Honoring God: Navigating Cultural Influence in Worship
Summary
In today's exploration of 1 Corinthians 11, we delved into the complexities of cultural influences on the early church and how these issues resonate with us today. The passage challenges us to understand the importance of God's design for our gatherings, emphasizing the need to keep Christ at the head and God at the center. The Corinthian church, much like our own, struggled with allowing cultural norms to infiltrate their worship, leading to a distortion of God's intended order. Men and women in Corinth were bringing societal status symbols into their gatherings, which distracted from the true purpose of worship—glorifying God.
The cultural context of Corinth was one of idolatry and moral laxity, akin to a modern-day Las Vegas. This environment seeped into the church, causing believers to focus on self-glorification rather than God. Men were using head coverings as status symbols, while women were discarding their marital head coverings, signaling openness to relationships outside of marriage. These actions were not just cultural faux pas but were deeply dishonoring to God and disruptive to the church's unity.
Paul's message to the Corinthians was clear: God's design for leadership and submission is rooted in creation itself. Men and women are created with distinct roles and equal value, reflecting the order and interdependence seen in the Trinity. This divine order is not about oppression or superiority but about partnership and mutual respect, aiming to glorify God.
As we apply these lessons to our context, we must affirm that God's design matters. Our disposition in worship should be one of humility and service, not self-promotion. We must be cautious of allowing modern status symbols—whether possessions or positions—to distract us from our primary purpose. Our gatherings should reflect the gospel, displaying the grace and sufficiency of Christ to the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Cultural Influence and Worship: The Corinthian church allowed cultural norms to infiltrate their worship, leading to a focus on self rather than God. This serves as a reminder to examine how our own cultural biases might distract us from true worship. We must strive to keep Christ at the head and God at the center of our gatherings. [06:20]
2. God's Design for Leadership: God's design for leadership and submission is rooted in creation, emphasizing distinct roles and equal value for men and women. This order reflects the interdependence seen in the Trinity and is not about oppression but about partnership and mutual respect. [26:50]
3. The Role of Status Symbols: Just as the Corinthians used head coverings as status symbols, we must be wary of allowing modern possessions and positions to distract us from glorifying God. Our gatherings should not be about self-promotion but about serving and honoring God. [37:53]
4. Submission and Authority: Aligning with those whom God has placed in authority is crucial, whether in family, church, or society. This submission is not about losing freedom but about following Christ's example and glorifying God within the systems He has established. [30:33]
5. Displaying the Gospel: The message we display in our gatherings matters. We should focus on displaying the gospel, emphasizing the grace and sufficiency of Christ, rather than our personal preferences or freedoms. This ensures that God remains the focus of our worship. [41:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:20] - Cultural Influence on Worship
- [11:54] - Status Symbols in Corinth
- [16:38] - The Role of Head Coverings
- [22:39] - God's Design for Gathering
- [26:50] - Creation and Order
- [30:33] - Submission and Authority
- [34:22] - Applying God's Design Today
- [37:53] - Modern Status Symbols
- [41:16] - Displaying the Gospel
- [44:17] - Conclusion and Application
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
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Observation Questions:
1. What cultural influences were affecting the Corinthian church's gatherings, and how did these influences manifest in their worship practices? [06:20]
2. How did the use of head coverings serve as a status symbol for men in the Corinthian church, and what message did it send to others? [11:54]
3. What was the cultural significance of women wearing head coverings in Corinth, and how did this relate to their marital status? [16:38]
4. How does Paul use the creation story to address the issues of order and leadership within the Corinthian church? [26:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the cultural context of Corinth compare to modern-day cultural influences on the church, and what lessons can be drawn from this comparison? [06:20]
2. In what ways does Paul's teaching on headship and submission reflect the interdependence seen in the Trinity, and how does this challenge contemporary views on gender roles? [30:33]
3. How might the Corinthian church's focus on status symbols and self-promotion be similar to challenges faced by churches today? [37:53]
4. What does it mean to keep Christ at the head and God at the center of our gatherings, and how can this be practically implemented in today's church context? [34:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own cultural biases. How might they be influencing your approach to worship and church gatherings? What steps can you take to ensure that Christ remains at the head and God at the center? [06:20]
2. Consider the status symbols in your life, whether possessions or positions. How might these be distracting you from glorifying God? What changes can you make to shift the focus back to God? [37:53]
3. How do you view the roles of leadership and submission in your family, church, or workplace? What practical steps can you take to align more closely with the biblical model of partnership and mutual respect? [30:33]
4. Think about a recent church gathering you attended. Was the focus on glorifying God or on personal preferences and freedoms? How can you contribute to ensuring that future gatherings display the gospel and emphasize the grace and sufficiency of Christ? [41:16]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be resisting God's design for leadership and submission. What is one action you can take this week to align more closely with His design? [34:22]
6. How can you encourage others in your church community to focus on God's design for gatherings and avoid the distractions of cultural influences? What role can you play in fostering a culture of humility and service? [44:17]
7. Reflect on the message you display in your daily life. Is it aligned with the gospel? What changes can you make to ensure that your actions and words consistently point others to Christ? [41:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Cultural Influence and Worship: Keeping God at the Center
In the early church of Corinth, cultural norms began to infiltrate worship, shifting the focus from God to self. The Corinthians allowed societal status symbols to distract them from the true purpose of their gatherings, which was to glorify God. This serves as a reminder for us today to examine how our own cultural biases might distract us from true worship. We must strive to keep Christ at the head and God at the center of our gatherings, ensuring that our worship is not about self-promotion but about honoring God. [06:20]
1 John 2:15-16 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."
Reflection: What cultural influences in your life might be distracting you from focusing on God during worship? How can you actively work to keep God at the center of your gatherings this week?
Day 2: God's Design for Leadership: Embracing Distinct Roles and Equal Value
God's design for leadership and submission is rooted in creation, emphasizing distinct roles and equal value for men and women. This divine order reflects the interdependence seen in the Trinity and is not about oppression but about partnership and mutual respect. In the Corinthian church, this order was disrupted by cultural practices that dishonored God. Today, we are called to embrace God's design, recognizing the unique roles we each play in His creation and working together to glorify Him. [26:50]
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."
Reflection: How can you better embrace and respect the distinct roles within your family, church, or community? What steps can you take to foster mutual respect and partnership in these relationships?
Day 3: The Role of Status Symbols: Focusing on Service Over Self-Promotion
In Corinth, head coverings became status symbols that distracted from worship. Similarly, we must be wary of allowing modern possessions and positions to distract us from glorifying God. Our gatherings should not be about self-promotion but about serving and honoring God. By focusing on service rather than status, we can ensure that our worship reflects the grace and sufficiency of Christ to the world. [37:53]
James 2:1-4 (ESV): "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
Reflection: What modern status symbols might be distracting you from serving and honoring God? How can you shift your focus from self-promotion to service in your daily life?
Day 4: Submission and Authority: Following Christ's Example
Aligning with those whom God has placed in authority is crucial, whether in family, church, or society. This submission is not about losing freedom but about following Christ's example and glorifying God within the systems He has established. By submitting to authority, we demonstrate our trust in God's design and our commitment to living out His will in our lives. [30:33]
Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with submission to authority? How can you follow Christ's example in these areas and glorify God through your actions?
Day 5: Displaying the Gospel: Emphasizing Grace and Sufficiency of Christ
The message we display in our gatherings matters. We should focus on displaying the gospel, emphasizing the grace and sufficiency of Christ, rather than our personal preferences or freedoms. By doing so, we ensure that God remains the focus of our worship and that our lives reflect His love and grace to the world. [41:16]
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your gatherings and daily interactions reflect the gospel and the grace of Christ? What specific actions can you take to make Christ's sufficiency evident in your life?
Quotes
God's design for our gathering gives glory to God and consideration for others. It gives glory to God and has consideration for others. How we approach this gathering matters. [00:34:54] (13 seconds)
When the church affirms God's design, we honor Christ as our leader and we glorify God. When we lean into God's design for the gathering, we make Christ the head and we make God the center. [00:34:22] (15 seconds)
God's created us, man and woman. We need to recognize that design matters and we can't let culture creep in to our gatherings and sow seeds of chaos and discord. [00:36:03] (10 seconds)
The message that we display matters. When we begin to place ourselves as the most important thing in the gathering, we stop displaying God. God, we stop glorifying God and we start displaying our favorites, our feelings, and our freedoms. [00:40:22] (19 seconds)
We should be displaying the gospel. We should be displaying that Jesus Christ died on a cross and three days later, he rose from the grave so that sinners like you and me can have a relationship with God so that I could be saved. [00:42:49] (16 seconds)
God in his love, in his grace, has given us designs so that we can get the most out of this. So that we can get the most out of church, out of our gatherings. [00:44:01] (12 seconds)
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