Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 11:20–22
We read in 1 Corinthians 11:20–22, “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.” God had Paul refer to a custom within the church that occurred when the church was first growing. Many, when they gathered together for worship, would combine a shared-dish lunch or dinner and also observe the Lord’s Supper during that time. We see in the Gospels how Jesus often ate with His disciples, and during those times together, He would teach them. The early church continued to practice this as they would meet together to worship the Lord. During their worship of the Lord, they were taught from the Scriptures, they would share a meal together, and then they would conclude their worship by celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The reason God had Paul rebuke the Christians in Corinth was because they would act selfishly at the meals. Their selfish conduct at the meal disgraced their observance of the Lord’s Supper, for the rich would eat what they brought but not share it with the poor. Many would drink wine to the point of getting drunk. They made a mockery of what Christ had modeled for them. We must guard against dishonoring our Lord.
Challenge & Application
What must we do to make sure we do not dishonor our Lord in our worship together with other believers?
How do you guard even your private worship of our Lord each day to honor and glorify Him in a manner that’s worthy of Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!