Sermon on 1 Cor 11:17:34
Hey, I'm preaching this sunday and wanted to share some of my thoughts about the text and hopefully recieve some feedback. I've never done this with a sermon before, but I think it should prove helpful.
The main problem Paul is addressing:
At the Lord's Supper (probably modeled after a Jewish meal where the bread is blessed prior to the meal and the cup is blessed after the main course) the wealthy people were eating the fine food they brought while the slaves and lower class ate little or no food and remained hungry. Paul was disturbed that the meal was maintaining the class distinctions found in larger society.
Paul's prescription: Their assembly, if it is to be called the Lord's supper, should be modeled after Christ and specifically, and most fittingly, after his demonstration of sacrafice on the cross.
He cites the last supper vv. 23-26, as a contrast to their supper which alienates.
Why would this matter to my congregation. From this passage, in a limited way, I am trying to answer for them the following question: why do we celebrate the Eucharist/Lord's Table?
Answer: We are to be a community shaped by the Lord's table. In remembering Christ's death, which was for all (debatable, but I'm not going into it here) or at least for humans regardless of gender, nationality, economic status etc. (again, I know salvation was for more than just human souls) we must model love and sacrafice for humans of all place and status. Of course, this is enabled by the forgiveness and cleansing we receive from Christ's victorious work on the cross.
An important truth I might highlight (since many at our church are low economic status and education level) is how this passage emphasizes God's concern for those without. Blessed are the poor. Any ideas on how to do that with sensitivity?
The main problem Paul is addressing:
At the Lord's Supper (probably modeled after a Jewish meal where the bread is blessed prior to the meal and the cup is blessed after the main course) the wealthy people were eating the fine food they brought while the slaves and lower class ate little or no food and remained hungry. Paul was disturbed that the meal was maintaining the class distinctions found in larger society.
Paul's prescription: Their assembly, if it is to be called the Lord's supper, should be modeled after Christ and specifically, and most fittingly, after his demonstration of sacrafice on the cross.
He cites the last supper vv. 23-26, as a contrast to their supper which alienates.
Why would this matter to my congregation. From this passage, in a limited way, I am trying to answer for them the following question: why do we celebrate the Eucharist/Lord's Table?
Answer: We are to be a community shaped by the Lord's table. In remembering Christ's death, which was for all (debatable, but I'm not going into it here) or at least for humans regardless of gender, nationality, economic status etc. (again, I know salvation was for more than just human souls) we must model love and sacrafice for humans of all place and status. Of course, this is enabled by the forgiveness and cleansing we receive from Christ's victorious work on the cross.
An important truth I might highlight (since many at our church are low economic status and education level) is how this passage emphasizes God's concern for those without. Blessed are the poor. Any ideas on how to do that with sensitivity?
posted by JHW | 5:46 PM
2 Comments:
nope, sorry! but good exegesis!
Thanks AP. Garland was the primary commentary but I found several articles which supported his historical context descriptions.
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