Communioin Questions

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The Lord's Supper

Titles

Non-Biblical names
                1. Mass
                2. Sacrament
                3. Eucharist
Biblical names
                1. Lord's Supper                I Cor. 11:20
                2. Communion                I Cor. 10:16
                3. Memorial                I Cor. 11:25
                4. Lord's Table                Luke 22:30
                5. Breaking bread                Acts 20:7

Institution

Matthew 26: 26-30
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:17-20
I Cor. 11:17-34

The Abuse of it in the First Century
        A. The problem was NOT:
                1. Eating in the church building
                2. Having fellowship
                3. Love feasts (feasts of charity)
        B. The real issues were:
                1. Making the sacred supper into a common meal
                2. Removed it from a place of worship
                        a. Worship is addressed to God
                        b. Must be done in truth
                        c. Must be done in spirit
                3. They failed in all three points
                        a. To God vs. for self
                        b. Truth vs. what I want
                        c. Spirit of remembering His death
                         vs. satisfying ones own hunger

The Elements
        A. Unleavened bread
        B. Fruit of the vine
        C. Would anything else be acceptable?
                1. German chocolate cake and coffee?
                2. Big Mac and Coke Classic?
                3. Hot dog buns and Kool-Aid?
        NOTE: This is the best way to explain why we do not use instrumental music in worship.

"Unworthily"
        A. Often misunderstood
                1. I must be perfect to partake.
                2. I must be free from sin in my life.
                3. I must not enjoy it.
                4. I must be humble.
        B. "Unworthily" is an adverb
                1. It describes the manner (how) we partake.
                2. This does not deal with "who" but "how".
        C. How are we to partake?
                1. Remembering
                        a. Christ's death on the cross
                        b. He is coming again
                2. Discerning - to visualize, to see clearly
                3. Examining
                4. Showing
        D. Look 6 directions
                1. Up - to God who sent His Son
                2. Down - to the grave
                3. In - examine yourself
                4. Out - communion with fellow-Christians
                5. Back - to the cross
                6. Ahead - to second coming
                NOTE: "You do show (outward) the Lord's death (backward) till he come (forward)."

When and How Often?
        A. Acts 20:7
        B. Study this:
                1. Assembly commanded                Heb. 10:25
                2. 1st day required                        I Cor. 16:1-2
                3. Communion is in
                 the assembly        I Cor. 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34
        C. How often?
                1. How often should we give?
                2. "Remember the sabbath day" how often?
                3. Rent due the first of the month? how often?
                4. Here is the rule: When a regularly recurring event occurs on a regularly recurring day, the two recur together. Example: Independence Day is the 4th of July. Every 4th of July is Independence Day. Same is true of Christmas, my birthday, etc.

Who is to Partake?

Multiple choice:
                ____ 1. Only members of this congregation.
                ____ 2. Only members of the church of Christ.
                ____ 3. Anyone who wants to partake.
                ____ 4. There are no rules on this matter.
                ____ 5. Only baptized believers (Christians).
Can we control who partakes?
What if we bring a friend to worship with us and they partake?

Related Issues

1. Importance in worship
        A. Importance in Worship
                1. Lowest level = singing, sermon, giving
                2. Middle level = prayer
                3. Highest level = Lord's Supper
        B. Should these level exist?
        C. Is communion the "most important" part of worship?
        D. Should we take communion to the hospital without taking songs, prayers, sermon, etc.?

2. One Cup
        A. Does it matter?
        B. Are there valid reasons for one cup?
        C. Are there valid reasons for individual cups?

3. Breaking bread
        A. Does it matter:
                1. Who breaks the bread?
                        a. Leader - before passing to congregation
                        b. Member - as they partake
                        c. Server - in each tray
                2. When it is broken?
                        a. Before the prayer?
                        b. After the prayer?
        B. ISSUE: When is an example binding?
                1. In N.T. there are two examples of people taking communion. (Matt. 26; Acts 20:7) Both of them are:
                        a. At night
                        b. In an upper room (second story)
                2. RULE: "An example is binding when it illustrates a requirement."

4. Manner served
        A. Table talks - Scripture readings
        B. Who serves - deacons only, men only
        C. Who presides - elder, deacon, any man

5. Sunday night
        A. Should it be offered?
        B. What about those who skip Sunday morning and partake on Sunday night?

6. Fermented vs. Unfermented
        A. "Wine" in the N.T.
        B. "Fruit of the vine"

7. Separate it from the contribution
        A. Most churches have giving right after the communion.
        B. Should they be separated? together?