In our last article we noticed that the first century Christians met upon the first day of the week (Sunday) to worship God. We also noticed how they prayed and how they studied the Word of God (or had preaching). In this article, we will continue by noticing that these same Christians partook of the Lord’s Supper on each first day of the week.
In Matthew 26:26-28 we read: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” It is here that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26.). When Jesus gave the bread and the fruit of the vine, it was bread and fruit of the vine. It did not, as some claim, change into the literal flesh and blood of Jesus. Jesus gave this symbolic feast as a memorial of His suffering and death, asking that His disciples remember this as they ate. From the New Testament, as well as from church historians, we learn that the early church observed this memorial every first day of the week. It was never a “sacrament” to be used at weddings, funerals, etc.
Those in the early church also gave of their means in the proportion of their earnings. In the Old Testament, tithing was commanded, but we find no such command to those living under the new covenant—the New Testament. Paul wrote: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). He also wrote: “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Never does the Word of God authorize such things as bake sales, garage sales, bingo games, etc. as a means of raising money. Nor was begging to be a means. All of the whining and begging for money one sees on the promoters of the “electronic church” has no backing from the Scriptures. It is quite apparent that this sort of stuff is done to make a few rich. In the Lord’s church, each individual Christian was to give as he had prospered. The monies collected are to be used in three different ways: Preaching the Gospel, edification of the members and in legitimate acts of benevolence. When one is too lazy to work, when they can work, they are not to be supported. Again, we refer to the apostle Paul, when he wrote: “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
As you “examine yourself” (2 Corinthians 13:5) do you find that this is the kind of worship that you offer? Is this what the church you attend and support teaches?
