When it comes to God’s call on men & women, we need to remember God’s Word teaches that men & women are both equal in value & worth, as well as unequal in role/function.
After praising the Corinthians for remembering him and God’s Word, Paul addresses properness in worship. Men prayed uncovered (like taking your hat off today). Jewish women had always covered their heads in worship, not to do so in public was a disgrace and a sign of loose morals. Gentile women worshiped without covering their heads. Result - two cultures collide. So what is the solution? God-given roles and properness. The disgrace comes from dishonoring those roles = “dishonors their head.” “No other practice”: Female rebellion (or any rebellion) is condemned in scripture. Therefore, in this culture, women were to have distinctively feminine hairdos, and where culture dictated, were to wear a covering. It’ was mainly a sign of submission, and when we are not submissive, we offend others - and we are not to even offend the angels!
Paul then goes on to address properness in worship – specifically during communion. Apparently some were not waiting on others (this is one reason we take communion together). Others were taking way to much wine, getting drunk and eating everything while others were left out – total selfishness! So Paul writes these words that may sound familiar: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, 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.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
What were the results of improperness in worship? “Sinning against the body & blood of the Lord.” Some got weak, sick and even died! So before we “rush” into this reverent time, we are to take a moment & examine our hearts! And hey, if you’re hungry, eat at home before you come! And Paul ends with “I fill you in more later…”
SO WHAT?!
*Whether you’re a guy or a gal, it’s most important to demonstrate your submission to the Lord by fulfilling His God-given role for your life! So – how we doin’?
*Ok, so head coverings….. ummmm……. do we tell every lady to wear a bonnet each week?!~ Tell guys to cut their hair short? I don’t think so, but I do believe we should demonstrate submission to our God-given authorities. So again, how we doin’?
*How is our worship & reverence of the Lord? Are we talking or texting during church or student ministry? Worship is to an audience of ONE – Jesus! If there is anything that pulls us from that it needs to be addressed. And yep, you guessed it, how we doin’?
* Finally, communion is a time to remember our Lord and what He has done for us – to remember His body being broken and His blood being shed (instead of mine) for our sin. Why not stop right now and do that?!~
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