When Worship Makes Things Worse

Pastor Eddie Eaton continues the Corinthians study in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34, where Paul confronts a church whose worship gathering—and especially the Lord’s Supper—had become an expression of division, selfishness, status, and disregard for others. The Table is meant to recenter believers on the gospel: looking back to Christ’s sacrifice, living in the present grace of the new covenant, looking forward to His return, and looking within through honest self-examination, repentance, confession, and reconciliation. The Lord’s Supper is a rescue table with no VIPs or second-class citizens—only sinners saved by grace and called to unity, humility, and love.

Primary Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:17–34

Supporting Scripture

Acts 2:42; Jude 12; Hebrews 10:4; Jeremiah 31:31; Ephesians 2:8–9; Matthew 18

Sermon Outline

• When worship contradicts the gospel (1 Corinthians 11:17–22)

• Paul recenters the church on Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)

• Look back: remember Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice

• Look present: celebrate the grace of the new covenant

• Look forward: proclaim Christ’s death until He comes

• Look within: examine faith, heart, and relationships

• Self-examination, confession, repentance, and reconciliation (1 Corinthians 11:27–32)

• Welcome and wait for one another in unity, humility, and love (1 Corinthians 11:33–34)

• The Lord’s Supper as a rescue table

• Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the ordinances of the church

Service Timeline

00:00 — Piano prelude

03:12 — Welcome, opening prayer, and offering

04:52 — Instrumental offertory

07:19 — “To God Be the Glory”

10:54 — “Jesus Christ Is the Same”

13:41 — “Ancient of Days”

18:11 — “There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do”

22:17 — Worship medley

23:04 — “I Will Call Upon the Lord”

25:39 — “There’s Only One”

27:28 — Sermon: “When Worship Makes Things Worse”

28:32 — Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

30:52 — Sermon prayer

32:08 — Exposition: Corinth’s divisions and the love feast

44:40 — Paul recenters the church on the gospel

45:54 — Look back: Christ’s sacrifice

47:13 — Look present: the new covenant and grace

49:17 — Look forward: Christ’s return

51:18 — Look within: self-examination

58:25 — God’s loving discipline

60:00 — Guarding against empty ritual; the ordinances and close communion

64:14 — The practical correction: welcome and wait for one another

66:40 — The rescue table

74:11 — Gospel invitation

75:25 — Invitation

78:23 — “Just as I Am”

82:04 — Closing remarks and workday announcement

83:26 — Closing prayer

85:38 — Bethlehem Walk announcement

85:51 — Piano postlude

Topics: Communion, Lord’s Supper, Worship, Church Unity, Gospel, Grace, Salvation, Repentance, Forgiveness, Church Discipline