spoke to his disciples, the cross hadn’t yet happened! He was physically present with them. They could not and would not have thought of a literal presence of his body (or blood) in the elements. It was clearly a symbol.

        The Cup and the Blood. Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood...” As Jesus taught the disciples, He knew exactly what would happen the next day. It was typical for a sacrifice to seal a covenant. Remember Abraham’s vision in Genesis 15, as God confirmed His promise to Abraham he ordered to sacrifice a heifer, a female goat, a ram, a turtle dove, and a pigeon, and to divide their carcasses in two. And then as a deep sleep fell on Abraham he saw God pass through the pieces in theophany. He made a covenant. He committed himself to fulfill his promises to Abraham. Jesus said the cup pointed to His blood, which would seal the New Covenant.

       Look back, and look ahead! 11:26 makes it clear that we look back as we partake of this meal, we proclaim the Lord’s death. We reflect, we commemorate, we celebrate, what He did for us. And we’ll keep doing that “until He comes.” This is a normal part of our obedience to Him. A kind of object lesson to remind us of the foundation of our faith. We pause at the table, and remember the one act in history that made it possible for sinful humans to be reconciled to God. The Lamb was slain for sinners! The fact that we have this ordinance as an ongoing reminder, “until He comes,” should light a fire under us, it should remind us of the urgency of the mission He has entrusted to us.  All worship, including the Lord’s Table, is an opportunity to focus on Jesus, to lift up His name, and to celebrate His amazing grace.

                                    

III. A Season for Self-examination (27-34). “But let a man examine himself...”

“²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.  ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.  ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.  ³¹ But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.  ³² But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.  ³³ So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another-  ³⁴ if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home- so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come” (11:27-34).

       Notice that v.27 doesn’t say that we must be worthy to come to the table. Paul is talking about the manner in which we come. We see the call here is to examine our heart, our motivations, and to come.  It is the manner of our coming and participating that is in question. Is our attitude one of reflection, one of consideration, one of recognizing the price that was paid so that we could have peace with God?  The Table presents an opportunity to reflect on the Gospel and to respond with thanksgiving and worship. Do we grasp the grace of it all, the totally unmerited, undeserved, favor of God? Does that overwhelm you? It should! If we are participating simply ritualistically, by rote, without reflection, because it’s what we always do on a first Sunday of the month, we had better take heed to the warning Paul is giving. That applies not only to the ordinance, but to all of our corporate worship.  In the context Paul has spoken about the divisions in the church—the body which should be one, unified, under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We should be overwhelmed by God’s grace, the forgiveness He has extended toward us in Christ, and we should be consumed not with what God can do for us, but with the privilege of being included in what He is doing in the world!

       We dare not overlook the warning implicit in v.30. It seems certain Paul is talking about the chastening God brings to believers who enter this solemn act of worship lightly, hypocritically, without reflecting and responding to the Gospel of Grace. Read vv. 29-30 again,

²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.  ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

That is sobering language! We know the language of chastening in the New Testament. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives...” (Hebrews 12:6).  We know that God convicts us when we sin, we sense the guilt and immediately feel a godly sorrow. Usually. What happens if we stubbornly persist in willful disobedience? It seems that some of the Corinthians experienced sickness, and even, when they persisted in their sin, some “slept.” That can only mean that the Lord took them home rather than allowing them to continue in sin. Our God is an awesome God! Fear Him, and Love Him!

What is God saying to me in this passage?  All worship, including the Lord’s Table, is an opportunity to focus on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to lift up His name, and to celebrate His amazing grace.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? In God’s perfect timing, this week, we come to this passage. It is a first Sunday and we will be celebrating the Lord’s Table. We are worthy to come only because of Jesus, if we have trusted in Him as our only hope for forgiveness and life. As the song says, “Not because of who I am, but because of what You’ve done. Not because of what I’ve done [that would only earn judgment and death!] but because of who You are!”  We need to understand the doctrine of grace, and come in humility and with a heart full of gratitude. To come in an unworthy manner is something that we don’t want to do. It is a time for reflection, for remembering the price that was paid.  Jesus himself prayed in the upper room, “That they might be one, as we are one.” Is there something that is keeping you from experiencing the “oneness” Christ intended for the church? It is a time for confession, a time for turning away from the sin that so easily besets us. It is a time for worship.  Prepare your heart to celebrate Him!      AMEN.