Communion (1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 33-34)
If you slightly graze one fella at the gym while you’re swimming, he stops swimming and starts screaming at you. Four of us were swimming in the three lanes a few days ago—a guy and I were sharing the middle lane. When one man got out and left an empty lane, the guy swimming beside me got in that lane.
Well, in walked Mr. Rude. He began screaming and told the guy who had just switched lanes to get back in the lane with me. My friend said he was happy to share lanes, but Mr. Rude just kept yelling for him to get back over where he belonged.
You’ve never known selfish folks, have you? You never had a coworker who was happy to help himself to people’s lunches. You’ve never been in traffic and had people cut you off because they’re more important than you. Your kids never fought over the same toy. You’ve never had someone let his dog mess in your yard and not clean it up.
But, if you want to meet some selfish folks, meet the Corinthians. The rich there turned the Lord’s Supper into a lavish meal and refused to share with the poor. The Lord’s Supper became about them, not about Jesus. Paul reminded the Corinthians: “Communion is sharing together.”
Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 33-34)
verses 17-22:
The Corinthian church was so deeply divided at the Lord’s Supper that they turned the Eucharist into a farce rather than a memorial to Jesus.
The church was divided into two groups at the Lord’s Supper: the rich and the poor. The rich ate to their hearts’ content, while the poor went hungry. Churches met in the homes of individual members; obviously, the wealthier members of the church had larger homes for roomier meeting places.
When wealthy folks in the Roman Empire invited people to a meal, they served members of their own social class in the best room, and they gave them excellent food and wine. In an adjourning, inferior room the host seated people of lower social classes, and the host provided them with substandard food and wine. But, the lower class folks were arranged so that they peered into the nice room: they were forced to watch the rich people eat and drink in luxury. From Paul’s words, that was likely taking place in the Corinthian church.
verses 33-34:
When the church came together, they were to “wait for one another.” In other words, the rich needed to share with the poor. Instead of gorging themselves at the Lord’s Supper, the rich were to eat at home if they were hungry—that way, there would be plenty of food to share with the poor.
In the church, financial distinctions do not matter matter. James condemned partiality based on who was richer: James 2:1-9. God’s faithful children demonstrate love when they come together: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1); the context of those words is Christian worship.
Application
“Communion is sharing together.” We don’t have a potluck at the Lord’s Supper, so how does this text apply today?
One: Social
To be Social, you must assemble as a church. “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. . . . When you come together to eat, wait for one another” (1 Cor 11:17-18, 33). “On the first day of the week, . . . we were gathered together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
On the first day of the week, the church is Social. In fact, the word church in Greek means assembly, and Scripture uses the word to mean the first day of the week assembly: “In church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Cor 14:19). You cannot stay home whenever you feel like it, for you aren’t doing the very thing—viz., assembling—that makes you the church.
How Social are you? Do you assemble habitually on the Lord’s Day? Are you pained when you must absolutely miss? Do you assemble, even if you don’t feel absolutely the best, because you know this is where you need to be?
Two: Sharing
The church is Sharing, for the church participates with one another. “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?” (1 Cor 11:21-22). You don’t need to be a genius to read between the lines—Paul said, “You rich folks share with the poor.”
Scripture teaches you to be Sharing. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44). “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:34-35).
What can you share with others in this church? If you’re healthy, what can you share with the sick? If you have more of this world’s goods, what can you share with those who have less? Can you share your love with your brothers and sisters? Can you pray for one another?
Three: Solidarity
The Lord’s Supper demonstrates Solidarity, for we’re all doing the same thing at the same time: “So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another” (1 Cor 11:33). When we sing, we hit different notes; when we give, we give different amounts; when we pray, we’re each silently praying different prayers; when I’m preaching, each one of you perceives things a little differently. However, when we take the Lord’s Supper, we’re each taking the bread and the wine, and we’re doing it together.
How much Solidarity, though, exists in this church? Do you have an interpersonal conflict with someone who worships here? Do you still remember what someone said fifteen years ago? Do you share the juiciest gossip you just heard? Do you pray for your brethren in this congregation? Do you willingly serve members of this congregation?
Conclusion
“Communion is sharing together.” If communion is going through the motions rather than feeling the emotions, you will face divine judgment: “If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment” (1 Cor 11:34). You’ve assembled this morning: Was it for worship, or was it for judgment?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.