4 NEW ATTITUDES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE – Sundays Are Meant For Worship
1 Corinthians 11:17-30 (p. 799) January 11, 2015
Introduction:
I’ve noticed something about people...or at least some people...They do not have a filter that tells them, “Don’t say this now.”
Listen, I understand the urgency of getting things done...the importance of not forgetting stuff. And I am not a procrastinator. I’d be somewhat the opposite. If it’s on my plate, I want to deal with it quickly.
But there are times we need to focus on what is really important. There are times when we need to “wait” to communicate information...because it will change the hearts and minds of the speaker and the listeners of those words.
And one of the most important focuses of the child of God is genuine worship of their father.
It’s where we declare His worth...Literally from the words Worth-ship “worship” to ascribe worth!!!
“You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev. 4:11) p. 863)
In heaven, the 24 Elders lay their crowns before God and worship Him with these words.
Worship keeps God in the proper place of worth in the life of the worshippers. Where is that place?
On the throne. Where He has always been and where He will always be. Worship helps us remember it...and prioritize it.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:8)
Those who worship God in heaven know God is Holy and Mighty. He always has been, He is right now. And he will be forever.
If you want an attitude that will readjust your stagnant spirituality, and put God back on the throne of your life and your family’s life...choose this one.
I. SUNDAYS ARE MEANT FOR WORSHIP
Corinth was a messy place to worship.
The body of Christ had been divided by cliques and favoritism. Paul even began his first letter with this appeal:
1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17 (p. 793)
If you want to empty the cross of its power in the church...just start quarrelling about who God likes more. Start worshipping people more than the gospel. Ascribe more worth to Peter, than Paul. And make baptism more important than real repentance, or confessing Christ as Lord. Or make it about who baptized you instead of a death, burial, and resurrection. That’s how you can empty the cross of its worth.
And the Corinthians did it over and over again. Many times we do as well.
We get so caught up in our own agendas and priorities. You know, the people and things that are important to us. And sometimes those things and those people become more important than our mission, the gospel. Don’t believe me?
Try stopping a ministry or mission that isn’t effective, but has people involved in the ownership of it...especially if it’s “certain” people.
In Corinth I want you to notice what was happening in the church on Sundays. On the day that worth, and focus should have been directed at God...look at where it was directed.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-19 (p. 799)
Notice the Corinthians weren’t focused on the cross on Sundays, even during the Lord’s Supper, their focus was on their differences...“the haves and the have nots.”
Those who could have their “private suppers” (closed door meetings) and those who had nothing, weren’t invited.
Sundays become meetings that did more harm than good...because each time they got together the body became more and more divided.
Any “private” supper meeting that takes place in the church does more harm than good...whether it’s a Sunday feast or a small clique.
How can you identify such a supper club....in the same way Paul did at Corinth.
It’s to connect certain people...not the body of Christ. Ask the people who have never been invited...they know exactly what this means.
Smaller, house to house groups are essential if we want to grow in Christ, but when they stop producing disciple makers and start becoming “US” focused, then they do more harm than good...and as Paul said, “shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” (v. 22)
One of the greatest lies of Satan to followers of Christ is: “You’ve grown to the point you don’t need to worship anymore.”
“Do something really important on Sundays...teach, sing, play an instrument, count the money, welcome people...but don’t unite yourself with believers who will come around the throne and around the table to focus on God’s worth!”
Do this long enough and arrogance and isolation replace humility and worship.
Honestly...I don’t want anyone teaching my children or grandchildren who do not understand the holiness and worth of God...and do not teach them with their example what it means to worship, the God they know intimately in Spirit and in truth...Jesus said, “These are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)
Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is spirit (lower case “s”) and His worshippers, must worship in Spirit (capital “S”) and in truth.
Unless our attitude and heart is spiritually right (that’s the lower case “s”) than the Holy Spirit (capital “S”) cannot and will not partner with us in worship.
Maybe that’s why Paul says:
II. ONENESS IS WHAT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS ALL ABOUT
[I’ll never forget the Thanksgiving meal when my aunt, a devout liberal said something that my father, a purple heart veteran, conservative, couldn’t just ignore. Usually he could, this one he couldn’t. He passionately disagreed...and it got silent. The division hung over the meal like a fog. It wasn’t my favorite Thanksgiving, except that I learned about my dad’s passionate priorities.]
Church is “people.” I’ve done church in a field, an ex-bowling alley in New Orleans, a hut in Haiti, a pavilion in the Dominican Republic, and a 50 million dollar facility.
God always designed His church to be a family. Paul even says in verse 33 “So then my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat you should all eat together.
Brothers and sisters...family...but I bet Sundays at Corinth were more awkward than that Thanksgiving in my family I just mentioned, don’t you?
By the way...at these meals it seems there’s always a “drunk.” (see verse 21)
Filled with Satan’s spirit instead of the Holy One....It’s a poor alternative.
Please understand there are 2 different meals taking place in Corinth that Paul is addressing. But it seems they’ve melded into a disfigured monster.
The Corinthians aren’t meeting in a fancy building like ours. They are meeting from house to house like Stephanas mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:16. I’m not sure how many believes there were in Corinth...hundreds? I don’t know, but in the early days of the church in Acts 2...there were thousands...growing quickly to 5 thousand. They met in a portion of the temple called “Solomon’s porch”...and they met from house to house.
But church life extended waaaaaaaay beyond Sundays.
Listen:
ACTS 2:44-47 (p. 759)
There’s no reason not to believe that Corinth didn’t follow the early church’s example. Meeting in the synagogues and in homes. But church wasn’t about where for them, it was about who. They praised God in worship and it brought “Favor from all people.” (believer and unbeliever alike). So much so, God used their influence to save people “daily.”
Eating together wasn’t about the food and drink. Eating together became a time of sharing life and ministry. Maybe even involving their lost neighbors and family members. And God added...The Holy Spirit convicted...people were saved “DAILY!!!”
In Corinth the body of Christ that wasn’t being remembered...the body and blood of Christ that was being treated in an unworthy manner...was their brothers and sisters in Christ, not the bread and wine.
Verse 29-31 says “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” That’s why many among you are weak and sick and a number have fallen asleep (died...not nodded off in a sermon)
For if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
Clearly Paul is talking about the body...the church here. And when you take the emblems which represent His real body while you treat your brother or sister horribly...or apathetically...there are consequences...spiritual discipline from Dad.
He disciplines us this way so we will not be judged in the same way as the world. Which selfishly loves some people more than other people!
By the way this scripture has nothing to do with whether we should have potlucks or not. It’s not a legalistic prohibition against meals together. Clearly Jesus and the early church loved meals together.
It’s about priorities. It’s about worship and worth.
Jesus had a goal which drove His ministry, His death on the cross...and gave meaning to His resurrection from death. It’s what He prayed for. You know what it was?
JOHN 17:6-11 (p. 754)
This is our Lord’s prayer...it’s why He came, it’s why He died...it’s what makes the hope of the resurrection powerful.
“So they may be one (father) as you and I are one!” (v. 16)
Worship, including the Lord’s super, is all about His death for our sins. It’s what we’re supposed to proclaim each time we partake of it. It binds His followers together like spiritual glue. It’s a gathering together to proclaim the worth of the One who made the unworthy – righteous. So we may be One. Just as He and the Father are one. Oneness is what the Lord’s supper is all about.
[So I’ll ask you. On Sundays when you feel like complaining about something. Or you have an agenda item you feel has to be addressed. Or if something was done that “isn’t how you would have done it. Use your “filter” and hopefully it’s the Holy Spirit who says, “I bear witness with your spirit...and because of that you cry out “Abba” Daddy... because you are God’s children (Romans 8:16)
And I will choose oneness...a bond of unity for the body of Christ over myself. I will not let the evil one divide the family of God over “supper clubs” and cliques. I will allow my heart and attitude to be shaped for worship. This is my priority...because Sundays are made for worship.
Let’s pray.
