How many think Facebook is the real world?  Virtual reality.  Meaning not quite.  And yet, isn’t it amazing how many relationships we have where the communication is pretty much through Facebook?  Or some other social media?  There is good and not so good in that.  Right?  The point is not to bash social media.

(cartoon:  Thanksgiving Day)  “Isn’t it great to see the whole family getting together.”

Ever been there?  Doesn’t it seem like that’s where many families have gone or are going.  A while back I was having a conversation with someone in the car.  The person was sitting in the back seat.  We’re talking.  Then realized they were talking to someone who wasn’t in the car.

That is a huge part of how our society interacts.  We are in danger being so connected that we’re becoming isolated from each other.  Meaningful intimate relationships are becoming less of a reality.

Think about that.  How is possible to be surrounded by so many people and yet feel so alone? 

That is a significant danger for the church - the Body of Christ.  The isolation and individualism of our society becoming how we do church.  The danger being that we can come here and do worship together - maybe even share a cup of coffee - and leave without ever having experienced a meaningful relationship with anyone.

Body parts don’t live very long when they’re isolated from the body.  Same is true spiritually.  To be the Body of Christ means being connected together in Christ.  We need to gather - meaningfully - regularly - together.  Essential for us is the community and communion Jesus gives to us as His Body. 

Not too long ago I shared an article with some of the folks here written by a pastor Jason Johansen.  The title of the article is “Going to Church Alone.”

Jason writes, “About 10 years ago, I grew disillusioned with the church I had attended all my life.  I continued to attend, but I avoided the people there.  I kept greetings brief and conversations superficial.  I came late and left quickly after the service.  It surprised me how easy it was to hide in plain sight in church, especially when I had been active there my whole life.  What surprised me even more since then is how common this experience is.”  (1)

That’s why - on a Sunday when we’re focused on “renewal” and beginning a new season of ministry and life together - that’s why worshiping and potlucking and communioning together is so crucial.  Because isolation should never be what goes on here at Creekside or in any congregation of the Body of Christ.

This morning we’re looking at 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.  What is a familiar passage.  Paul is writing about community and communion - being the Body of Christ.  Paul is writing to a church that on the surface looked good but was deeply divided.  A church in need of the depth of relationship that is ours in Jesus but was failing to experience it.

The first part of what we’re looking at here is Paul pleading with the Corinthians to examine their relationships with others.   To take and honest look at our relationships with others in the congregation.

Would you read with me beginning at verse 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.  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, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.  For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal.  One goes hungry, another gets drunk.  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.

Let’s do some unpacking.

Paul begins:  But in the following instructions I do not commend you...  There’s no pat on the back - high five - fist bump - encouraging word that I can give you.

because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.  Your getting together is tearing you apart not growing you closer together.

For, in the first place - first on the list of what needs to be dealt with -  when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you.

Paul is in Ephesus - today that’s in western Turkey.  He’s received a letter from the Corinthian Church - in Greece - a letter giving Paul details and asking for his help with certain issues in Corinth.  In that letter he’s heard, “that there are divisions in Corinth.”

And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

Someone wrote the letter to Paul asking for help.  In contrast to the people who were caught up in what was causing division there were some who were recognizably trying to live different.

Verse 20 - Paul focuses on the point of division:  When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

Your attitude is so messed up - so divisive - that while on the outside you’re doing the act of communion - the Lord’s supper - on the inside - at the heart level where it matters - your attitude isn’t doing communion.

For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal.  One goes hungry, another gets drunk.  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, of course not.

At Corinth - before sharing communion - the Lord’s Supper - the church met for a time of prayer - preaching - praise and worship.  Then they shared a meal together - in theory a potluck - a sharing of food either in a home or outdoors - fellowship around food.  Just like we’re doing to do this morning.

But, instead of sharing their food and rejoicing together over a meal - rejoicing together over God’s provision and blessing of their lives - instead of recognizing that it was during a meal that Jesus directed His followers as to how they should remember Him - being impressed and humbled by the grace of God and His mercy extended to them - instead of sharing and rejoicing - there was a spirit of selfishness and division.  Cliques and factions dominated.  The wealthy and powerful flaunted their positions by gluttony and hoarding food in their own little groups.  The poor and the slaves were set aside and left hungry.

It would be like going first in line at a potluck and filling our plate or two with food - strategically stacking as much as we can arrange on the plate - and not really giving a rip that at the end of the line it’s pretty slim pickings.  Not caring that some at the end are doing without for the sake of those stuffing themselves at the front.  And then choosing to sit with people like us - people we get along with - and not seeing the opportunity to extend fellowship to others.

Paul says, if all you’re getting together for is to eat and drink - and focus on yourselves - if you’re not going to care for each other - if you’re going to be indifferent to the needs of those around you - stay home and spare the church. 

Paul writes:  “How can I commend you for doing something that in reality is making a mockery of the Lord’s supper and creating divisions in the congregation?”

Paul gives them an illustration - brings them back to reality - to what their heart attitude should be - Paul brings them back to Jesus.  Let’s read together starting at verse 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, 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 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.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

These are familiar verses.  Right?  But it is different to see them in the larger context of Paul’s letter.  Yes?  As an illustration of the heart level attitude of sacrificial love that we need to have coming out in our actions towards each other - even at potlucks.

A young mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age 5 and Ryan, age 4.  As they sat at the kitchen table waiting, the boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.

Their mother, seeing an opportunity for a moral lesson, reminded them, “If Jesus was sitting at our table, He would say, ‘Mom, please let my brother have the first pancake.  I can wait.’”

Kevin then turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”

What we see here in Jesus is what Paul writes in another familiar passage.  Philippians 2:  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8)   

Jesus voluntarily setting aside His prerogative to be at the head of the line - His rights - being God - voluntarily setting all that aside to take on our humanity - to go to the end of the line - to serve and to die horribly on a cross at the hands of His creation.

Jesus - on the night of His betrayal leading to the crucifixion - Jesus as He’s serving the Passover - enacting what we call communion - The Lord’s Supper - Jesus teaching about His death - Jesus is sharing that with Peter who Jesus knows will deny Him.

Jesus taught:  “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  (John 15:13) 

What’s chilling to marinate on is that Jesus is sharing all that with Judas whom He knows will betray Him.  (Luke 22:21) 

Jesus taught:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  (Matthew 5:43,44).

That’s a heart level attitude check.  Isn’t it? 

Jesus commanded us:  “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another:  just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34,35).

Back when the reformation was getting started there was a major controversy over Jesus’ words, “This is My body.”  The Lutherans understood that those words were to be taken literally - that the bread actually becomes the physical body of Jesus.  The Swiss Christians understood that those words were symbolic “this represents My body.”  There was a heated argument over the meaning of those words - an argument that went on and on and on and was damaging the Reformation.  Creating divisions in the Body of Christ.

Count von Zwingli - the leader of the Swiss group - came with a delegation to Germany - to meet with Martin Luther - to somehow heal the division.  When Luther walked into the room - where the meeting was to take place - Luther went to the table - there in the room - took a piece of chalk - and wrote across the table the Latin words “Hoc est corpus Meum” - “This is My body.”  That was his position.  Period.  Attitude.

Any time any one from the Swiss side tried to enter into a discussion Luther would quote those words “Hoc est corpus Meum.”  They never settled the controversy.  The effects of that division are still felt today. (2)

For as long as people have been people we desire to know others and to be known.  Not just superficially.  But to have relationships where people genuinely know and care about us - what moves us the heart level.  Where there are people that we know who we know will watch our backs.  Will help us up when we stumble.  And where we can do that for others.

And yet - reality check - in the places where we do life - for as long as people have been people - there is always a struggle for us to resist division - disunity - conflict.  To pull back from each other.  Which goes on around us.

All of which doesn’t change suddenly when we talk about being the church.  Isolation happens.  But in Jesus - because of Jesus - that depth of relationship is possible.  Jesus calls us to it.  Prayed for it.  And as hard as that depth of relationship may be for us we crave it.

Even with the quality of fellowship we have here at Creekside always our desire is to draw closer - deeper - together in the depth of fellowship that we were created for - that God has for us in Jesus.

What Paul is doing here in these verses is helping the Corinthians to look at their actions and so to examine their relationships with others in the church.  To do a heart level attitude check.  Examining our heart attitude in relationship with others here at Creekside.

Which brings us to the question of…  How?  How do we get there?

Any of us there yet?  Which of us can love like Jesus?  We all fall short.  We just don’t have within us what it takes to love each other like Jesus calls us to love each other.  At Church.  Or in our marriages.  Or our families.  To love others around us.  Even those who might legitimately be called our enemies.

The second part of what we’re looking at here is Paul pleading with the Corinthians to examine their relationship with God.  Which really is the answer to the “how” question.

It’s not the food.  It’s the fellowship.  Which is all about our relationship... to God.  Individually and collectively.

We need God to do this work in our hearts that we would love each other sacrificially as Jesus commands us to love each other - and by His work within us enables us to experience together as His Body.  To have that sacrificially attitude towards each other as we gather to worship or eat or receive communion or in whatever God calls us together to do as the Body of Jesus.

Let’s read together verses 27-32:  Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.  Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.  That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.  But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

That’s pretty intense.  Yes?

Jesus used elements of the Passover meal to symbolically represent His broken body and shed blood.  And as these elements are passed and shared by the Body of Christ - the church proclaims the reality of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.  Take communion in an unworthy manner - wrong heart level attitude - take communion together without sitting down together as one body in Christian fellowship with the depth of what that means - and we are as guilty as those who betrayed Jesus and sent Him to the cross.

Weakness results.  Illness.  Maybe even death.

Let’s be careful.  All physical suffering is a result of sin.  We live in a fallen world.  Thank you Adam.  Not all specific physical suffering is a result of a specific sin.  But sometimes it is.  And sometimes for our good and the good of the Body God takes people out.  I’ve seen it happen.

And sometimes death is spiritual.  We can become like zombies going through the motions of the Christian life.  But inside we are ways away from what God has for us in Christ.

It is crucial for us - coming to communion - as a community of faith - the Body of Christ - it is crucial for us to take Paul’s warning seriously.  Communion either draws us closer together or drives us apart and into condemnation.

Paul writes, “Let a person examine himself…”

The Greek word for “examine” is “dokimazeto” - which is a 2nd person singular present imperative active verb.  Which in plain English means that each of us individually must choose to do this for ourselves.

To examine means testing - discerning - an honest assessment of what’s really going on in our hearts in order to have what’s going on in our hearts what God wants going on in our hearts.

James put it this way:  “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”  (James 4:17)

In other words, if I know I need to lose weight I need to choose to go on a diet.  If I know I need to stop watching porn I need to do whatever it takes to stop watching porn.  Or smoking.  Or swearing.  Or yelling at my spouse.  Or whatever… 

If I know that I need to spend more time in quality prayer or Bible reading or discipling or being discipled or worshipping or serving God or whatever…   If I know what it is that God wants me to do then I need to choose to do it.

So many people are moving sideways through life.  It’s not that they don’t know what the right thing to do is.  It’s just that they’d rather remain in their comfort zone of pain or anger or depression or gluttony or whatever rather than choose to do what is the right thing.

The same is true spiritually.  People say, “I don’t know what the will of God is.”  God has revealed so much of His will to us in His Bible.  Just start there.  Spend time with God in prayer.

So many Christians are moving sideways through life - maybe spiritually weak - maybe spiritually dead - existing but clinging to their comfort zone of living the Christian life - piling food on their plates and hanging out with their friends - and going no where - and as Paul writes - creating division and harming the Body of Christ.

It’s not that we’re not hearing God.  We just don’t like what He’s saying.

Coming to community and communion - we gotta know the right thing to do.  Which is what?  What’s the right thing to do?  Answer:  What God wills.  The answer to our ignorance and inability to sacrificially love and be the Body of Christ is the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God our sovereign creator.

James - writes in James 4:10:  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - the ultimate example of humbling oneself before God - and God post crucifixion and death - God highly exalting Jesus.  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane prays:  “...not my will but yours...”  (Luke 22:42)

If the God wills, I live.  Or die.  Life is about… God.

The bottom line is that the answer cannot be found within us.  It must come from the sovereign God Who created us - Who wills for us to live - Who gives to us the time of our lives - Who just might have an accurate understanding of what’s really going on in our lives - and just might have the way forward we need to follow.

Chuck Swindoll writes:  “God has a standard of right living that transcends our own interests and pursuits, and He wants to guide us along a path He’s set for us.  To make that happen requires staying close to His Word and shaping our path according to its wisdom.” (3)

Meaning that whatever the cost - we’ve got to evaluate our lives by God’s word - not our habits - not our hang ups - not our wills and wants - not our comfort zone - not our traditions - not our plans and desires - not our extensive knowledge and wisdom - but to place our lives under the scrutiny of God’s word.

Paul writes, we must “judge ourselves truly” - rightly - honestly - and not to try and cover it up - or persuade ourselves that what’s there isn’t there.

Examination means looking at our heart as God looks at our heart.  To acknowledge with Him that there really is sin there.  And only, through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ can that sin be forgiven.

Examining ourselves is an act of repentance - to change our minds about wanting sin in our lives.  Choosing to do what is the will of God.

That’s what David is describing in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

That’s the heart attitude we need to have coming to communion.  “Lord, I’m sorry.  Those things are wrong.  Please forgive me.  Thank you for forgiveness.  I choose to do your will.  God, seize control of my heart, my life.  Transform me according to Your will.”  

Processing all that… 

Let’s read together verses 33 and 34:  So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—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.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another- care about each other - let them go first - this isn’t about you and your needs.

Communion - fellowship - community as the Body of Christ begins with our relationship with God.  But communion is not just coming and thinking about our relationship with God.  Communion is what we do with that relationship.  It’s how we treat others - how we live together in the Body of Christ.

During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them.  Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused.  Those who went along with the order had a much easier time.  Those who did not, endured harsh persecution.  In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp.

When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups and there was a lot of tension.  Finally they decided that the situation had to be healed.  Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat.  For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ’s commands.  Then they came together.

Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, “What did you do then?”

“We were just one,” he replied.

As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them.  Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred. (4)

Paul says that if we - as professing Christians - can go week after week and month after month doing something - living in a relationship or holding an attitude that we know is wrong - and nothing happens in us - we refuse to confess and seek to do what is right - then we’re blaspheming God - we’re eating and drinking judgment upon ourselves - and harming the Body of Christ.  And, we need to repent of this.

In a few moments we are going to enter together into an act of worship - in a very real way we are going to share - to have fellowship - communion and community with our Lord and with each other.  Let us - as Paul encourages us to do - let us use this as a time to examine ourselves - our relationship with God and others - and to make the choices He leads us to.

_________________________

1. “Going To Church Alone” - Jason Johansen, Leadership Journal, Fall 2013

2. Cited by Ray Stedman in his sermon “Avoiding Congregational Gangrene”

3. Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on James, 1 and 2 Peter - Zondervan, 2010, page 99

4. Francis Shaeffer - from our Our Daily Bread, October 4, 1992

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.