32 What Was Wrong with the Lord’s Supper in Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

The way we share the Lord’s Supper can quietly reveal what we really believe about the gospel. In this episode on 1 Corinthians 11:17–22, Krisan Marotta looks at a church meal in Corinth that had gone so horribly wrong that Paul says they’d be better off not meeting at all. Instead of a celebration of unity in Christ, the Lord’s Supper had become a display of social status, self-indulgence, and indifference to the poor—exposing a deeper problem with their values and faith. In this week’s episode, we explore:Why Paul’s tone here is much sharper than in the head-covering discussion, and what that difference tells us about the seriousness of the situationTwo common misreadings of this passage: treating it mainly as a warning about profaning a ritual, or as a manifesto for economic justice The Passover/Hitler analogy: how acting in ways that contradict a ritual’s meaning doesn’t just “break the rules,” but exposes a heart fundamentally out of step with what that ritual proclaimsPaul’s puzzling statement that “there must be factions among you,” and how divisions can reveal who is genuinely aligning their lives with the gospel and who is clinging to worldly valuesA likely picture of Corinthian house-church meals: the wealthy feasting in the dining room, the poor left hungry in the courtyard, some getting drunk while others have nothing What Paul means by saying they “come together not for the better but for the worse,” and why he thinks their current practice does more harm than goodA fresh look at “wait for one another”: not just “start eating at the same time,” but an attitude of serving others, seeing who lacks, and making sure no one is shamed or overlookedHow this passage challenges us today to ask whether our church practices and personal habits match what we claim to believe about grace, unity, and the value of every believerAfter listening, you’ll see 1 Corinthians 11:17–22 as far more than a set of rules about communion. You’ll be invited to consider what your own choices around worship, fellowship, and generosity reveal about your deepest loyalties—whether you are quietly chasing status and comfort, or learning to live as someone who truly believes the gospel you celebrate at the Lord’s table. Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the ChurchStart Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity is available now wherever books are sold.