1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Reverence In Worship And Fellowship
1 Corinthians 11:2-34, Lesson 10
Key Verse: 11:26 NIU UBF 11-22-09
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Thus far in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul has dealt with the problems of church division in chapters 1-4, and with moral and ethical issues in chapters 5-7. Then in chapters 8-10, he taught about the proper use of Christian freedom through food sacrificed to idols. Chapters 11-14 are about practical problems in church meetings. In dealing with them, Paul lays down principles for building a sound church. The main princiole is love. For any organization to be healthy, there must be friendship and love among members. Yet the church is more than a human organization. The church is God’s dwelling place. The church is based on the truth of God’s word and the love of Christ who died for our sins. Within the church there must be spiritual order based on the word of God and spiritual love based on Jesus’ sacrifice. A church rooted in these can spread God’s blessing to the world. We are all members of the church, the body of Christ. Today let’s learn how to build up our church.
Part l: Reverence And Order In Worship (2-16)
Thus far in his letter, Paul has had to give painful correction. But here Paul gives a word of praise. Look at verse 2. “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.” Paul was genuinely thankful to God for his grace upon the Corinthians (1:4). We learn from Paul to sprinkle in words of encouragement when handling difficult problems.
After giving words of encouragement, Paul returned to the task of correcting. Paul wanted to teach the Corinthians how to build their church on the foundation of God’s truth. Paul does this through addressing a very practical problem: Corinthian women should cover their heads in church. In the cultural context of ancient Corinth this was understandable. Typically, Greek women covered their heads as a sign of submission to their husbands. If a woman did not cover her head, it was a sign of disrespect or waywardness. Why did Corinthian Christian women refuse to cover their heads? Paul does not say exactly. But we can guess that it might have been that they no longer felt bound by custom or tradition. Or perhaps they wanted to promote women’s rights, claiming equality with their husbands in God. Paul gives several reasons why they should cover their heads in the church of Paul’s time. From his reasons, we can glean some spiritual principles to put into practice.
First, it keeps spiritual order. Look at verse 3 -6, especially verse 3, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” We can see that there is some spiritual order referred to here. The term “spiritual order” has been used frequently in UBF. What does it mean here? In verse 3, “head” signifies the one in authority. Jesus Christ is Lord of all and he is the authority over every person in the church. Each church member should enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and live in submission to him, the head. The same word, “head” describes the position of a husband in a family. In the Bible, the husband is the head of the family. His wife should submit to him and keep spiritual order in the family. (Col 3:18-19)
Christ is not only our Lord, but also our example of submission to God. Verse 3 ends, “...the head of Christ is God.” God is referring to “God the Father.” God and Christ are equal. They are both the same God. Their relationship is one of absolute love and respect. Jesus loved the Father and always did what pleased him (Jn 5:30; 8:29). The Father loved the Son and placed everything in his hands (Jn 3:35). They were truly one in mind, heart and spirit. But in their function they were different. The Father is the Sovereign Ruler. The Son submitted to the Father in everything. Christ did not try to grasp equality with God, but submitted to death, even death on a cross. Through Jesus’ submission we are saved and we are shown the way. So we willingly submit to him in everything (Rev 5:13). This heavenly order is reflected in our relationships with others. Christian husbands gladly love their wives, loving them sacrificially. (Ephesians 5:25-28) Christian wives are happy to submit to their husbands with genuine respect when their husbands love them with such love. This relationship reflects the relationship between Christ and his people. Can you see it? The Christian church, as the Bride of Christ, submits joyfully to her Husband and Savior.
Spiritual order is not another way of saying “dictatorship.” It means there is mutual love and respect, necessary authority and willing submission. This is the attitude we have as we live in Christ. Some may raise an issue here, for many abuses have happened in the name of “spiritual order.” Paul is not condoning abusive relationships. Rather, Paul refers to the holy example of the Father and Christ as the model for us all to strive for in learning submission to Christ and one another.
Second, it is the cultural norm. In verses 4-6 Paul affirms the Corinthian cultural custom. Men should uncover their heads and women should cover their heads during public Christian worship. To violate this custom was dishonorable culturally and Paul affirms that it was also dishonorable before God. A man should dress like a man, and a woman should dress like a woman to be honorable in the house of God. We know what this means. We know what it means to dress honorably and respectively. Ask even a non believer how they should dress in a job interview, …for a job that they really want to get, and you will discover what it means to dress honorably. (There are also biblical precedents for women covering themselves, such as Rebekah before meeting Isaac (Gen 24:66).)
Third, it makes a distinction. (7-12). Look at verse 7. “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.” Here Paul makes a distinction between men and women. He says that man is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. What does this mean? This is based on Genesis. In Genesis we find that God made man in his image to rule the world. God made woman as a suitable helper for man (Gen 2:18). We know that man and woman are both made in God’s image and they are equal (Gen 1:27), but there is a distinction. Woman was created as a suitable helper; not just for man to fulfill his own selfish ends but to help him serve his mission before God. In verses 11-12, Paul explains that a husband and wife are interdependent. Man and woman need each other. Neither one can carry out their God-given mission without the other. They must co-work together. Then they can experience amazing success, bear much fruit, and be happy. Likewise, when church members serve their various purposes well, co-working together in the Lord, the church will be healthy and happy.
Fourth, it keeps natural order (13-16). In verses 13-15, Paul makes another appeal, this time to the “very nature of things.” In Paul’s time it seemed that this is just the way that women wear their hair. It seems “natural” for a woman to have hair longer than a man. Historically, women have grown their hair long. Men’s hair thins out and they go bald. It looks strange for men to grow long hair when this is happening. But in nature, there have been relatively few bald women. Women grow their hair long and their hair becomes a woman’s glory. This has gone one from the dawn of time. It is only in this century that we see women wearing their hair shorter. Paul is saying that since it appears inherent in nature then it should be respected during public worship. Practically speaking it meant that women must cover their heads. Paul insisted on it and would not yield (16). I think that today, we can follow the principle, “Women should be women and men should be men.”
When choosing our hairstyle and possible head covering for church, we must remember that coming to worship is coming to meet the holy God. We join the holy angels in worshiping him. We are coming to a God of awesome majesty, order and peace (1 Cor 14:33). We must worship with reverence and a sense of spiritual order. We must honor God from our hearts, in our relationships, and through our appearance. These days many people say, “God sees my heart. As long as I am sincere, appearance does not matter.” Some young men want to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and a baseball cap to church. Yet they would never go to a job interview dressed in such a way. Why is this? Maybe they want the whole world to know that they are not legalistic. And we should not be legalistic about this. However, as a general principle, we should reflect that we consider God more important than potential human employers. Practically speaking it means to wear our best clothes to worship service. Women should not be uncovered in church so that others focus on them rather than on Jesus. Women should dress modestly, and with propriety, to worship God. At St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, there is a clothing monitor at the door. If a person wants to enter, and is not properly covered, the monitor gives them a temporary cover to wear while inside, even if they are just tourists. Let’s remember that God is a God of order who wants reverence and order in worship.
Part II: Reverence And Love In The Lord’s Supper (17-34)
The second problem Paul deals with is celebrating the Lord’s Supper. In the Lord’s Supper there is a cross, with an upward beam and a horizontal beam. We have a vertical relationship with Christ through which we receive grace. We have a horizontal relationship with others. We must love and respect our brothers and sisters in Christ. In John’s gospel, at the Last Supper, Jesus got up from the meal, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed his disciples’ feet. It symbolized his humble service and sacrificial love for each one. Jesus bore with each of them in humility and love until they became holy men of God. Jesus would die on the cross to wash their dirty sins. Since Jesus set this example, Jesus’ people must do the same. The rich and powerful must sacrifice themselves to serve the poor and needy. The mature must humbly embrace newcomers with great affection. Men and women must show love and respect toward each other. Then the church is full of love and grace.
However, in Corinth, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper had become a travesty (17-22). Instead of coming together in the love of Christ, they divided into different factions. Some rich people brought steaks, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh cherry pie. They also brought fine wines and premium beer and ate and drank freely. Meanwhile, the poor looked on with growling stomachs and watering mouths, and tears began to roll down their cheeks as they ate dry bread and hard dates and water. Nobody shared with the poor. Paul was upset that the poor were humiliated in such a way. Paul was even more upset because Jesus was dishonored. Paul said clearly, “When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.” (20). Their meetings were doing more harm than good. It caused resentment and drove a wedge between Christians of different classes.
Paul reminded them of the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper in verses 23-25. Let’s read these verses together: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.’ 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.” We learn several things from Paul here.
First, it was the Lord’s Supper. Verse 23 says, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.” It was not Paul’s idea to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper originated with Christ himself. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper must be done in the Spirit of Jesus and according to his instructions. To do it in one’s own way is a profanity.
Second, Jesus gave his body and blood to us. The bread and cup symbolize Jesus’ body broken on the cross and Jesus’ blood shed for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” In addition to hearing the message, we need the bread and cup to taste the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus’ body was really broken and his blood was really spilled for our sins. Jesus gave his own life for us. We must accept Jesus’ sacrifice with sincere repentance and faith.
Third, Jesus’ blood forgives our sins and brings us into a covenant with God. Sin separates us from God and leaves a stain that nothing else can wash away. But the blood of Jesus has power to bring about forgiveness and true cleansing from our sins. The blood of Jesus restores us to a love relationship with God. Romans 3:24,25 say, “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.” When we accept Jesus’ blood, we can be “at one” with God. We enter into a covenant with God and receive God’s faithful love and spiritual blessings. Jesus invites us to come to him every day and eat his flesh and drink his blood (Jn 6:53-57). This satisfies our souls with the life and love of God. Then we can love one another with the love of God. In celebrating the Lord’s Supper, it is most important to remember Jesus with repentance for our sins and faith in his blood.
When we eat the bread and drink the cup by faith, we proclaim the Lord’s death with spiritual power and meaning. Look at verse 26. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” When we eat the Lord’s supper our hearts overflow with God’s love, the joy of salvation, and heavenly peace. Christian brothers and sisters begin to truly love one another from their hearts, forgiving one another based on Jesus’ grace of forgiveness. They form a genuine Christian community. This community, marked by God’s love, proclaims Jesus’ death to the lost world.
There have been many great celebrations of the Lord’s Supper in Christian history. Right after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, the early church members devoted themselves to the good news about Jesus, to Christian fellowship, and to celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The love of God descended upon them tangibly, and many great miracles were done. They became generous toward each other and willing to share their possessions with one another. They invited each other to their homes and had intimate fellowship. It was a picture of the kingdom of God on earth. This was so attractive to people in the world that many became believers.
Another example is the Moravians in Herrnhut in 1727. At first they were a disjointed group of Christians from several different traditions who argued a lot about doctrine. Then on August 13, 1727 they came together and celebrated the Lord’s Supper with sincere hearts. They repented of their sins based on the word of God and asked Jesus’ blood to cleanse them. God poured out the Holy Spirit and the love of God came into their hearts with power. They changed dramatically. Those who held grudges forgave their brothers and sisters. Those who had material goods began to share with others freely. They developed a holy passion to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. In a short time Moravian missionaries began to spread all over the world.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper with sincere hearts and receive the love of Jesus, God can use us to proclaim the Lord’s death in a powerful way. As we prepare for the upcoming Chicago Christmas service and pray for it, it is most important that we remember the grace of God sending his One and Only Son into this world to be our Savior and the ransom sacrifice for our sins. We must repent of our sins and receive the love of Jesus in our hearts. Then we can love God and love one another joyfully. As we reveal the love of God to our dear brothers and sisters, God will be glorified through us and we will be happy indeed. What is more, this Christmas service will speak loudly to our generation that God is living and that he has come to dwell among us.
When Jesus was on earth, he ate and drank with all kinds of people: tax collectors, prostitutes, and even Pharisees. Jesus shared the words of life with them and salvation came to people and households. As they ate and drank together, they tasted the real spiritual joy of heaven. We want to follow the example of Jesus Christ. In our worship service, we must do our best to listen to Jesus’ words and to repent our sins and receive his grace. After worship service, it is good to together, sharing fellowship with all kinds of people, talking about the word of God and the work of God. As we do so, we can taste the kingdom of God on earth. Mother Barry has this kind of fellowship, inviting people to her apartment after Sunday service to eat lunch. When we worship like this, together, then genuine Christian love and fellowship all human distinctions disappear. We can experience the unity of love. We can taste the joy of heaven in this world. This is worth striving for.
Let’s remember what kind of church we must have. First, we must keep spiritual order based on God’s words and truth. Also, we must remember Jesus’ grace on the cross to renew our love relationship with God and to practice the love of God with brothers and sisters. As we do so, may God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
* REVERENCE IN WORSHIP (2–16)

1. For what did Paul commend the Corinthian Christians? (2) Why? (1) Read verse 3. What is the general principle governing the relationships between God, man and woman?

2. In what cases would a man or a woman be dishonored? (4–6) Why should a man not cover his head, and why should a woman do so? (7–10) During worship, how did keeping this order express reverence for God? (cf. Isa6:2–3) How can we be reverent in worship today? (See Heb12:28; think about this in terms of one’s attitude toward God and influence on others.)

3. What is the relationship between man and woman “in the Lord”? (11–12) In what sense are they equal before God? How does this help us understand the order Paul mentions? On what basis did Paul appeal to them? (13–16)

* REVERENCE IN THE LORD’S SUPPER (17–34)

4. How and why did Paul chastise them? (17–22) On which problem did he focus? (20) How had they been expressing their irreverence for the church of God and their selfishness?

5. Read verses 23–25. Who instituted the Lord’s Supper? What did Jesus say when he broke the bread and shared the cup? (Lk22:19–20; Mt26:26–28) What does eating the bread and drinking the cup mean to us? (Jn6:53–56) When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, what should be the focus? (24b,25b)

6. Read verse 26. Besides encouraging our personal faith, what evangelistic purpose does celebrating the Lord’s Supper serve? Until when should this be done?

7. Why is it so serious to take the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner? (27,29–30) What did Paul mean by “unworthy manner”? (28–32; cf. 21–22) What is the proper attitude toward the Lord’s Supper? (28,33–34)

What have you learned in this lesson about reverence?