Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 2)

Allen Webster

In the first part of this study, we noted two reasons why churches of Christ take the Lord’s Supper each Sunday. The two reasons that were given were to receive the strength it provides and to give Christ the glory that He deserves. In this, the second and final part of this study, we will notice a third reason.

TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINNERS TO LEARN THE GOSPEL.

Every time we eat the Lord’s supper we proclaim the gospel. The bread and juice “shew forth the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The supper teaches non-members of His sacrifice and reminds the Bride to remain pure for the coming wedding.

Whereas Old Testament worship was hands-on, sensory, and visual, New Testament worship is more spiritual and cerebral. The exception is the supper. It is participatory even more than the singing and offering. A visual age—especially children and unbelievers—benefits from this most visible worship act. Like a child who participates in a July Fourth celebration learns about His country, so an unbeliever who sees the supper learns about His Lord.

Some churches offer communion as an option in a side room, rather than in the main worship service. Why? They believe “seekers” see communion as a strange practice that dwells too much on death. They are afraid it will frighten them away.

Are modern services devoid of any meaningful reference to the cross an improvement? Bring back the supper for a gospel-centered, Christ-ordained worship centerpiece. The Lord’s supper is not a side show but central part of worship for the whole body of believers.

Familiarity breeds contempt, some say, but Paul does not reason that since the Corinthians abused weekly communion, they should take it less often. Instead he focuses their attention more clearly on the solemn facts which the supper represents. He tells them to do it better.

Endnotes

[1]ROMAN CATHOLICS and EPISCOPALIANS. Daily mass is observed and usually required as a “perpetual sacrifice of Christ’s blood,” better known as Holy Eucharist. To Catholics, the bread becomes the actual body of Christ and the wine His actual blood. This is known as “Transubstantiation.” Sins are forgiven as part of Mass. (Forgiveness comes from obeying the gospel and walking in the light [Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:7-2:1-4]).

LUTHERAN teaching on the Lord’s supper, “Consubstantiation,” is distinctive. When a Lutheran priest blesses the bread, Lutherans believe that the true body and blood of Christ are under the bread and wine.

METHODISTS. The Lord’s supper is taken once a quarter.

BAPTISTs do not offer the Lord’s supper upon every first day of the week. They also believe in closed communion, which means that only those who have been voted into the church can take communion.

PRESBYTERIANS take the Lord’s supper every quarter usually. A collection for the poor is associated with the observance of the Lord’s supper.

JEHOVAH WITNESSES. The Lord’s supper is taken once a year after sundown on the “exact day” of the year Christ died. Unleavened bread and fermented wine are used for the communion, and only those of the “heavenly elect” (144,000) can partake of the Lord’s supper.

MORMONS‘ Sunday worship includes weekly observance of the Lord’s supper. They use light bread and water instead of unleavened bread and grape juice.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST worship services are held on the Sabbath which begins Friday at sundown and lasts until Saturday at sundown. The Lord’s supper is usually observed once a quarter and always preceded by the observance of foot-washing.

NAZARENES. The minister is to invite “all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins and have believed in Christ for salvation” to take communion.

PENTECOSTALS. The unique teaching that separates Pentecostals from other religious bodies is that they teach that divine healing takes place while they partake of the Lord’s supper. They believe that the communion is a quickening life of Christ for their healing.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE have eliminated the Lord’s supper from their worship. They hold “communion services“ in the branch services twice a year, but on these occasions, neither bread nor wine is used. It is basically a type of meditation

Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 1)

Allen Webster

Jesus instituted a memorial feast on the eve of His death (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:7-20). To His followers, the bread represents His sacrificed body and the cup His saving blood (1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:20-24).  Practically all churches take the Lord’s supper but differ as to how often to eat it.[1] Some partake weekly; others monthly; many, quarterly; and, sometimes only annually. Which is right? Does it make any difference? Some interpret Paul’s statement: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26) to mean that Christians may partake whenever they wish. Would God put something of such importance as His Son’s memory into the realm of human opinion? (Colossians 3:17). Let us explore the related Scriptures. The Lord’s church takes the Lord’s supper each Lord’s day for three asons.

TO RECEIVE THE STRENGTH IT PROVIDES.

Those who misused the Lord’s supper became spiritually weak (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Conversely, those who partake sincerely and appropriate­ly are strengthened. God has provided the means to sustain and strengthen the faith of his children (2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13). A primary means for strengthening Christians is the Lord’s supper. The lunch table strengthens the body; the Lord’s table refreshes the soul.

When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith it strengthens the inner man (Ephesians 3:16-17; cf. 2 Timothy 4:17). This faith is engaged and developed during the supper. By faith we believe that Jesus sits at the table with us (Luke 22:16-18; cf. 24:32). How could anyone have a meal with Christ without being better? By faith we see the events of Calvary. How can one fix his mind on the cross and not come away more resolved to live for the Redeemer? (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). By faith we remember the historical link between this Sunday and His resurrection—a connection that does not exist on any other day (Matthew 28:1). By faith Christians are strengthened by meditating on Scripture (Psalm 1:3) and prayer (Colossians 1:9-11), during the Lord’s supper. Who would be so bold as to say that he does not need to be reminded of the Lord’s sacrifice? (2 Peter 1:13; 3:1). Since most find it difficult to deal with Satan’s temptations despite the safeguards God has provided, the Lord’s supper each Sunday is vital to a strong church.

TO GIVE CHRIST THE GLORY HE DESERVES (1 CORINTHIANS 11:20-29).

Jesus might not be the focus of the sermon on a given Sunday. It might so happen that no song mentions Calvary. Prayer leaders might focus on praising the Father rather than the Son that day. But during the Lord’s supper the spotlight is always on Jesus and what He did at Calvary. Paul emphasizes “the Lord” in discussing the supper: It is the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:20),that focuses on the Lord’s death (11:26), in memory of the Lord’s blood (11:27). It is the Lord’s bread (11:27), and the Lord’s cup (11:27), that reminds us of the Lord’s body (11:29). If we skip the Lord’s supper, then we miss an opportunity to honor Him. Why glorify Him only four times a year when we can glorify Him fifty-two times?

The Lord’s Church Came With Power

David Sproule

Can I ask you a question that you’ll just think about for moment?  Step back, consider this, and formulate in your mind an answer to this question.  “Where did the denominations come from?”  Have you ever really thought about that?

Depending on what researchers you trust, at the very least it can be stated that there are thousands of denominations in the world.  (Let’s not quibble about the exact number but state it generally as “thousands.”)  Where did they come from?

As you think about the “Where,” think about the “When.”  When did denominations come about?  The answer to that question varies, as some began in recent years, some a few hundred years ago, some several hundred years ago.  But, it can be stated unequivocally that the “when” of the origin of all denominations is some time after the beginning of the Lord’s church in Acts 2.  How do we know that?  Answer this question: “When the Lord added people to His church in Acts 2:47, to which denomination did He add them?”  Your response is likely the same as every response I’ve ever received to that question, “There were no denominations in Acts 2.”

So, now back to the question, “Where did they come from?”  And, again, the answer to that question varies. Some denominations came about due to doctrinal differences, leadership differences, salvation differences, worship differences, personality differences, etc.  Without focusing on the hearts or sincerity of any individuals, do any of these reasons for starting a denomination (or really, any other reasons that could be added to the list) sound God-approved?  They do not.

Listen to the “plea” of the God of heaven Himself, “…you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10).  Since the desire (which equals a demand) of the God of heaven is that all “speak the same thing,” is that what is happening in denominations?  Since the desire (i.e., demand) of the God of heaven is that there be “no divisions,” is that reflected in the thousands of denominations?

The Lord’s church came with power in Acts 2.  Jesus said His church/kingdom would come “with power” (Mark 9:1), when the apostles were “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), having received that “power when the Holy Spirit” came upon them (Acts 1:8) in Jerusalem in Acts 2:1-4.  No denomination ever came into existence “with power” from God, but as the result of the desires of man.  So, what are you a part of today?  Are you in the church that Jesus established with power in Acts 2, or are you in a denomination that came about later by the power of man?  That question has eternal consequence!

The Only Way To Get Rid Of Daniel

David Sproule

Daniel was in his mid-80s.  He had been taken captive by the Babylonian warrior-king Nebuchadnezzar when he was just a teenager, and he had lived through the entire 70-year captivity (Jer. 29:10).  Then, under Darius the Mede, Daniel was again promoted to a high position in the kingdom, as one of the king’s three governors, “and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm” (Dan. 6:1-3).

The other governors and satraps wanted Daniel out of the way, so they first “sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful” (6:4).  Well, if there wasn’t “any error or fault found in him” when it came to the kingdom, their only other alternative (and guaranteed option) was to find a “charge against this Daniel…concerning the law of his God” (6:5).  What a reputation Daniel had!  His enemies knew that Daniel would not violate the will of God!

So they devised a scheme by which they lied to the king (for not “All” of the governors agreed to their plan, as Daniel was one of the governors) and convinced the king to sign a decree that made it a capital crime to pray to the God of heaven, punishable by death in the den of lions (6:6-9).  Once it was signed, his enemies knew they had him!

Verse 10 tells us that “Daniel knew that the writing was signed.”  He knew that the ruling officials were after him and were trying to bring him down.  He knew that it was now illegal for him to practice his faith.

But that did NOT stop Daniel.  HE opened his windows (i.e., he was not going to hide his faith and his obedience to his God) and he prayed.  Not only that, in the face of everything that was going on, he “gave thanks before his God” (6:10).

Friends, there is a certain segment of our society that is working behind the scenes and in front of our faces to (1) make it difficult for Christians to live out their Christian faith, or (2) at the very least, to make Christians uncomfortable to live out their Christian faith.

Will we yield (Gal. 2:5)?  Will we permit shame to enter our hearts (2 Tim. 1:12)?  Will we question our God (Psa. 43:1-8)?  Will we let doubts arise (Jas. 1:6)?  Will we conform to this world (Rom. 12:2)?  Will we begin to approve of things that are not right in the eyes of God (Rom. 1:32)?  Will we put our trust in our God (Prov. 3:5-6)?  Will we be even more diligent to grow in our faith (2 Pet. 1:5-11)?  Will we learn to be thankful, even in difficult times (Eph. 5:20)?  Will we be determined to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29)?  Will we be like Daniel in all of these ways, more concerned about the law and will of God than of man?

Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 4

Wade Webster

The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?  So far we have noticed that the words of Jesus were gracious, thoughtful, true, and good. This week, we will notice that they were calm words.

Calm Words

Peter wrote, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:18-23). There is no question that Jesus suffered wrongfully.  Although Jesus didn’t deserve the unjust treatment that He received,  He took it patiently. When Jesus was reviled, He didn’t revile in return . Revile is from the Greek word antiloidoreó and means to return abusive insult. Jesus didn’t threaten or respond in anger. He calmly and compassionately asked God to forgive those who were mocking and murdering Him (Lk. 23:43). He knew that they didn’t know what they were doing.  When one of the two thieves who was being crucified with Jesus stopped mocking and requested remembrance Jesus promised the penitent man that He would be with Him that day in paradise (Lk. 23:39-43). If we want the beauty of Jesus to be seen in our speech we must never let angry words from the tongue unbridled slip (Mat. 5:22). To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).

If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech, we must speak like Jesus. We must speak gracious, thoughtful, true, good, and calm words.