1. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

2. Nero: 64ad “Multitudes are embra- cing the new religion!” “throughout the cities of the world… barbarians, Greeks, nomads, vagrants, herdsmen…” Source: R.Coleman Master Plan of Discipleship, p.32

3. Despite:  BIG Cultural Barriers  Social Roles Toppled  Gender Roles Toppled  Massive Persecution  No Armies, Swords…  No Advertising Agencies  Informal Organization There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

5.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) “But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.”

6.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) v.18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. v.19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized.

7.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) v. 20-21 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. v. 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. one is hungry and another is drunk.

8.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) “When you come together as a church…”

9.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) James 2:3 you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? James 3:15: “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” James 3:15: “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”

10.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) Acts 2:42 “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  - “Fellowship”, “Share”, “Make Common”, “communion” Contributing / Investing…

11.  Not Automatic (1 Cor.11:17f) For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 1 Corinthians 11:29 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. v. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper… 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 1 Corinthians 11:30 33 So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together.

12. 23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.“ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

13.  Remembering Christ’s Death on the Cross.  Appreciation and worship.  Rejecting “ME FIRST”.  Our Basis for .  Proclaiming our unity. 1 Cor. 10:16-17 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. John 15:12

14. Nero: 64ad “Multitudes are embra- cing the new religion!” Source: R.Coleman Master Plan of Discipleship, p.32