Labor Way Weekend
Divisions destroy churches. Whether it’s cliques, favoritism, or factions tied to different leaders, Christ didn’t design His church to splinter like this.
Senior Pastor David Rose takes us to 1 Corinthians 11 to show three foundational truths the apostle Paul shared with a divided congregation in Corinth. What he said then speaks today: God designed the church to gather in unity. The gospel demands that we labor together. And the Lord’s Table reminds us that Christ died for all of us equally. He rose for all of us equally. His work at the cross levels every playing field.
This is a message for anyone who has felt left out, overlooked, or too different to truly belong. It’s also for anyone who’s unconsciously created distance between themselves and their church family. The Table has a way of changing both.
Key Takeaways
- God says the church should gather in unity. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)
- God uses Jesus as the agent of unification. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
- God calls His people to examine themselves. (1 Corinthians 11:27-34)
- God wants the church to do the work of maturity. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)
Discussing and Applying the Sermon
- Take a minute to read verses 17–22. Describe what Paul is criticizing about how the Corinthians were gathering. Jot down your answer. Who was he addressing?
- Look at verses 20–21. What does Paul mean when he says, “When you come together, it’s not to eat the Lord’s Supper”? What were they doing instead?
- In verses 17–22, Paul mentions divisions multiple times. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10–13 (earlier in this same letter, where Paul addresses the same issue). What does that passage tell you about what kinds of divisions were happening in Corinth?
- Now read verses 23–26. What exactly did Jesus say about His body and blood? Write down the specific words Christ used.
- Reread verse 24. Jesus said: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” What does it mean to remember Him? Is remembrance just thinking about the past, or does it involve something more? Write out your thoughts.
- Read verses 27–32. Paul says those who eat and drink “without recognizing the body” eat judgment on themselves. What did Pastor David say about this? What is Paul talking about here?
- Verse 28 says: “Let a person examine himself.” What kind of self-examination is Paul calling for here? What should we be asking ourselves before we come to the Table?
- Read verse 33. What does Paul say to do? How does this instruction relate to everything he’s been saying about divisions?
- Read the entire passage again (verses 17–34). In one sentence, what’s the main point Paul is making about the Lord’s Supper?
In one sentence, what’s the main point Paul is making about the church’s unity? - Think about our church gathering. What creates separation between people? What would it look like for your church to gather in real unity? What would change?
- Paul says the Table is a reminder and a proclamation. We’re actively reminding each other of Christ’s work. We’re proclaiming it to the world. How do divisions keep us from doing both of those things effectively?