Read 1 Corinthians 11:17–34
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and
drinks of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28
From the beginning of the church, it was customary for the believers
to eat together. It was an opportunity for fellowship and for sharing
with those who were less privileged.
The “agape feast” (from the Greek word for “love”) was part of
the worship at Corinth, but some serious abuses had crept in. For one
thing, there were various cliques in the church, and people ate with
their own “crowd” instead of fellowshipping with the whole church
family (v. 18).
Another fault was selfishness: The rich people brought a great
deal of food for themselves, while the poorer members went hungry.
And some of the members were even getting drunk (vv. 20–21).
Of course, the divisions at the dinner were but evidence of the
deeper problems in the church. The Corinthians thought they were
advanced believers, when in reality they were but little children. Paul
did not suggest that they abandon the feast, but rather that they
restore its proper meaning. The “agape feast” should have been an
opportunity for edification.
Something to Ponder
What would you suggest to make your church meetings more edifying for all people involved?