DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

1 Corinthians 11:1-34

Key Verse 25

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."

Introduction

Chapters 11-14 are about practical problems in church meetings. In dealing with them, Paul lays down principles for building a healthy, sound church. For any organization to be healthy, there must be friendship and love among its members. Yet the church is more than a human organization. The church is God's dwelling place. The church is grounded on the truth of God's word and the love of Christ who died for our sins. Within the church there must be spiritual, creation order based on the word of God and spiritual love based on Jesus' sacrifice. We are all members of the church, the body of Christ. Let's learn how to build each other up. How many will know the nature of God? Salvation comes through the willing submission and obedience of one Christian.

1. Read verses 1-10. Why does Paul encourage Christians in Corinth to follow his example? (1, 10:33) What does he praise them for? (2) Why does Paul say that women should worship in public with their heads covered? (3-10)

1-1, Read verses 1-10.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels.

1-2, Why does Paul encourage Christians in Corinth to follow his example? (1, 10:33)

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (1 Cor 10:31-33)

• It is because he is confident that it is good to follow his example in Christ. Practically, living for the glory of God involves participating in saving souls to fulfill God’s world salvation plan. This gives great glory to God.

• For this, Paul denied himself to please everyone in every way. In this way he glorified God.

• Paul followed Jesus’ example, and so should we. Then we can please God and can live a victorious life throughout our lifetime. Also, we can leave a spiritual inheritance to our descendants.

• Paul strove to use his freedom to serve God’s purpose, becoming everything to everyone to win them over to Christ.

1-3, What does he praise them for? (2)

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.

• Paul praises the Corinthians for the way in which they remembered him in all things and held fast the teachings he passed on to them.

• Paul not only rebuked the Corinthians but praised them. From Paul we can learn to acknowledge others’ good points and praise them first when handling difficult problems.

1-4, Why does Paul say that women should worship in public with their heads covered? (3-10)

But 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. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

• 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: He taught that the Corinthian women should cover their heads in church.

• In their long historical culture Greek women covered their heads as a sign of submission to their husbands.

• This was a similar culture for the Muslim woman to cover her hair. If a woman did not cover her head, it was a sign of disrespect. Paul explains why women should cover their heads.

• 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.

• Jesus is Lord of all and he is the authority over every person in the church. Each church member may enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus, but each one should acknowledge the authority of Jesus and live in submission to Jesus, the head of every person.

• In the same way the man is the head of the woman, and the husband is the head of the family. His wife should submit to him to keep spiritual order in the family. Some wives despise their husbands. This should not be practiced in the Christian family.

• The relationship between Jesus Christ and God is the best example in keeping spiritual order. God and Jesus Christ are equal; they are both God-God the Father and God the Son.

• Their relationship is one of absolute love and respect. Jesus loved the Father and always did what pleased him (Jn 5:30- By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me; 8:29- The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.). The Father loved the Son and placed everything in his hands (Jn 3:35-The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.).

• They were truly one--one in mind, heart and spirit. But in their function they were different. The Father is 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. (Philippians 2:1-10)

• Through Jesus' humble submission to death on the cross we are saved. So we Christians willingly submit to Jesus in everything (Rev 5:13-Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,

• As we follow the examples of Jesus, we Christians should keep spiritual order in the family.

Ephesians 5:22-25 reads,

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

• Christian wives should submit to their husbands with genuine respect. Also Christian husbands should love their wives just as Christ loves the church. A healthy, sound Christian church can be built up when there are mutual love and respect, and authority and willing submission.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

• Here Paul makes a distinction between men and women. Man is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

• This means that man was placed on earth as God’s representative to exercise dominion over it. God made man in his image to rule the world. God made woman as a suitable helper for man (Gen 2:18).

• Man and woman are both made in God's image and they are equal (Gen 1:27), but woman was created as a suitable helper.

10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.

• Another reason that God has established male headship in the church is the presence of angels.

• It reminds us that our struggle is bigger than ourselves. God has eternal things to teach the universe through us (Eph 3:10-11, His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus , 1 Cor 4:9, For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.and 1 Pet 1:12).

• Importantly it is not culture-dependent, for the presence of angels do not depend on culture.

• We see here that God has established a clear authority in both the home and in the church. God has ordained that men are the “head,” that they have the place of authority and responsibility.

• Our culture, having rejected the idea in a difference in role between men and women, now rejects the idea of any difference between men and women.

• The driving trends in our culture point towards men who are more like women, and women who are more like men, pushing this thought.

• It also does not mean that every woman in the church is under the authority of every man. Rather those who lead the church – pastors and ruling elders – must be men, and women must respect their authority, not because of their gender, but because of their office.

• The failure of men to lead in the home and in the church, and to lead in the way Jesus would lead, has been a chief cause of the rejection of male authority.

• Inferiority or superiority has nothing to do with it. Remember the relationship between God the Father and God the Son – they are completely equal in their being, but have different roles when it comes to authority.

• Since the 1960’s, there has been a massive change in the way we see and accept authority. Citizens do not have the same respect for government’s authority.

• Students do not have the same respect for the teacher’s authority. Women do not have the same respect for men’s authority. Children do not have the same respect for parent’s authority. Christians no longer have the same respect for church authority.

• In fact, our society is presently in, and rushing towards, complete anarchy – the state where no authority is accepted, and the only thing that matters is what I want to do.

• There is no moral authority in our culture. When it comes to morality, the only thing that matters is what one wants to do.

• We must see the broader attack on authority as Satanic, to destroy our society and millions of individual lives. The devil is shrewdly accomplishing this with the corruption of authority and the rejection of authority.

• These ideas of authority and submission to authority are so important to God that they are part of His very being.

• The Father exercises authority over the Son, and the Son submits to the Father’s authority – and this is in the very nature and being of God!

• Our failure to exercise Biblical authority, and our failure to submit to Biblical authority, isn’t just wrong and sad, it sins against the very nature of God.

1 Samuel 15:23 reads,

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

2. Read verses 11-16. In what sense are men and women equal? (11, 12) Why is a woman’s long hair related to covering her head? (13-15) What was the church’s stand on this issue? (16)

2-1, Read verses 11-16.

Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

2-2, In what sense are men and women equal? (11, 12)

11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

2-3, Why is a woman’s long hair related to covering her head? (13-15)

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

• Paul makes another appeal of why women should cover their heads.

• It is unnatural for a man to have long hair or for a woman to have short hair. In most cultures it is very natural for a woman to have hair longer than a man.

• Historically, a woman's long hair has been the symbol of her glory. Since this distinction is inherent in nature, it should be respected during public worship with visible signs.

• In Corinthian culture, it meant that women must cover their heads.

• We must remember that coming to worship is coming to meet the holy God. We join the holy angels in worshiping him.

• In coming to worship we are coming to a God of awesome majesty, order and peace

1 Cor 14:33 reads,

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

• We must worship the holy God with reverence and a sense of spiritual order. We must honor God from our hearts, in our relationships, and through our appearance.

• Our sincere hearts are most important in worship. However, it is also important to honor God with our appropriate appearance in worship.

• Some people say, “As long as I love God, appearance does not matter.” Some young people come to church in worship service wearing a t-shirt or shorts.

• As a general principle, we should wear our best clothes to worship service. Our church is not that strict, but we should wear our best clothes to worship service. Let's remember that God is a God of order who wants reverence and order in worship.

2-4, What was the church’s stand on this issue? (16)

If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

• Paul affirms that it is biblical and based on the word of God.

3. Read verses 17-34. Why did Paul rebuke them? (17-22) What did Jesus teach about the Lord's Supper? (23-26) What does Paul say about the manner in which we should partake of the Lord’s Supper? (27-34)

3-1, Read verses 17-34.

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

3-2, Why did Paul rebuke them? (17-22)

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

• The second problem Paul deals with is celebrating the Lord's Supper. In the Lord's Supper there is a cross. 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 one by one. 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 Christians must humbly embrace immature Christians with great affection. We must show love and respect toward each other. Then the church is full of love and grace.

• When they came together in the Lord's Supper some rich people brought delicious, expensive food such as beef steaks and fresh cherry pies. They enjoyed eating and drinking to their heart’s content.

• Meanwhile, the poor looked on with growling stomachs and watering mouths. 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.” Their meetings were doing more harm than good.

3-3, What did Jesus teach about the Lord's Supper? (23-26)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 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.”

• Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The celebration of the Lord's Supper must be done in the Spirit of Jesus. The bread symbolizes Jesus' body broken on the cross. The cup symbolizes Jesus' blood shed for us.

• We celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remember and taste Jesus’ sacrifice, his broken body and his blood. Jesus' body was really broken on the cross to save us from eternal punishment, and his blood was really spilled for our sins.

• Sin separates us from God and makes us enemies of God. But the blood of Jesus has power to cleanse all our sins and restore us to a love relationship with God.

• When we accept Jesus' blood, we can enter into the new covenant in his blood 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.

• In celebrating the Lord's Supper, we must remember Jesus with repentance for our sins and faith in his blood.

John 6:53-56 reads,

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

• When we eat the bread and drink the cup by faith, we proclaim the Lord's death. Jesus’ death on the cross is clear evidence that God loves the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• Jesus’ death on the cross tells us that Jesus loves us so much that he gave his whole life for us. His divine body was broken into pieces and his holy blood was shed one drop after another as a ransom sacrifice for us.

• Whenever we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink his blood, our hearts overflow with God's love, the joy of salvation, and heavenly peace.

• When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we can truly love one another from our hearts, forgiving one another based on Jesus' grace of forgiveness.

• We can establish a genuine Christian fellowship on the basis of such love and grace of Jesus Christ.

3-4, What does Paul say about the manner in which we should partake of the Lord’s Supper? (27-34)

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

• There is corrective judgement(discipline) and the final(eternal, ultimate) judgement.

• When we come to word of God to be corrected and adjust our attitudes, we are exempt from God’s discipline and His final judgement with the world.

• May the Lord help us to know the manner in which we are to approach and remember Jesus’ body and blood through His Supper.

Conclusion

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 our brothers and sisters. As we do so, may God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

One word: IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS