Introduction. One of the final things Jesus did with His disciples before His crucifixion was to observe the Passover feast. While they were eating, Jesus took some of the unleavened bread “and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you.’” Later, He took a cup and said, “this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Jesus was directing His apostles beyond the Passover to something His disciples would do under the new covenant. He confirmed this when He said “do this in remembrance of Me,” and “I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 26:26-30; Mk. 15:22-26; Lk. 22:14-23).
History Unfolds. Yet when Acts opened and the history of the church unfolded, there was no elaboration or further explanation. Bread is mentioned, but only as bread: “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Was this the bread done “in remembrance of Me” or was it just food? Luke answered the question by explaining they were doing two different things in two different places. There was breaking bread in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. The breaking bread in the temple was the Lord’s supper and “the breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food.” This was exactly what Paul had told the Corinthians: “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home.” The bread they came together to eat was the Lord’s supper. If they wanted bread for food, they needed to do that at home.
History Unfolds. Yet when Acts opened and the history of the church unfolded, there was no elaboration or further explanation. Bread is mentioned, but only as bread: “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Was this the bread done “in remembrance of Me” or was it just food? Luke answered the question by explaining they were doing two different things in two different places. There was breaking bread in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. The breaking bread in the temple was the Lord’s supper and “the breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food.” This was exactly what Paul had told the Corinthians: “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home.” The bread they came together to eat was the Lord’s supper. If they wanted bread for food, they needed to do that at home.
An Established Practice. When Paul wrote his first letter to Corinth, he revealed that it was an established practice in all the churches. Paul was not teaching them, but reminding them of what they already knew. What he had received directly from Jesus, he had already delivered to them. “I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you.” What Paul received is exactly what Jesus did on that final night. “On the night in which He was betrayed took bread.” The bread was to be eaten in “remembrance of Me,” as “My body that is broken for you,” and the cup, was also in “remembrance of Me.” Jesus concluded, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” Paul then added “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1Cor. 11:23-25)
As Often As. Both Jesus and Paul said “as often as”, but how often was it? There is nothing in the New Testament like the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath. Was it an annual observance as the Passover, a monthly celebration like their new moon, or weekly like the Sabbath? What day of the year, month or week did they come together?
Came Together. The clearest passage on the frequency is: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” This too was not a common meal, because while “the disciples came together to break bread,” it was not until after midnight that only Paul ate: “When he had come up, had broken bread and eaten.” If they came together to break bread to eat, why was Paul the only one who ate?
Hence, the disciples from the very beginning of the church were breaking bread together and coming together on the first day of the week to do it. Paul first spoke of the breaking of bread, which was the Lord’s supper.
The Whole Church. After the Lord’s supper, Paul continued to describe their coming together as the church speaking of praying, singing and teaching. He spoke of “the whole church comes together in one place,” and "whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” So in this assembly, they were eating the “Lord’s supper,” “singing and praying with understanding,” and “teaching.” (1Cor. 14:13-38)
Every Week. As the book drew to its close, in the final chapter Paul also spoke of giving, and again as Luke did called the day, the first day of the week. But this time he also said “every week. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of every week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” (1Cor. 16:1-2). This is also called the “assembling of ourselves together” that we are not to “forsake.”
As Often As. Both Jesus and Paul said “as often as”, but how often was it? There is nothing in the New Testament like the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath. Was it an annual observance as the Passover, a monthly celebration like their new moon, or weekly like the Sabbath? What day of the year, month or week did they come together?
Came Together. The clearest passage on the frequency is: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” This too was not a common meal, because while “the disciples came together to break bread,” it was not until after midnight that only Paul ate: “When he had come up, had broken bread and eaten.” If they came together to break bread to eat, why was Paul the only one who ate?
Hence, the disciples from the very beginning of the church were breaking bread together and coming together on the first day of the week to do it. Paul first spoke of the breaking of bread, which was the Lord’s supper.
- "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ... 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's supper." (1Cor. 11:17-18; 20)
The Whole Church. After the Lord’s supper, Paul continued to describe their coming together as the church speaking of praying, singing and teaching. He spoke of “the whole church comes together in one place,” and "whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” So in this assembly, they were eating the “Lord’s supper,” “singing and praying with understanding,” and “teaching.” (1Cor. 14:13-38)
Every Week. As the book drew to its close, in the final chapter Paul also spoke of giving, and again as Luke did called the day, the first day of the week. But this time he also said “every week. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of every week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” (1Cor. 16:1-2). This is also called the “assembling of ourselves together” that we are not to “forsake.”
- "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," (Heb. 10:24-25)