Message Six

You can go back and watch these messages if you missed them.  I believe they will be a help in answering many of the questions you and others may have about these issues of life.  Today, we continue to learn of the trouble in the church caused by division, which even destroyed the special communion of the church with one another and with the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 11 is an account of the problems in the church having to do with –

V. Disorder. 1 Corinthians 11:2 – 14:40

Paul turned now to correct the attitudes of the people involved practices that they had incorporated into their assembly. There was disorder in the church regarding –

  A.  Authority. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16  

    1.  Appreciation for their respect.

1 Corinthians 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

    2. Addressing their misconduct.

1 Corinthians 11:3-16  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Paul developed his argument by teaching the proper order of authority and then correcting their conduct. His instructed them in Godly –

      a. Order. 11:3 Refer to Ephesians 5:18-33
      b. Conduct. 11:4-15

Though there is much dispute about the practice of headcoverings in Corinthians, two things are clear: (a) men did not wear them and women did, and (b) the headcovering was a sign of distinction between men and women.
Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 148

        1). The man. 11:4
He is to be the leader, in submission to the Lord.
The woman is to be under submission to the man.
        2). The woman. 11:5-15

          a). Women in ministry. 11:5a  Note the examples in Scripture –
Ladies that led ladies-

            (1). Miriam – Exodus 15:20,21
            (2). Elisabeth – Luke 1:40-45
            (3). Mary – Luke 1:46-56

Note that propriety is required even in the company of ladies only

        b). Women in submission is taught by Paul. 11:5b-15

      c.  Correction. 11:16 Submission of both the men and women.

  B. The Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

    1.  Paul rebuked their careless practice in taking the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:17-22  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Instead of communion, they were partial. Notice –

      a. Their conduct – divided.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

      b. Their contempt. 11:20-22

        1).  For doctrine –

1 Corinthians 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

They did not observe the truth of God as given by Him, choosing to please themselves instead of God.  They chose what suited them and what they enjoyed and ignored the equality of others as demanded by the Lord –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

        2).  For brethren. 11:21,22

1 Corinthians 11:21-22  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

    2. Paul reminded them of the correct purpose of taking the Lord’s Supper. 11:23-34

      a. Reminds the believer of Jesus Christ our Lord. 11:23-26
“…in remembrance of me…”

      b. Reverence for the Lord and His ordinance. 11:27-32

1 Corinthians 11:27-32  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

      c. Respect for the brethren in worship of the Lord. 11:33,34

1 Corinthians 11:33-34  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Paul continued to teach the church the importance of obedience and unity, even as the Lord proclaimed this truth in Matthew 22

Matthew 22:35-39 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

This morning I ask you, have been hurt by divisions in a church?  If so, you know the pain and hurt that is caused and we all should know that the Lord feels this pain and hurt also. 

It is wrong and we need to turn to the Lord with honest hearts seeking to heal wounds and divisions that we may honour the Lord in all things.

This morning I ask you if you are saved?  Have you trusted the Lord as Saviour?

These message have been an introduction to the content contained in chapters 12 through 14.  We will begin these messages next week and I ask that you read these chapters carefully and prayerfully.  Read them as a letter from God, through Paul, to you and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the truth.