1 Corinthians Week 9 • 1 Corinthians 11

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Good morning. If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to 1 Corinthians chapter 11

1 Corinthians 11 · chapter mention

is where we will be today. I want to remind y'all and reinforce a couple of announcements that we

just had, but tonight we will have a meeting for everyone who is interested in being a part of

our Circle of Welcome team as we will be adopting a refugee family that is coming here to the United

States from somewhere in the world. We don't know exactly where this family will come until they're

assigned to us or given to us, but we're looking forward to that. And so this evening, if you've

already signed up to be a part of this, or if you've just got questions and you want to find out more of

what it's about, we'll be meeting at 630 in building two in room 200. And so that's the first room there

on the right as you walk in. And so I look forward to all of you who were interested to be there. I'm

going to share some information, but largely just have an opportunity for you guys to ask questions

about what this ministry will look like. Also, today is the last Sunday to get marriage conference

tickets that'll be this coming weekend. And so I would love for you to join us. We're really excited.

We're excited as a staff. Aaron and I are excited as a couple to walk through this weekend with you

guys to walk through this in our own marriage and to see all that God is going to do and how God's

going to bless us. And so it's going to be a wonderful, wonderful time. This is for newly married

couples. This is for couples thinking about getting married. This is for couples that have been married

for a while and you're in the thick of it with your teenagers. And this is for couples who have been

married for a lot longer than I've been married. All right. It's going to be for all of us. And so

I would love for you to be able to join us. Well, as the pollen on my windshield reminded me this

morning, in spite of the 42 degrees, it is springtime, which means Easter is going to be here

before you know it. And so we've got these little printouts on, I think there's two on each row that

are there. And so this is just an opportunity for you to grab this and throw this on your refrigerator.

Well, last year we did a couple of different things that seem to resonate with our church family.

And so we're going to continue on with some of those and add some different dynamics to it as well.

And so this Easter, April 17th, we're going to have an 8 a.m. We thought about calling it a sunrise

service, but let's be honest, the sun's been up long before then. All right. And so an 8 a.m.

outdoor service in the parking lot. We know that there's a lot of people that enjoyed that time

of worship of being outdoors. We are in prayer that it'll be substantially warmer than it was this time

last year. And so we will have that service at 8 a.m. Now the flow of the service is going to look

a little different, but we will be taking the Lord's Supper together and the message will be the same

as it will in the later service. And then something else that we're going to be doing this year,

which I'm excited about, is we're going to provide a full hot breakfast for our church family

that Easter morning at 9 a.m. And so if you're coming to the eight o'clock service, you can stay,

you can have breakfast with us as a church family, and then the next service will start

at 10 a.m. And that'll be the indoor, our normal service that we have. And so what we're hoping

that we can do as a church family is come together, if you're coming to the earlier service or you're

coming to the later service, and we can come together for a wonderful time of breakfast and

fellowship as we celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty. And so I'd like to encourage you

to be a part of that. Also with that said, this card is a wonderful thing like for you and for us at the

Bradberries to be a reminder, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to invite someone. And so

if you know of someone looking for a place of worship on Easter morning, please use this and

invite them and we'll be looking forward to seeing all that God is going to do that day. We'll take the

Lord's Supper at both, same message at both service, so pick which ones you feel like you would

worship at. As we look at chapter 11 this morning, I want to go and share, we're going to cover the

entire chapter and it's going to be broken down into three parts. I had a pastor at the first

church that I served at and it was getting ready to do something. He said, just give me a little

sermonette. And I'm like, well, what do you mean by that? He's like, you know, take what you would say

and just divide it down. I'm like, all right. So that's what I was responsible for doing. And as I was

going through this chapter this week, there's three definite sections as we walk through that

overlap, and we're going to talk about that in just a second, that overlap, but they seem to be

thematically isolated from each other. And so what we're going to do is we're going to look at each

one of those individually, but understanding that what Paul is doing to the church at Corinth and what

Paul is doing for us is reminding us of the truth of God's standard, of God's expectations, of what it

means to fully surrender to him in his way, that you and I, that we agree that we in society should

not be the ones to dictate and to understand and to set truth, but that Christ does this for us.

And so that'll be the theme that kind of works through as Paul's working with the Corinthian church.

And so let's begin. We're going to read just the first verse to begin in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 1.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul says,

Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.

And what we're going to look at from the very beginning here, what I want us to grasp is the

defining piece of what God is establishing for us, of what Paul is showing of biblical leadership.

Now, the church at Corinth, where Paul is, is a church that is filled with young and new believers.

It's something that we actually talked about a little bit this week as a staff.

I want you to think about this.

These people, a lot of us, maybe not all of us, but a lot of us grew up in church.

A lot of us got saved at a young age, and Christianity and our faith is all that we've ever known.

But some of us, it's a different story, right?

Some of us maybe grew up in church, but came to faith at a different age as an adult.

Or some of you maybe have never had a background or experience with church,

and you've come here, and as an adult, you've become a believer.

Maybe some of you in the last several weeks or several years.

And then some of you may be here today, and you're not a believer at all.

But when you think about the context in which Paul is writing this letter, that Christianity did not exist.

And so the dynamic of which Paul is bringing this to them is everyone here is young.

Everyone is a new believer.

And it's fair to say, not in a way that's condescending, but in establishing the depth of their faith,

they were immature in their faith.

And we're seeing a lot of that for what we're working through.

And so Paul takes a vulnerable step out there and says to them,

be imitators of me as I am of Christ.

Now, it draws a question.

Is this a little arrogance from Paul?

And I would say no.

But this isn't cockiness that Paul is showing.

Instead, this is confidence.

It's confidence in who he is, and it's confidence in who he is in the gospel.

I mean, I want you to think about that.

I don't know if you've ever been shadowed by someone, right?

Whether it be at work.

But when someone's job, when someone's responsibility is to watch you and then emulate you, right?

It can be overwhelming.

And Paul says, watch me, emulate me, not as a tent maker, not as just simply a person,

but as a follower of Christ.

And in that is making himself completely vulnerable and transparent in here.

But what Paul's doing is he's setting the standard.

And I think here's a piece that's important.

If Paul had said, just be like me, be like Paul, he misses it.

He misses it.

But what Paul does here is he says, imitate me as I am of Christ.

So what's Paul seeking?

Paul's seeking to imitate Jesus, and in that, imitate me.

And he sets Christ as a standard.

Now, this isn't the first time he's done this.

In 1 Corinthians 4, starting in verse 16, he does this here as well.

He says, I urge you then, be imitators of me.

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord.

And here's what's key.

To remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach them everywhere and every church.

And so Paul's standard is this, Paul's standard for himself and Paul's standard for the church is Christ.

So he's who we look at.

He's who we emulate.

He's the one that sets the standard.

It's not you that sets the standard.

It's not me that sets the standard.

It's not Paul that sets the standard.

It's Christ that sets the standard.

And Paul, in vulnerability of leadership, steps before them and says, then imitate me because this is what I'm seeking after.

And when you see those pieces that don't line up, that's my sin.

Call me out.

Paul's addressed the accountability that comes.

He's addressed what you do with sinful behaviors.

But he says, if you need a standard, if you need to see it in flesh, look at me as I seek to imitate Christ.

Now, the reason I call this biblical leadership and not just church leadership as Paul is a pastor is because this leadership model isn't just for church leadership, but it's for all.

As I challenge you this morning, as we gather in here today, as we go from here to your homes, as you get up in the morning to head to work, as you take your journey to the grocery store, as you go out to coach your little league team, as you go out to lead in your neighborhood association,

is what is the standard for which you are modeling?

What is the standard for which you are emulating?

What is the standard for what you are imitating in your life?

And if it's anything other than Christ, it's insufficient.

It's insufficient.

It will fall and it will fail.

Because Jesus is the standard.

Jesus is the standard.

And so as Paul begins this, it's a continual reminder for the church that's here to imitate Christ.

But in order for them to do that, in order for those young and those, for those immature, Paul says, then I'm going to put myself out there.

And is that what we're willing to do?

Are we willing to do that in our marriage?

Are we willing to do that in our families?

Husbands, what does your wife see in you?

Parents, what do your kids see from you?

Managers, what do your workers see in you?

Coaches, what do your players see from you?

Is it Christ?

And who you are?

Because he's your standard.

Let's keep reading starting verse 2.

He says,

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I had delivered them to you.

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short.

But since it's disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God.

But woman is the glory of man.

For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

Neither was man created for woman, but woman from man.

That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority over her head because of angels.

Nevertheless, in the Lord, the woman is not independent of man, nor man of woman.

For as a woman was made from man, so man is now born of a woman, and all things are from God.

Judge for yourself.

Is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is a disgrace for him?

But if a woman has long hair, is it her glory?

For her hair is given to her for a covering.

If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

I was read through this this week and studied this this week.

A lot of this has to do with head coverings.

And I'll be honest with you, I believe is what Paul is journeying through with the church at Corinth

and dealing with head coverings is dealing with a first century Corinth situation of culture that's there.

But there's a lot of truth of application that comes out of this that we can begin to see

as we begin to see God's view and God's standard on gender.

And I don't know about you, but it seems that the topic of gender has become a hot topic over the last several years.

And this debate got even more publicly drawn this weekend, or this past week.

I don't know if you watch sports.

There's a big sports championship going on right now, NCAA March Madness.

My South Carolina Gamecocks still have not lost in March Madness, right?

They're not playing in it either, but they haven't lost in it, right?

The men's team, the women's team, and they're rolling right through.

But there's also been some others, and there was the swimming championships that took place as well.

And the University of Pennsylvania, which is an Ivy League school, has a male swimmer who identifies,

I'll put that in quotes in my notes, as a female.

And this swimmer, this man, competed this past week in the women's 500 freestyle in the women's division,

even though he's a biological male, and he won.

And so this has brought out a lot of discussion, a lot of questions.

I would say if you roll through social media, it's probably one out of every four posts that you see

is something defined in this debate, as we tend to turn to other things to set the standard.

But as we look through this passage of Scripture, and as we look through the Bible as a whole,

what I want us to draw to this morning is this, that God decides, God defines, and God designs gender.

We don't get to decide this, God decides it.

God decides male or female.

All right, go to the garden.

He made man as man, and when he saw that man was incomplete, and we'll talk about this in just a second,

he didn't add a part or take a part away.

Instead, he created woman.

In Genesis 2, verse 15, it said,

Genesis 2:15

The Lord took the man, in a little quick little language, this is man and gender, not mankind.

He took man and put him, what the Bible says, in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

And then you look down at verse 18,

And then the Lord God said,

It is not good that the man, again, gender, should be alone.

I will make a helper suitable for him.

So he made woman.

Genesis 2, 22.

And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man,

he made into a woman, different gender, and brought her to the man.

God decides.

It's not up for debate.

In a Christian ethic, in a Christian narrative, in the study of God's word,

this is what we come to.

You and I do not get to decide these things.

It's not feelings that decide,

but it's the sovereign Holy Lord who does.

And so men be men,

and women be women,

as God designed.

Now,

in situations like with this swim room,

what do we do with this?

What do you and I do?

What do we say?

How do we respond?

What is our posture?

And coming alongside

in what God's word has laid out for us,

and seeing how Jesus walked alongside individuals

who are hurting and broken,

and walking through the own areas of my life

where I've chosen my set or my standard

before the Lord's,

and where people walk alongside me,

what has drawn me to the Lord?

We stand with truth.

We stand with truth.

We continue to provide help.

We give prayers.

In church, we show compassion

and love

for those who are seeking anything outside

of the will of the Lord.

So not only does God decide,

but God defines gender.

God defines gender.

And when we look at this,

God defines as male and female,

but equal.

Look back at verses 11 and 12

of 1 Corinthians 11.

So where we are in equality in gender,

men and women is this,

that we were both beautifully and wonderfully made

in the concept of Imago Dei,

the truth of Scripture,

of the Lord.

Back in Genesis 1, 26 through 27.

Then the Lord said,

let us make man in our image

after our likeness,

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the birds of the heavens,

and over the livestock,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creeps on the earth.

So God made man in his own image.

In the image of God,

he created him.

Male and female,

he created them.

So Aaron and I are equally made

in the image of the Lord.

My son and my daughter

are equally made in the image of the Lord.

And so God gives us the beauty of equal value.

We're equally desirable to him.

God gives equal dignity.

We are equally worthy to him.

And he gives us equally love.

He loves us equally.

This is who he is,

regardless and in the context of gender.

He defines us differently.

I'm sorry,

he describes us differently,

but defines us equally

of who we are in Christ.

But then because he's the creator.

Because he's the one who creates.

He's the one who decides.

He's the one who designs their purpose as well.

It's not just that God decides,

that God defines,

but God also designs their purpose also.

Verse 3 in 1 Corinthians 11.

But I want you to understand

that the head of every man is Christ.

And the head of a wife is her husband.

And the head of Christ is the church.

And so what we begin to see here

is a differing,

not in equality,

not in equality,

not in God's love,

not in the worth that he places,

but in the purpose of what he gives

in the context of gender.

Like you and I are equally called

to live our lives for the glory of God,

but God begins to define differently

in the context of purpose.

In Ephesians 5,

Paul walks through with this.

Several weeks ago,

we talked about this as well,

but he led the charge of men lead.

Men in the context of your marriage lead,

and then again,

he sets the standard.

Not lead because you're a man,

but lead because of Christ.

And you lead like Christ.

Not lead out of your ego.

Not lead out of your preference.

Not lead out of personality.

Not lead out of arrogance.

Not lead out of sin.

Not lead out of,

because you want to tell someone what to do,

but lead in the image

and in the likeness of Christ.

So what does this mean?

What does this look like?

Well, without going through

and reading through all four Gospels,

let's see how Jesus led.

Jesus led in sacrifice.

He was sent here to serve,

is what he tells us.

Jesus led in love

and showed compassion and kindness

to men,

to women,

to religious,

into lost.

He led in love.

He led in forgiveness

and in grace.

It's who he is.

He didn't withdraw,

but he poured this out

and he led

in their betterment,

in their betterment

of seeking for them

to seek after

the things of the Lord.

And to summarize it, men,

Jesus led from the fruit of the Spirit

of the imagery that we see

and every single thing that he did

and every single thing

that he worked toward

and every single thing

that he accomplished,

he led in love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness,

and self-control.

That's the standard

of leadership.

And men,

that's what we're called

to emulate.

That's how we're called

to lead our wives.

That's how we're called

to lead our children.

And that this would be

the standard

what's there.

Right?

And women,

ladies,

the longing

and the desire

to follow

this biblical leadership.

It's what Ephesians 5

points us to.

That they follow,

they submit

like the church does

to Christ.

Right?

We don't follow

Peter.

We don't follow

Paul.

We follow them

in Christ

as they imitate

Christ,

as they work

toward Christ.

And that's the standard

for this as well.

That ladies

come alongside

and when we look

back at the narrative

to be the helpmate

that God has provided,

not in a lessening form,

but as we lead,

as Christ leads,

as we stay in line

with his will,

as we stay in line

with our purpose.

And then you should think

about this.

Why do you follow Christ?

Everyone in here,

why do you follow Christ?

Because you know

who he is.

You know his sacrifice.

You know his love.

You know his forgiveness.

You know his truth.

You know his peace.

And this is what

draws us to him.

This is what causes us

to cling to him.

Right?

And as we see,

this is what we follow

toward and what we go.

Follow like the church.

Follow from biblical leadership.

Now,

whether the topic

that you're working through

is gender or not,

we can sit in here

and say,

and go around

and poll everyone

about their standard

of gender.

Their belief of gender.

And maybe where you are

is where I am

as we draw these things

from scripture.

But here's what I think

the bigger question

I want to draw from.

Are you living your life

under the clear expectations

of the Lord?

Or are we living our life

based off of

what we determine

is right or wrong?

What are we journeying toward?

What are we allowing

to move toward

the definition of that?

Right?

Let's keep you reading

verse 17.

Paul says,

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.

For I receive from the Lord

what I also deliver to you

that the Lord Jesus

on the night

when he was betrayed

took bread

and would give him 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.

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

would we 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.

So then my brothers

when you come together

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.

Now one of the

things that you

think would be

a celebratory

time

in the life

of the church

would be

partaking

of the Lord's

supper

together.

It's one of my

favorite things

that we do

together

as a church.

If you're new

here

are typically

what we will

do

is we take

the Lord's

supper

together

the first

Sunday

of every

month

we'll take

the Lord's

supper

together

on Easter

and we'll

take the

Lord's

supper

together

on Christmas

Eve

and so

depending

on how

all those

days fall

on average

we're usually

taking the

Lord's

supper

together

around 14

times a year

and it is a

wonderful part

it is a

wonderful time

of worship

as it causes

us to focus

on who

Christ is

but Paul

says here

that the

division has

been created

in the church

during the

taking of

the Lord's

supper

because how

they are

treating the

Lord's

supper

and so I'm

going to

kind of

explain to

you a

little bit

what is

happening

here at

Corinth

so that

we can

draw from

this

and begin

to look

at our

own lives

with how

we take

the Lord's

supper

not only

as a

church

but more

importantly

individuals

as we

partake

in this

together

so

there

would

be

a

meal

that

would

happen

before

the

Lord's

supper

would

take

place

and

this

meal

that

would

happen

before

the

Lord's

supper

is

where

the

root

of

disunity

had

taken

hold

in

the

church

now

this

meal

was

supposed

to

show

unity

amongst

the

church

now

having

breakfast

together

on

Easter

is

not

just

to

save

everyone

so they

don't have

to fix

breakfast

at

home

that's

not

why

we're

doing

that

we're

having

an

opportunity

where

we can

come

together

as a

family

on a

day

that's

special

to us

and use

this time

of

fellowship

together

and write

worship

for the

Lord

that's

why we're

doing

this

as an

opportunity

as we

come

and we

get our

seats

on Sunday

mornings

and maybe

we don't

see or

know

other people

that are

here

it gives

us an

opportunity

of what

we hope

of building

the unity

of fellowship

amongst the

body

and so the

church at

Corinth and

other churches

have done

this for

years

Baptists

didn't invent

the potluck

even though

we like to

think that

we did

all right

but we

see this

in scripture

we see

churches

coming

together

men

and women

and children

and eating

a meal

together

to bring

unity

amongst the

church

but this

isn't what

was taking

place

in Corinth

and what

the meal

had done

is the meal

had broken

the church

into different

segments

largely the

haves and

the have

knots

so here's

what would

take place

the time

of the

meal

was earlier

in the day

and we know

how our

world works

okay

and so

but I want us

to think

through the

work day

of a

Corinthian

man or

woman

they didn't

have a

five day

work day

and some

of you

don't as

well

they had

for most

of them

a seven

day

work day

and this

work time

could break

off shorter

if you

owned the

business

or you

were a

wealthier

influencer

in the

town of

Corinth

and it

extended on

past that

if you

weren't

wealthier

well because

the beauty

of the

gospel

is the

gospel

crosses

socioeconomic

lines

right

just as it

crosses

lines of

race

lines of

culture

and even

lines of

gender

right

so the

gospel

is for

everyone

so gathered

in here

today

we have

people

we have

individuals

and families

from different

socioeconomic

backgrounds

and standings

within our

community

but what the

church of

Corinth had

done

I'm just gonna

throw out

some generic

times

all right

and let's

say that

everyone was

off work

by 530

they'd start

the meal

at four

and the

wealthier

people because

they could

brought most

of the food

and so

they would

show up

at four

they would

get everything

set out

they have

the nice

cuts of

meat

they have

the nice

dishes

like the

prime

casseroles

in first

cent three

Corinth

they're taking

place there

right

and then

the poor

people

who couldn't

get there

who couldn't

bring the

nicer food

would come

later

well I don't

know about

you but

one of the

things that

we like

to do

one of the

things that

we like

is let's

wait till

everybody

gets here

but instead

of waiting

they decided

no no no

we'll just

go ahead

and go

forward

so by the

time the

other group

of the

church

the have

nots

got there

the seating

in the

house

was taken

most of

the food

was gone

and so

they were

left to

feel as

if they

were

second

class

citizens

now you

sit outside

you get

the scraps

you get

the crumbs

that are

there

and Paul's

driving point

to them

was look

this isn't

a family

of unity

but it's

a family

of division

and so

some show

up and

you're fed

and they're

hungry

some show

up and

you've been

there so

long

you're

drunk

right

and you

see the

brokenness

that's

there

and so

at that

point

in time

of moving

forward

it doesn't

matter

if you

say all

the right

things

in the

Lord's

Supper

it doesn't

matter

if you

have the

proper

elements

during the

Lord's

Supper

it doesn't

matter

if you

have the

right songs

picked out

for the

Lord's

Supper

it doesn't

matter

if you

say the

right

prayers

during the

Lord's

Supper

because

your heart

is filled

with disunity

and brokenness

and there's

no love

for your

brother or

sister in

Christ

that's

Paul's

driving

point

and so

what I

have for

us

to think

through

is our

heart

and the

Lord's

Supper

our

heart

and the

Lord's

Supper

now the

Lord's

Supper

it's for

believers

if you're a

follower of

Jesus Christ

regardless of

your denomination

regardless of

how long

you've been a

Christian or

not

the Lord's

Supper

is for

all of

us

who are

believers

the Lord's

Supper

causes us

to look at

and recognize

the sacrifice

that Christ

made in

his body

as he took

on the

debt and

the punishment

that we

deserved

he died for

my sin

and your

sin

and so we

partake of

the body

and representing

of the bread

and then we

partake of

the cup

which represents

his blood

which washes

us

and makes

us clean

and gives

us proper

standing

and identity

in Christ

in Christ

alone

and we can

know this

we can talk

about this

but what Paul

presses toward

the church

at Corinth

and what Paul

presses toward

us

as well

even if

you're a believer

there's something

that you need

to work through

there's some

things you need

to dialogue

with yourself

in your heart

in taking

the Lord's

Supper

and the first

one is this

examine yourself

examine yourself

I read

an author

that said

and as he was

continuing through

of Jesus

being the

standard

he said

examine yourself

not based

off the

actions of

others

but examine

yourself

based off

the sacrifice

of Christ

and am I

broken for

my sin

is there

unrepentant

sin in my

life

do I

desire

the will

of God

do I

seek

to be

obedient

not am I

perfect

and got it

all figured

out

but where

is my

heart

in this

time

examine

yourself

and church

I want to

say this

sometimes

we walk

in here

and we're

bringing in

the baggage

last week

right

we're

bringing in

the baggage

of this

morning

and sometimes

in taking

the Lord's

supper

maybe one

of the most

spiritually

mature

things that

we could

do

is say

I'm not

ready

I'm not

ready

not for

me today

because we've

examined

our heart

another

aspect

that's

here

what Paul

points

him to

with going

back to

this previous

dinner and

the standing

between the

church

is examine

your

relationships

examine your

relationships

is there

something

broken

between

me

and another

brother and

sister in

Christ

if so

seek to

restore it

before we

take the

Lord's

supper

do I have

ill will

toward someone

you know when

you see him

and it just

makes you sick

but they're

brother and

sister in

Christ

if so

seek repentance

before you

take

do I not

love my

brothers and

sisters in

Christ

am I so

self-focused

that I don't

have love

for him

if so

take a time

to focus

to God

and prayer

to change

your heart

before I

take

take a time

to examine

your heart

take a time

to examine

your relationships

and I want

to give you

permission

this morning

if you take

the Lord's

supper

out of

obligation

then stop

if you take

the Lord's

supper

out of a

sense of

religious

nature

and piousness

then stop

if you take

out of fear

of what

others will

say

then stop

but start

again

with a

pure heart

with godly

relationships

and recognizing

the sacrifice

of Jesus

and the

power that

it has

on every

aspect of

your life

would you pray

with me

Lord we

come to you

this morning

Lord honestly

and transparent

transparently

with a

heavy passage

of scripture

this morning

but God

could we

could we

be reminded

of the

standard

that you

set for

us

of Christ

Lord in

so many

of these

things that

we are

seeing

at the

church of

Corinth

whether it's

the situation

dealing with

the head

coverings

whether it's

the Lord's

supper

whether it's

meat

sacrificed

to

idols

whether it's

divisions

within the

church

whether it's

lawsuits

amongst

believers

whether it's

the pursuit

of sexual

morality

the pursuit

of idolatry

or the truth

that just

continues to

pour out

is that

it's men

and women

who are

seeking their

own will

and their

own standard

above you

in your

will

and your

standard

and your

desire for

our life

and so

Lord maybe

the topics

that came

out of

chapter 11

this morning

ring home

to some

of us

or maybe

they don't

Lord I'd

ask and I

plead in the

power of

your spirit

that you

would show

us these

areas in

our life

where we

have determined

that we're

going to put

our ego

our pride

and our

sin

above you

and then

Lord in your

discipline

that strengthens

us

that loves

us

that causes

us to

drink out

of the

sweetness

of your

grace

Lord could

you bring

us to that

this morning

it's not

about me

being right

it's about

me glorifying

you

and living

for the

glory of

your name

thanks again

for listening to

the Willow Ridge

Church weekly

podcast we hope

that you enjoyed

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week's message if

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