Come Together by Pastor Luke Faw
New Series: Followers of the Way – The Normal Christian Life
Acts 2:42 (NLT) – “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”
Acts 2:44 (NLT) – “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.”
Acts 2:46 (NLT) – “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.”
What had started as a beautiful expression of love, service and unity, had already become distorted into something selfish causing division and shame
1 Corinthias 11:18-22 (NLT) – “First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!
1. Choose Love Over Selfishness (PRIDE)
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NLT) – “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”
2. Choose Unity Over Division (SPLITTING APART)
Colossians 3:14 (NIV) – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
3. Choose Service Over Shame
Romans 5:5 (NIV) – “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Love breaks the power of pride; it goes low to serve and apologize. (HUMILITY)
James 5:16a (ESV) – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
Where do you need to confess and repent of selfishness, pride or shame that is blocking unity in communion for you?
1 Corinthians 11:23b-24 (NLT) – On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT) – In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
Questions for discussion/reflection:
1. Share a story of division you experienced.
2. In what areas of your life do you wrestle with pride? Why?
3. Has shame ever prevented you from entering deeper unity with God’s people?
4. How can you invite the love of Jesus to heal your shame and drive out your pride?
