1. Heart and History of the Early Church Session 8: The Lord’s Supper, the Agape Feast, and Baptism www.drewcuster.wordpress.com

2. The Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper was always the center of early Christian worship until the Protestant reformation (Acts 20:7) What was done around or before the Lord’s Supper varied but it always included the Lord’s Supper There is no evidence of the Lord’s Supper being taken daily, only weekly. The common name for the Lord’s supper in the early church was the Eucharist, which is Greek for “thanksgiving”

3. The Lord’s Supper It was an entire meal at the beginning (1 Cor) – Everyone brought what they could and ate – Then the bread and wine was shared 2 Parts: – Scripture, prayers, and singing – Bread and Cup shared Only the baptized were allowed to attend the Lord’s Supper Read Ignatius, Didache, and Justin Martyr

4. Meaning of Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper was initially a memorial of Christ’s death involving thanksgiving, hope, and fellowship Evolution of thought – Some said Holy Spirit works through it to bless – Literal identity of Christ in the elements (Read Justin) – Sacrificial Meaning

5. Sacrificial Meaning of Lord’s Supper “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the LORD Almighty. “When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the LORD. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations. -Malachi 1:10ff Shift from Table to Altar

6. Scriptures on Lord Supper 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

7. Scriptures on Lord Supper 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

8. Agape (Love) Feast Ignatius said not to baptize or to have a love feast without a bishop present- it was a church dinner Was a meal closely related to the Lord Supper They were sometimes done separately from the Lord’s Supper Purpose of the Love Feast: – Share life- fellowship – Bring Unity – Share resources with the poor and widowed

9. Agape (Love) Feast Preceded and concluded with prayer Meal entertainment were the singing of Hymns Clement of Alexandria has some concern that some Love Feast are beginning to lose the spiritual significance. (Just food and worldly discussion)

10. Baptism The Lord instituted 2 sacraments for the church: (Augustine: “Visible form of invisible grace”) – Lord’s Supper – Baptism In Acts, baptism was done immediately upon confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ Soon it became common for long periods of instruction to take place before baptism. They were taught for about 3 years as catechumens before being baptized by immersion on Easter Sunday.

11. Baptism Readings from book At least a dozen writers mention baptism as being immersion. Besides, that’s what the word means. – 3 speak of alternatives to immersion and only as exceptions

12. Infant Baptism The “households” of Cornelius, Lydia, and the Philippian jailer were baptized in Acts. However, all explicit mentions of baptism in the New Testament are adult believers. First hint of infant baptism is by Irenaeus (180), although he does not mention baptism but born again. Origen and Hyppolytus (1 st half of 200’s) agree with the practice of infant baptism.

13. Infant Baptism Tertullian (200) opposes it based on the innocence of children. Discussion of doctrine of original sin begins. Most begin to agree in the doctrine. The first command to baptize infants in a church document appears in the 4 th century Infant baptism becomes general practice by 5 th century

14. Late Baptism In the third century, because of misinterpretation of baptism as washing away only past sins, it became known that some were waiting until their deathbeds to be baptized. This was not widespread but it was around

15. Some Baptism Scriptures 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. -Acts 2:38-41

16. Some Baptism Scriptures “26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” -Gal 3:26-27 ”3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” -Rom 6:3-4

17. Heart and History of the Early Church Session 8: Lord’s Supper and Baptism www.drewcuster.wordpress.com