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Sunday, Nov 15

The Beauty of the Body

The text

1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 • Communion Verses 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Quote

“Paul is addressing how something that was intended to pull people together was actually pushing people apart”

Dialogue

Corner Church Survey: How comfortable are you at each of these types of gatherings? Rate each gathering on a scale
from 0 to 7: 0 • I feel extremely uncomfortable and out of place 7 • I feel completely comfortable and at ease

Dialogue

What stands out to you when you compare your scores with those of the people around you?

Dialogue

How much is your comfort in a situation your responsibility and how much is your comfort the responsibility of others?

Dialogue

What is happening within a person that makes them particularly good or bad at helping others feel comfortable in different situations or environments?

Quote

“Believe it or not, being personally comfortable is not a requirement for a situation or relationship to be healthy. AND Believe it or not, making others comfortable is not a requirement for a situation or relationship to be healthy.”

Scripture

Luke 5:12-13 • Jesus heals and with leprosy 12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Believe it or not, being personally comfortable is not a requirement for a situation or relationship to be healthy.

Scripture

Mark 10:17-22 • ​​The Rich and the Kingdom of God 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Believe it or not, making others comfortable is not a requirement for a situation or relationship to be healthy.

Dialogue

What stands out about Jesus’ character in His willingness to experience discomfort Himself and to challenge others to face discomfort?

Quote

“Paul calls out the people in the church in Corinth: The Corinthians are gathering to celebrate the unity, sacrifice, and grace of Jesus while treating one another in ways that demonstrate division, selfishness, and disregard for each other.”

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:17 • More harm than good 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.  The gathering reinforced distinctions between those who had resources and those who didn't.  (1 Corinthians 11:22)

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:21-22 • Lord’s Supper was not about Jesus 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

Quote

“They are participating in the symbols of Jesus' sacrifice while refusing to demonstrate the heart of Jesus' sacrifice toward one another.”

Dialogue

What happens when religious activities become expressions of focusing on ourselves rather than focusing on Christ?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:23a • From the Lord 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you

Dialogue

What are the risks and rewards of having Christ be the focus of religious activities?

Quote

“From the Corner Church Ethos: WE - Corner Church strives to redefine Christianity and God's character for people who have negative connotations of church, Christ, and Christians, because the Church has often failed in its representation of Christ. The way that happens is through loving relationship with one another.”

Dialogue

Inside and outside of our Corner Church gatherings, how can we be intentional in uniting people as we focus on Christ?

Take it deeper

Carry the message through your week

Additional reading

  • 1 Corinthians 11
  • Luke 22
  • John 13
  • Acts 2
  • James 2
  • Galatians 3
  • Ephesians 2

Questions to sit with

  1. Question 1

    Read Luke 22:14–27.

  2. Question 2

    What family, church, or cultural tradition has helped communicate belonging or honor to you?

  3. Question 3

    In 1 Corinthians 11:2–16, how do verses 11–12 challenge attempts to use differences between men and women to claim independence or superiority?

  4. Question 4

    Why does Paul say that the Corinthians’ gatherings were doing more harm than good? What made their meal different from the Lord’s Supper?

  5. Question 5

    In the context of the chapter, what might it mean to “discern the body”? How does this involve more than privately examining personal sin?

  6. Question 6

    How are you challenged, focused, encouraged, and/or confused by this text?

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