Based on the teaching of Pastor Todd Core Harmony Hill Baptist Church | January 11, 2026
In leadership, we talk constantly about “alignment.” We spend hours in boardrooms defining culture, clarifying vision, and trying to get everyone rowing in the same direction. But as Pastor Todd Core reminded us this morning, the most powerful tool for alignment in the church isn’t a strategic plan or a mission statement on a wall – it is a table.
As we continue our series on loving God’s church, Pastor Core brought us to the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17–32). For the spiritual leader, this isn’t just a ritual; it is a critical “Selah” moment – a pause that recalibrates our hearts and our organization.
Here are four leadership imperatives drawn from today’s message on the importance of the Lord’s Supper.
1. The Ultimate Act of Cultural Alignment (Unity)
Paul’s words to the Corinthians were sharp because their culture was toxic. “I hear that there are divisions among you,” he wrote. When a church – or any organization – is fractured, productivity ceases and mission drifts.
Pastor Core identified the Table as “a table that unites us.” It is the moment we level the playing field. At the foot of the cross, and at the Table, there are no CEOs, no major donors, and no celebrities. There are only redeemed sinners.
- The Leadership Truth: When we take the Supper, we aren’t just eating; we are declaring our unity as Christ’s redeemed. It is the ultimate check against the silos and factions that destroy teams.
2. Anchoring to the “Why” (Remembrance)
In the noise of 2026 – with the speed of technology and the pressure of schedules – it is easy for a leader to lose their “why.” We get so busy with the work of the Lord that we forget the Lord of the work.
Jesus gave us a tangible, physical anchor: “Do this in remembrance of me.” Pastor Core highlighted two specific remembrances:
- We remember the sacrifice (the cost of our sin).
- We remember the new covenant (the promise that sustains us).
- The Leadership Truth: The Supper forces us to look back at the Cross. It reminds us that our leadership is not about our platform, but about His purchase of our souls.
3. Vision Casting for Eternity (Looking Forward)
Great leadership is always future-oriented. It anticipates what is coming next. Pastor Core pointed out that every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
This is a prophetic act. We are looking forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
- The Leadership Truth: When we take the Supper, we proclaim salvation. We lift our eyes from the temporary problems of this week’s budget or next week’s event and fix them on the eternal horizon. It gives our leadership proper perspective.
4. The Self-Audit (Reverence)
Every effective leader knows the value of a performance review. But who reviews the soul of the leader?
Pastor Core emphasized the text’s warning against taking the cup in an “unworthy manner,” urging us to “examine himself.” This is a call for a spiritual self-audit. It is dangerous to lead others when your own heart is drifting.
- The Leadership Truth: When we take the Supper, we engage in reverent worship. We invite the Holy Spirit to highlight the blind spots, the pride, and the hidden sins that limit our effectiveness. We seek purity so we can avoid necessary discipline.
The Takeaway
Don’t rush past the Table. Use it. Let it unite you with your brothers and sisters. Let it remind you of the Gospel. Let it orient you toward eternity. And most importantly, as Pastor Core urged us today, let it search your heart.
