1 Corinthians Part 9 | 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Central to church’s gathering and worship was the Lord’s Supper (an actual meal that they shared together). Paul hears disturbing news that the very thing that was meant to proclaim the good news of Jesus and represent the body of Christ, has now led to divisions and abuse. So Paul first diagnoses the problem, the “haves” of the congregation were discriminating against the “have nots” during communion. Then Paul reminds them of the central proclamation of the Supper: Jesus’ body and blood given for them, celebrate the meal in remembrance of that. Then he calls them to the painful but important task of discernment around what they have done, so that they can repent and get back to living out their mission in proclaiming the redemptive and saving work of Jesus, through their lives as the body of Christ. Central to this is the idea of radical hospitality: to one another, and to the world.