“Uncommon Things We Believe” Series #3 We believe we should partake of the Lord's Supper each 1st day of the week: Sunday -- I Corinthians 11:23-26

“Uncommon Things We Believe” Series Contents 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV) 23  For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.”

“Uncommon Things We Believe” Series Contents 25  In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Wouldn't Communion be more special if we only observed it occasionally? It is wrong to do something at one time if God reveals another time. Could the Jews have observed Passover at any time?

Some Clarification. We do not consider the Lord's Supper in a sacramental way. A sacramental view would mean that the ceremony itself has a certain power to impart a blessing apart from the heart of a participant. In this view, the emblems of Communion are felt to have intrinsic power.

However, the Bible teaches that the emblems offer no blessing unless the heart of a participant is right with God   We simply eat bread and drink grape juice when we do not partake biblically: (1 Corinthians 11:20 (ESV) When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

Therefore, we do not believe that the Lord's Supper actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. Jesus used a metaphor in Matthew 26:26-28 (ESV): Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

This is seen clearly by looking at 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV) : The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread..

Paul states that it was "bread" that was actually eaten Paul states that it was "bread" that was actually eaten. The "sharing" or "communion" in the body and blood of Christ had to do with the relationship of the bread and the fruit of the vine to Jesus. Jesus body and blood were thus symbolized by the bread and the cup.

Regarding the place of biblical authority in observing the Lord's Supper, we believe that inference is as effective in establishing truth as is an explicit statement. There is no explicit command in the Bible to partake of the Lord's Supper every Sunday. In fact, there is no direct command to meet on Sunday for any thing.

Jesus commanded that the church partake of the Lord's Supper - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The church had a special assembly every first day of the week-Sunday: (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (ESV) Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2  On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

1 Corinthians 11:18 (ESV) 18  For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part… 1 Corinthians 11:20 (ESV) 20  When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) 25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

This day was known as the "Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10 (ESV) “ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet;   Jesus arose on the first day of the week - Luke 24:1-2 (ESV) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb…”

On this special day, the church was to gather to partake of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Acts 20:7 (ESV) On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.  

Acts 20:11 (ESV) 11  And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. Acts 2:42 (ESV) 42  And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.