Biblical Leadership
May the consolation of the Lord comfort our hearts as we receive encouraging words from Paul.
Having just delivered some of the strongest worded admonitions to the Church of Corinth, Paul ends this discussion with words of affirmation.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.
1 Corinthians 11:33-34
Paul affirms in this text that we are brothers and sisters. We are not at odds with one another, but as in any family we have our momentary squabbles, but these do not divide us. Having emphasized the urgency to protect the truth of the Gospel, Paul now affirms what the Gospel has accomplished in our relationships with one another.
The apostle Peter writes of the reality of who God has made us in the Gospel. He says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” 1 Peter 2:9-10.
It is Paul himself who writes, For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” Romans 8:15.
Both Peter and Paul are echoing what Jesus said of those who believe in Him, “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father” John 15:15.
The clearest understanding is when Jesus says repeatedly that anyone who believes in Him are truly His brothers and sisters. The same is heard by the apostles when they proclaim we are children of God. This is what it means to be adopted into the family of God. The Gospel establishes a relationship between us. That is the reason it is so painful when heresy brings division and the end to the relationship a person has with God and their Christian family.
In light of all he has said, Paul says when they come together for worship they are to “wait for one another.” They have their homes to eat in if they are that hungry. The purpose of coming together for worship is to celebrate the Gospel together as Jesus comes to them in the Lord’s Supper. The proper way to love others is to set aside your own needs and love others selflessly. This is what Paul is calling them to do.
Paul then states very plainly that they will not come under judgment if they truly love one another the right way. To fail to love will bring the discipline of the Lord, which Paul has already addressed.
In bringing this section to a close, Paul writes, I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come. The word “other matters” carries the idea of what is “remaining” or the “rest” of what needs to be shared on this issue. It is obvious Paul has more to say on the matter of the Lord’s Supper, both the proper understanding of what it is, and how it is to be celebrated in the midst of the Church. He has addressed the critical issue at hand, and he is content to wait until he is with them to address the rest. This is not the final issue Paul will write about. He is about to delve into other matters which can lead to heresy! He is simply concluding his discussion of the Lord’s Supper.
Why was it necessary for Paul to address these issues at all? Why does he need to be the one to give “instruction” to the Church? The word for instruction means to give very precise or detailed understanding. To leave nothing undone. Paul wants to go deeper, much deeper when he finally arrives and can once again meet with the people of Corinth face to face. Until that time comes, he has given them what they need.
If we want the truth about why the church of Corinth needed Paul or why any church needs a spiritual leader, it is because God has equipped some to be leaders in the Church. Paul writes this to the Church in Ephesus, And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, (4:11). While we all stand equal before the cross, and while we all are free to approach God individually because we are God’s children through the Gospel, we are not all the same. We are called to different roles of service in the kingdom. We are all witnesses in the world but not all are leaders in the Church.
It is the responsibility of the Church leaders to instruct, teach, admonish, direct, and sacrifice for all the body that each individual Christian might be spiritually uplifted and prepared to face the calling of God in their life. There is an accountability from God placed upon all the leaders He has chosen. Pray that your spiritual leaders may be found faithful. For in their faithfulness, you are blessed.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Having just delivered some of the strongest worded admonitions to the Church of Corinth, Paul ends this discussion with words of affirmation.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.
1 Corinthians 11:33-34
Paul affirms in this text that we are brothers and sisters. We are not at odds with one another, but as in any family we have our momentary squabbles, but these do not divide us. Having emphasized the urgency to protect the truth of the Gospel, Paul now affirms what the Gospel has accomplished in our relationships with one another.
The apostle Peter writes of the reality of who God has made us in the Gospel. He says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” 1 Peter 2:9-10.
It is Paul himself who writes, For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” Romans 8:15.
Both Peter and Paul are echoing what Jesus said of those who believe in Him, “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father” John 15:15.
The clearest understanding is when Jesus says repeatedly that anyone who believes in Him are truly His brothers and sisters. The same is heard by the apostles when they proclaim we are children of God. This is what it means to be adopted into the family of God. The Gospel establishes a relationship between us. That is the reason it is so painful when heresy brings division and the end to the relationship a person has with God and their Christian family.
In light of all he has said, Paul says when they come together for worship they are to “wait for one another.” They have their homes to eat in if they are that hungry. The purpose of coming together for worship is to celebrate the Gospel together as Jesus comes to them in the Lord’s Supper. The proper way to love others is to set aside your own needs and love others selflessly. This is what Paul is calling them to do.
Paul then states very plainly that they will not come under judgment if they truly love one another the right way. To fail to love will bring the discipline of the Lord, which Paul has already addressed.
In bringing this section to a close, Paul writes, I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come. The word “other matters” carries the idea of what is “remaining” or the “rest” of what needs to be shared on this issue. It is obvious Paul has more to say on the matter of the Lord’s Supper, both the proper understanding of what it is, and how it is to be celebrated in the midst of the Church. He has addressed the critical issue at hand, and he is content to wait until he is with them to address the rest. This is not the final issue Paul will write about. He is about to delve into other matters which can lead to heresy! He is simply concluding his discussion of the Lord’s Supper.
Why was it necessary for Paul to address these issues at all? Why does he need to be the one to give “instruction” to the Church? The word for instruction means to give very precise or detailed understanding. To leave nothing undone. Paul wants to go deeper, much deeper when he finally arrives and can once again meet with the people of Corinth face to face. Until that time comes, he has given them what they need.
If we want the truth about why the church of Corinth needed Paul or why any church needs a spiritual leader, it is because God has equipped some to be leaders in the Church. Paul writes this to the Church in Ephesus, And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, (4:11). While we all stand equal before the cross, and while we all are free to approach God individually because we are God’s children through the Gospel, we are not all the same. We are called to different roles of service in the kingdom. We are all witnesses in the world but not all are leaders in the Church.
It is the responsibility of the Church leaders to instruct, teach, admonish, direct, and sacrifice for all the body that each individual Christian might be spiritually uplifted and prepared to face the calling of God in their life. There is an accountability from God placed upon all the leaders He has chosen. Pray that your spiritual leaders may be found faithful. For in their faithfulness, you are blessed.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Recent
Archive
2024
February
May
2023
January
March
May
June
July
August
October
November
2022
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments