The Lord's supper

[Tranceformer110]

Why are some so adament that the Lord's supper be EVERY Sunday? Especially since there isn't any text commanding us? My church has it once a month.

[constance]

Here's a quote from Alexander Campbell, you can click through to the much longer chapter if you like.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=2&version=31

Argument 1. The first Christian congregation which met in Jerusalem, and which was constituted by the twelve Apostles, did as statedly attend upon the breaking of the loaf in their public meetings, as they did upon any other part of the Christian worship. So Luke records, Acts ii. 42. (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:42) 'They continued steadfast in the Apostles' doctrine, in the fellowship, in the breaking of the loaf, and in the prayers.' Ought we not, then, to continue as steadfast in the breaking of the loaf, as in the teaching of the Apostles, as in the fellowship, as in the prayers commanded by the Apostles?
Argument 2. The Apostles taught the churches to do all the Lord commanded. Whatever, then, the churches did by the appointment or concurrence of the Apostles, they did by the commandment of Jesus Christ. Whatever acts of religious worship the Apostles taught and sanctioned in one Christian congregation, they taught and sanctioned in all Christian congregations, because all under the same government of one and the same King. But the church in Troas met upon the first day of the week, consequently all the churches met upon the first day of the week for religious purposes.
Among the acts of worship, or the institutions of the Lord, to which the disciples attended in these meetings, the breaking of the loaf was so conspicuous and so important, that the churches are said to meet on the first day of the week for this purpose. We are expressly told that the disciples at Troas met for this purpose; and what one church did by the authority of the Lord, as a part of his instituted worship, they all did. That the disciples in Troas met for this purpose is not to be inferred; for Luke says positively, Acts xx. 7. (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:7)) 'And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together for the breaking of the loaf, Paul, being about to depart on the morrow, discoursed with them, and lengthened out his discourse till midnight.' From the manner in which this meeting of the disciples at Troas is mentioned by the historian, two things are very obvious--1st. That it was an established custom or rule for the disciples to meet on the first day of the week. 2d. That the primary object of their meeting was to break the loaf.

[newbeliever02072005]

Why are some so adament that the Lord's supper be EVERY Sunday? Especially since there isn't any text commanding us? My church has it once a month.

Subscribing to this thread. I'm interested to know this answer as well.

My church (baptist) does on the 5th Sunday of the year...which turns out to be only 4 times a year.

I Cor 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

How often are you supposed to do this??:scratch:

[HeyHomie]

This is one of the Restoration Movement's sacred cows. We take communion every Sunday, and are very adamant about it, despite the lack of a firm Biblical command to do so.

Around here, example and doctrine are very closely intertwined. The New Testament seems to suggest that the early church took communion every Sunday. Ergo, we must take communion every Sunday.

But, it's not like we believe that you're going to go to hell if you didn't have communion the Sunday before you died. Well, some believe this, but that's just silly.

For me, it's simply a matter of personal preference. I feel like the worship service isn't complete without it. But I don't condemn another congregation for not doing so.

[MrJim]

Maybe it should be asked why don't everyone receive every week?

I've been in a church that did it 4X a year.
I've been in a church that did it once a month but only on Sunday evening (to weed out those that aren't sincere I guess)
I've been in a church that did it the first Sunday of the month.

I will say that even once a month isn't enough IMHO

[constance]

Again, here's Alexander Campbell

Among the acts of worship, or the institutions of the Lord, to which the disciples attended in these meetings, the breaking of the loaf was so conspicuous and so important, that the churches are said to meet on the first day of the week for this purpose. We are expressly told that the disciples at Troas met for this purpose; and what one church did by the authority of the Lord, as a part of his instituted worship, they all did. That the disciples in Troas met for this purpose is not to be inferred; for Luke says positively, Acts xx. 7. (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:7)) 'And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together for the breaking of the loaf, Paul, being about to depart on the morrow, discoursed with them, and lengthened out his discourse till midnight.' From the manner in which this meeting of the disciples at Troas is mentioned by the historian, two things are very obvious--1st. That it was an established custom or rule for the disciples to meet on the first day of the week. 2d. That the primary object of their meeting was to break the loaf.


There was a return to weekly communion among many Scottish Baptist churches and Alexander Campbell was influenced by those churches before he moved to the US.

Constance

[WesWoodell]

I'm willing to bet that after Christ's resurrection and ascension every time the apostles saw bread and wine it almost brought a tear to their eye.

So many have lost the idea and meaning behind communion - to remember, as a community, what Christ has done for us.

I believe this was the main reason the early Christians congregated on Sundays ... and I don't believe the way we observe communion today, even in restoration circles, is anything like the way they did it back then ...

[Frame1520]

If you are interested in a good sermon explaining the Lord's Supper and why we do it weekly:

Open up Itunes, and go to Podcasts.
Click on Advanced, and select "subscribe to podcast"
It will ask you for the URL, type in this:
itpc://media.lifewaychristianchurch.org/podcasts/lifewaypodcast.php

Just so happens, that was the sermon topic last week. Hopefully this will help everyone who has questions.

God Bless.

[Mrs. Enigma]

Why are some so adament that the Lord's supper be EVERY Sunday? Especially since there isn't any text commanding us? My church has it once a month.


Sounds fine to me. Is it unleavened bread? Is it one loaf? Is it one cup as mentioned in the scripture?

I couldn't resist all that extra stuff sorry....




Where we go to services, we take communion/ Lord's Supper weekly. It is wine in one cup, and one loaf broken for many. I personally got sick of making doctrines out of every "neccesarry inferance". I do not think it would be wrong to take communion multiple times a week. I do not think vitamin C being in the Welch's grape juice means anything either.

[Mrs. Enigma]

If you are interested in a good sermon explaining the Lord's Supper and why we do it weekly:

Open up Itunes, and go to Podcasts.
Click on Advanced, and select "subscribe to podcast"
It will ask you for the URL, type in this:
itpc://media.lifewaychristianchurch.org/podcasts/lifewaypodcast.php

Just so happens, that was the sermon topic last week. Hopefully this will help everyone who has questions.

God Bless.



I really appreciate you being in here. You have such a coC personality that it makes you feel somehow familiar, almost like I can predict what you are going to say.

Still fresh and on fire. It is good to be on fire for God. It is good to be firm in your convictions to. It feels secure and stuff if everything is rather clear cut. I used to think more black and white.

[Frame1520]

The one cup/one loaf view is not one that I share.

"Fruit of the vine" is not necessarily wine. We don't know exactly what it was, however, based on the fact that it was during passover, there was more than likely only wine in the house where they had the "last supper." So based on all that, I will agree that it was probably wine. However, with that said...I do not believe that you must drink only wine to partake in communion.

[Tranceformer110]

Sorry I seem to have dissapeared from my own thread. Looking at Acts 20:7 in the NIV, I'll have to check the greek text tomorrow at school, there is no indication that this was weekly nor is it commanded we do it weekly. If we are to live by the apostles example we should still meet on saturday because it's mentioned much more when they went to the synagogues. Finally, Jesus instituted the Lord's supper on thursday night...so shouldn't we take it on thursdays instead?:P All that said I am not knocking those who participate weekly, just the idea that it HAS to be done weekly.

[Mrs. Enigma]

The one cup/one loaf view is not one that I share.

"Fruit of the vine" is not necessarily wine. We don't know exactly what it was, however, based on the fact that it was during passover, there was more than likely only wine in the house where they had the "last supper." So based on all that, I will agree that it was probably wine. However, with that said...I do not believe that you must drink only wine to partake in communion.


I am sorry. I was not trying to imply that you beliueved the one cup thing. That is not typical coC view. It is what the house church that I am with does. You know nessecarry inferance and example... that is why you believe that Sunday, and every week is the way to go. It is also why my group does one loaf and cup. The example, and neccessarry inference are in there. THe coC takes the stuff to a certain degree and then stops, when the logic goes further.

Also, the coC believes in unleavened bread. THe only reason being that they knew this happened during passover and CHrist has no leaven in him. If they are gonna make a deal out of that, then they should include the one cup and one loaf which were actually suggested, and also symbolize the one body/Christ, and our unity.

I am not trying to start a big debate.

I don't believe it has to be any of the those ways. I am not trying to shove a weird view down your throat. It just bugs me that the coC has phylosophies that they don't seem to follow thru on, like they pick and choose.

I am not griping at you personally either. I feel like Travis Jordan in the Visitation (by Frank Peretti) ever read that book?

It is like I put so much faith in everything being just like the coC said, and then the walls on my box fell apart, or something. Everything was not as clear as portrayed.

Well, anyway, I am sorry if you thought I was saying that you believed it must be wine. THat is what my house church does, and that is not standard coC beliefs, either. But if you are gonna have to have unleavened bread, then they wanted to go and be accurate about the drink. IT is like the mindset of coC only taken a step further. I liked it at first, my salvation seemed even more secure/sure. But it actually opened my eyes..

Anyway, back to topic. Sorry guys.

[stone]

passover seder is once a year, was last night actually, just as it is written in your bibles, you know, the full moon, unleavened bread and wine. ;)

**hmm, maybe i shouldn't be saying anything in here, I'll be moveing along before i get in trouble**

[woman.at.the.well]

It probably has something to do with the bible verse that newbeliever posted. Since we Christians normally meet once a week - then we likewise could do communion once a week.

Here is another verse pertaining to what Christ said about communion:


LUKE 22:18-22 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

There is no explicit verse stating whether to do it once per week, once per month, four times per year, or whatever - you are correct there. It is apparently a matter of preference for each church.

I take it as meaning - to do communion each time believers meet. That could be wrong, but it's just MHO.

[ChurchofChrist]

In Acts it talks about the apostles meeting on the first day of the week to break bread. That was the purpose of the meeting. Also when you partake of the Lords Supper you are remember Jesus and the sacrifice he made. Why would you not want to do this on a weekly basis? Makes no sense to me why some churches dont.

[Frame1520]

In Acts it talks about the apostles meeting on the first day of the week to break bread. That was the purpose of the meeting. Also when you partake of the Lords Supper you are remember Jesus and the sacrifice he made. Why would you not want to do this on a weekly basis? Makes no sense to me why some churches dont.
Indeed, you are correct...And it makes no sense to me either why you wouldn't want to remember Jesus' sacrifice weekly!

[ChurchofChrist]

Indeed, you are correct...And it makes no sense to me either why you wouldn't want to remember Jesus' sacrifice weekly!
I know its almost like your saying "Jesus we just dont have the time to honor your sacrifice that is saving our souls this week"

[newyorknewyork]

I've been to churches who celebrate this once a month ... ive been to others where they do this weekly.

AS far as I know, neither is right or wrong..

I think its great that a church does this.. :)

[Theophorus]

In Acts it talks about the apostles meeting on the first day of the week to break bread. That was the purpose of the meeting. Also when you partake of the Lords Supper you are remember Jesus and the sacrifice he made. Why would you not want to do this on a weekly basis? Makes no sense to me why some churches dont.

That was how it was taught to me. It was part of the pattern. The purpose being the Lord's supper. That was why it was also offered in the evening service; for those who because of work or a sick child could partake.

The "pattern" also included prayers, teaching, and fellowship/edification etc, but "worship" never occured on the Lord's day without it.