1 Corinthians 11:17-22
But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

Gather with your PEOPLE.
When you come together as a church… v. 18a

The word for church is “ekklesi’a” and refers to all those called by and called to Christ.

Acts 2:44
And all those who believed were together and had all things in common.

Colossians 1:18
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

What threatens our gathering?

“divisions exist among you…”

1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

“factions among you…”

“Factions” is a word that means to choose or form an opinion of preference that creates dissension.

1 Corinthians 11:19
For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

People who consistently cause division can never be in leadership.

Gather with your PURPOSE.
Therefore when you meet together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper…
v. 18b

Gathering is about HIM.
…the Lord’s Supper. v. 18

Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”

Gathering is about FAMILY.
…for in your eating each one takes his own supper first and one is hungry and another is drunk. v. 19

1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

Great Advice in Troubling Times
Keep Christ first.
Keep the family together.
Keep the gospel central.
Keep eternity in mind.