Growing a strong church one member at a time
Lesson 4 - Why do we take the Lord's Supper every week?
Partaking of the Lord's Supper is a commandment and privilege for all Christians. Most every Christian religion sets aside time to break bread and drink the fruit of the vine. There is disagreement, however, on the "who," "what," "how," "why" and especially the "when" as to the conduct of the Supper. In this lesson we will look at EVERY scripture related to the Lord's Supper in the New Testament and answer each of these questions. The pattern created from the Bible is the pattern that we must then follow.
I. Scriptural References
II. Pattern
1. Who 4. Why
1. Apostles 1. Remembrance of Jesus
2. Christians 2. Show forth Christ's death
2. What 5. When
1. Fruit of the vine 1. Until He comes
2. Bread 2. First day of the week
3. How
1. Blessed
2. Bread broken and given
3. Cup divided amongst the group
III. Questions
1. Why do some people say it is wrong to eat in the church building?
1 Corinthians 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.
This verse is confusing right? Let's look at it in context and see.
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
a. Verses 17-22
The problem Paul was addressing was the congregation was not conducting the Lord Supper correctly. They were mixing the Lord's Supper and they regular meal. Furthermore, some of the rich Christians were be glutinous while members of the congregation others went hungry. Some were even using this as an excuse to get intoxicated. Therefore Paul is stating fact not a command "you guys aren't coming together for the Lord's Supper."
b. Verses 23-26
These verses review Christ's pattern for the Lord's Supper
c. Verses 27-29
Paul's warns the members not to eat the Lord's Supper in a "unworthy" manner." He does not say or insinuate for them "not to eat it at all."
2. The Bible says "on the first day of the week" but it does not say every first day of the week. If a group chooses to just do it on the first day of the week once a month, quarter or year or on holidays or special occasions is this acceptable?
a. When we endeavor the follow the Bible completely we must be true to its instructions as close as humanly possible. If we were a new employee at an office and our supervisor told us "Monday is the day of the week we that have lunch and give a status report on all our projects" would we assume he/she meant the next coming Monday only, or every Monday. Of course we would assume every Monday.
b. When God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses in Exodus 20, He told them to "Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy" in verse Exodus 20:8. Notice God did not say every Sabbath, but of course that is what He meant and the Jewish nation didn't dare try to distort what He said by just keeping the Sabbath once a month, quarter, year or on holidays or special occasions.
c. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul gives the church at Corinth instructions on when the monetary collection should take place. Notice that he says "on the first day of the week" here (some later translation have added the word "every" to this context). Why is that no religious leadership of any organization proclaim "it doesn't say every first day of the week" and then only pass the collection tray once a month or twice a year. It is interesting to note that while they claim passing the bread and fruit of the vine are time consuming and difficult, they have no issue passing the collection basket.
IV. Pieces of a puzzle
"Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?"
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
"And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?"
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body." "And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it." "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." "Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? "What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?" "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."
"Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed."
"And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him." "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:" "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:" "For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
"And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
"When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper."
"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it." "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken." "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:" "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye." "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."