1 Corinthians 11:17-21 Abusing Communion
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 6, 2020 1 Corinthians 11:17-21
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
(Understanding the Text) This doesn’t seem to be an answer to a question, but instead, it is a response to a complaint brought to Paul by someone from Corinth. Paul says that the basic purpose for coming together is to make us better, but the Corinthians were actually becoming worse by being with each other. They were coming together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, which was evidently more of a meal then than now. Eating together as a church must have been a form of worship for the early church in some way. However, the Corinthians had reduced it to a social event. It was like a big dysfunctional family reunion with the relatives arguing in one room as others chow down in the next room. In the end, the food runs out before some get in line to eat while others are getting drunk. There must have been a cacophony of sound between the arguing factions and the drunk Corinthians. Or maybe not, because the SDA commentary says that the comment about factions may indicate that they were meeting together separately in little cliques to celebrate the Lord’s Supper rather than as a united group.
(Revelation of God) When Jesus set up the ceremony of the Lord’s Supper, He emphasized how He wanted His followers to be one as He and His Father are one. There is thoughtfulness in the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit. There is no jockeying for position and each admires the others’ beautiful attributes. The Spirit testifies of the Son’s beauty. The Son testifies of the Father’s love. The Father affirms His love and joy in the Son. If we are not lifting each other up and admiring each other, we are not participating in the Lord’s Supper in the way that Jesus instructed.
I don’t understand what Paul means when he says: And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. His logic escapes me. The SDA commentary indicates that in discussing differences of opinion about beliefs the wheat will be separated from the chaff. Thus, Paul is saying that it is good to see who is really committed to Jesus; however, I’m not sure if I follow this logic either.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that in all that I do, I should strive to bring honor and glory to You. Being right is not important if I have to be argumentative to push my rightness. It is only in humility and thoughtfulness that I can advance my beliefs and give You honor and glory.
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