Get a Rhythm with Christ and his People: Communion, Culture, and Co-Mission (pt. 2) (1 Corinthians 10:14–22)

sermon photo Last week we saw the covenantal nature of communion and how the Lord’s Table not only creates a thick relationship with Christ but also with one another. This week’s sermon furthered that discussion looking at ways we must resist the pulls of demonic-inspired idols. In an applicational message on 1 Corinthians 10:14–22, I argued

Communion creates culture—for good or bad; therefore,
Gospel culture reinforces communion with Christ; and
Godless culture resists communion with Christ; so
We resist the table of demons by taking our gospel culture public.

From these four points, we considered further how to recognize and resist modern temples, false gospels, and demonic idols. Specifically, we looked at the way iPhones function as modern-day temples with gospel promises, inviting us to make them our functional idols.

Sermon audio can be found here and sermon notes here. Discussion questions and further resources can be found below.

1 Corinthians 10:14–22

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.¹⁶ The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? ¹⁹ What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ²² Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Discussion Questions

Review the relationship between communion and covenant. How does sitting down at the Lord’s Table (vv. 16–17), or the altar (v. 18), or the demon’s table (v. 19–21) create communion? What is communion—vertical and horizontal?
What does communion with Christ require? In other words, how can we grow in our communion? What does communion with Christ require of us in the world? (Consider the analogy of marriage: to say ‘yes’ to your covenant partner requires a thousand ‘no’s’ to other suitors).
What are the four premises of the message (see above)? What kind of culture does the gospel create? How does a healthy church culture reinforce the gospel? What is a healthy church culture? And why can’t a culture create converts? What happens when a church depends on the culture, instead of the preached Word, to create life?
How does the world’s culture push against Christians and the church? In what ways are we blind to this cultural resistance? Is it helpful to think of stores and cell phones in terms of temples, gospels, and idols? How will it change the way you go into the world?
What is the Great Commission? How does a rich gospel culture empower the church to fulfill that Commission? What would it look like for us as a church to be on mission together? How can we have a Great Co-Mission?
In light of this focus on covenant, communion, culture, and co-mission that we’ve seen in 1 Corinthians 10, how important is the local church? Can we fulfill God’s will for us as isolated individuals? (The answer is ‘no’). In what ways do we need to grow in our understanding of the local church? Consider John 13:34–35; 1 John 2:19; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24–25; and 1 Peter 1:22 ([saved] “for a brotherly love”).

For Further Study

A Biblical Theology of Technology

In 2014 I wrote a five-hour study for my systematic theology class at SBTS. It covered the way in which the study of theology is effected and hindered by our unrestrained consumption of media. I’ve included the notes here. These are notes, not full paragraphs, but if you are interested in the subject, your should be able to follow my train of thought—if you’re not overly distracted by your device.

On Culture

David Wells and James K.A. Smith are two of the most perceptive “cultural exegetes” I’ve read. I would commend any of the following.

David Wells

God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-Love of God Reorients Our World (2014) — Start here to get a sense of Wells biblical foundations. The other books are much more sociological and philosophical.
No Place for Truth: Or, What Ever Happened to Evangelical Theology? (1993)
God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams (1994)
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision (1998)
Above All Earthly Pow’rs: Christ in a Postmodern World(2005)
The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Post-Modern World (2008)

James K. A. Smith

You are What You Love (2016) — Start here to get an introduction to Smith’s best insights; then pick up his other volumes where he engages philosophy head on.
Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation (2009)
Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works (2013)
How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor (2014)

On Cell Phones

Six Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke
Get Alone Undistracted by Tony Reinke
The Mistress in Your Pocket by Rob Hurtgen
I Used to be a Human Being by Andrew Sullivan — Sullydish was one of the most prolific and effective bloggers in the twenty-first century. And it cost him dearly. This New York magazine piece is not short (and it is not from a Christian), but it is well worth the read.

A Short Bibliography on Media Ecology and a Theology of Technology

Classical Studies in Media Ecology

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985) — Start here. Anecdotally, it explains 2016’s political fiasco.
Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media (1964)
Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society (1967)

Selections on Technology from a Christian Perspective

Articles