Second Serving of the Lord’s Supper

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are central to Christianity.  Christ lived His life upon earth knowing He would be sacrificed for mankind and it would be in brutal fashion.  Today Christians proclaim the message of the Lord’s death, how and why it came to be, and how death was defeated, when they partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Many questions have arisen about partaking of the Lord’s Supper.  How often is it to occur?  Is there a specific time?  Is it the real body of Christ?  Can the fruit of the vine be alcoholic?  Who can partake of the Lord’s Supper?  Does partaking make our sins forgiven?  The list of questions goes on and on.  This examination aims to answer more questions regarding the Lord’s Supper and specifically address the practice of offering a second partaking of it.

When we ask questions about our current practices or traditions, some folks become very concerned.  They worry that by asking these things we may disrupt unity and sow discord.  Certainly doing that would be terrible.  God hates discord (Proverbs 6:16-19).  Yet understand that unity as Christians only comes in Christ through the Word of God.  There is one Faith according to Ephesians 4:5.  This is the gospel Christ brought.  It is a gospel that brings a sword of division between strangers, friends, and family (Matthew 10:34-39).  In wielding this sword, Jesus did not sow discord disrupting unity, He shared the truth of the Word of God (John 17:17) and brought about unity.  Truth shatters the vices of the wicked and its value is beyond measure (Proverbs 23:23, Matthew 13:44).

All Christians should be comfortable with finding authority for partaking of the Lord’s Supper whenever they do so (Colossians 3:17).  That is the aim of our examination.  As we look at different passages and ask questions, we will try to come to a clearer understanding of our worship practices.  We will also consider differing points of view and weigh their merit.  Ultimately, it is up to each of us to study and confirm the scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15).  Remember “[We do] not live by bread along, but by every word of God.”(Matthew 4:4).

Why do Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper?  As mentioned in the beginning, it is a proclamation of the message of the Lord’s death (I Corinthians 11:26).  In Matthew 26:26-29, Jesus gives his disciples unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine.  Before doing so in each case He acknowledges God.  With the unleavened bread Jesus expresses it is His body.   With the fruit of the vine He expressed it as His blood.  This language was figurative and meant to be representative of His coming sacrifice.  This is the first account of four gospel accounts of this setting.  From these accounts we know Jesus told the disciples to remember Him in this supper.  Later, following Jesus resurrection, He instructed the disciples to teach all nations to observe what He had commanded them (Matthew 28:18-20).  This evidently included the partaking of the Lord’s Supper as Paul conveyed to the Corinthian Church the necessity of doing so (I Corinthians 11:23-26).

When do Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper?  The partaking of the Lord’s Supper is something that widely varies in different religious bodies.  Some eat it yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly.  There are many variations.  The importance as always is discovering what the first century Christians did.  Historically, we know they partook once each Sunday, the first day of the week.  However, history does not hold any weight when it comes to the scriptures.  It is from the mouth of God we find authority.  Acts 20:7 provides an example as to when the Christians met and partook of the Lord’s Supper and that was the first day of the week.  No other direct example with a specific time regarding the Lord’s Supper is mentioned in scripture.  However, with Biblical authority, once is enough if that is all the Bible has to say on the matter.  Such a time certainly makes sense though as Jesus was resurrected overcoming death on the first day of the week (Mark 16:2-9).

How do Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper?  It has already been seen that the elements are to be unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine.  God is to be approached before the partaking of each.  Also stated previously is that the supper is a proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes.  I Corinthians 11:27-32 expresses those partake unworthily drink judgment unto themselves.  Because this partaking is directed at the Lord, it is worship (John 4:24). It must be done with minds on Christ and according to truth (which is the proper pattern of partaking the supper).  Partaking in the proper way is the crux of the context in I Corinthians 11 and will take up the remainder of this examination.  The context of this passage focuses predominantly on Christians breaking up into divisions (vs. 18) in a common meal rather than partaking as a complete assembled body.  Whether or not Christians should partake apart from one another is a very important aspect of taking the Lord’s Supper in truth or not.

When tackling the topic of assembly and the Lord’s Supper, the entire purpose of the first day of the week must be contemplated.  Going back to Acts 20:7 the disciples met for the purpose of taking the Lord’s Supper.  Did they do other things?  Yes.  However, they met for the purpose of the Lord’s Supper.  We have no other record of assembling on the first day of the week for another stated purpose.  Moving to I Corinthians 11:18-34, Paul starts out by identifying the Church was broken up into factions.  He also identified they were making the Lord’s Supper a common meal.  Most importantly he states they were not coming together to eat the Lord’s Supper.  The inverse of that is they were supposed to be assembling for the purpose of eating the Lord’s Supper.  This is the same purpose given for assembly in Acts 20:7.  Where other spiritual activities going on?  Yes, but twice now the stated purpose has been the Lord’s Supper.  The actions of the Corinthians made them partakers who were spiritually sick and eating judgment unto themselves.  In exhortation, Paul tells them to separate their common meals from worship and to wait for one another before eating the Lord’s Supper as an assembled body.  One other very important passage in this discussion of assembling and partaking the Lord’s Supper is I Corinthians 10:16-17.  Here Paul states eating the Lord’s Supper is a sharing, a fellowship, a communion in the body and blood of Christ.

If Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 11:18-34, and I Corinthians 10 are to be followed then this sharing occurs on the first day of the week as part of an assembly whose purpose for assembling was to partake of the Lord’s Supper together.  There are no passages in scripture showing any other manner of eating the Lord’s Supper at any other stated time. Biblical authority is very clear.  At this point let us turn our attention to arguments against what we have examined and to questions about second offerings of the Lord’s Supper.

The first common objection to the stated Biblical fact that Christians were coming together on the first day of the week for the purpose of partaking of the Lords Supper is that it minimizes or cheapens the other aspects of worship.  Of course, this is not true at all.  In regard to the acts of worship, giving, praying, singing, teaching, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, all are directed toward God (John 4:24) and are thus of equal importance and should all be treated with the same reverence.  They are equally bound together as worship the same as hearing, believing, having faith, repenting, confessing, baptizing, and living faithfully are bound together for salvation. None are greater than the other.  It has been said by some that I Corinthians 16:1-2 is an example of giving being a purpose for gathering.  However, being commanded to give when an assembly occurs is not the same as that being the purpose for the assembling in the first place.  For instance, I can tell my son that every Saturday when he goes to visit his friends to greet their Mother and Father.  I can also tell him each week I want him to go to His friends because he needs to build the friendships.  The purpose for the visit is building friendships, the greeting of parents is commanded, but not the purpose for the visit.  Giving appears to be incidental to the day and specifically tied to the expedience of Paul avoiding collections.

Another objection is cited using I Corinthians 10:16-17 to support partaking outside of the assembly of Christians on the first day of the week.  It is offered that the communion or sharing going on is stated by Paul to be with the Corinthians while he himself was far away.  In other words the sharing did not have to be literal.  Thus, Christians can take part in the communion anywhere and be authorized to do so.  But if this is true, why would it be stated in I Corinthians 11 that the Christians were to be coming together to partake of the Lord’s Supper.  This would be a contradiction.  Rather consider Paul, in his location, literally met with Christians on the first day of the week the same as those in Corinth and they did so for the purpose of sharing the Lord’s Supper.  Thus, he discusses the worship practice they both were engaged in.

Third and fourth objections focus on the concept of “tarry” or wait in I Corinthians 11:33.  First it is stated that tarry means the Corinthians were to wait for others so they would not be hungry.  However, that would be applying to something which Paul said to remove from the worship – the common meal.  Paul certainly did not condone the common meal.  Second it is argued if the Christians had to tarry for others before they partook then they would never be able to partake because someone is always sick, traveling, working, etc.  Rather than this, what Paul was trying to establish was the Corinthians not partake in their divisive groups when they chose, but rather eat together in a full assembly of those present to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Having observed some objections to what we have examined thus far in scripture, it is time to turn out attention to the second serving of the Lord’s Supper.  Typically, this is done during an evening Bible Study assembly.  This practice is very common in a great number of Churches.  It is offered for those who missed the earlier serving.  In all instances I have heard of or experienced the majority of the body of the church has not come together for the purpose of partaking of the Lord’s Supper and does not commune with those partaking.  This is an interesting situation because we have no scriptural example for this behavior.  Even outside of scripture, second services weren’t heard of until the 1600’s and then they were simply presented as Bible Studies most often for children.  It appears the practice most likely came into being during WWII at which time there was no small objection to it.  However, history does not determine Biblical authority.  The problem again, we have no Biblical authority for such a scenario.  That being said, let us look at arguments for having a second serving of the Lord’s Supper.

The first argument is that Christians are commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper.  As noted this started with Jesus and was taught by the apostles.  However, we also noted this was to be done with authority and meet the pattern set – the assembly, the proper purpose, the proper elements, the proper manner, the proper time, etc.  Biblical authority shows us churches meeting on the First day of the week as the Body of Christ and eating the supper together as that body, not in small groups apart from one another, at different times, and with most of the body not there for the purpose of eating the Lord’s Supper.  If a Christian is not forsaking the assembly, God certainly will not condemn the Christian missing the partaking.  I would say this of the sick, infirm, those with emergencies, and other aspects that are not forsaking.  No second serving would be needed.

A second argument is made based upon expedience.  I Corinthians 6:12 and I Corinthians 10:23 are used to point out that it may be lawful to set a worship time at 11 am, but it may also not be expedient for some.  Let me suggest as above, that those not forsaking would certainly be forgiven by God and therefore would not need a second service.   However, let me say I know of a situation similar to this.  I am aware of a congregation with so many people that the group comes in two different groups at two different times to the same building for the purpose of partaking the Lord’s Supper.  The purpose is right and the pattern of partaking is right.  The elders have used the expedience of two separate times to engage an action that is identical to the first century as far as the action of partaking.  The entire body may not be together in this instance, but it’s not because they do not want to do so.  Tarrying would not help in this case.   If this situation is in violation of God’s Word, I cannot pinpoint the violation clearly.  It would have to be in the area of not having the full body present. However, the case is not a portion of the body choosing to not be present, they simply cannot be present.

There are two items I would like to address because I have been asked to do so.  The first situation is that of an individual who is baptized in a congregation who has already partaken of the Lord’s Supper. It is my conviction that this individual simply wait until the next week to partake with the body because it is God’s intention that Christians partake with the body.  Second is the situation of the chronically infirm, aged, or others simply physically unable to assemble.  In this case it is my conviction that God will not hold that person accountable for not partaking of the Lord’s Supper which is something outside of their control.

In closing, I want to add some personal thoughts.  Whatever your current position on partaking the Lord’s Supper, I suggest you do not violate your conscience.  This is discussed in Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8.  If you fully believe from your study you need to partake of the Lord’s Supper some other time on Sunday because you missed Sunday morning, then I certainly don’t condemn you.  Also if you missed Sunday morning and you don’t partake of the Lord’s Supper, I won’t condemn you either.  Let us continue to grow in the matter and strive to glorify God.

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The Church of Christ

The Church of Christ: A Denomination?

Whenever we talk about the church of Christ,  we are not talking about a denomination or  conglomeration of denominations, but God  purposed the church as the Bible reveals (Eph. 3:10- 11). Prophets prophesied of it (Isa. 2:1-3; cf. 1 Tim.  3:14-15). Jesus Christ promised it (Matt. 16:18; 9:1). He  purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). On the Day of  Pentecost following His death, burial, resurrection and  ascension, it came with power (Acts 2). Notice with me  this undenominational church in light of the religious  confusion today by answering the following important  questions.

In times of the New Testament, were Christians  members of some denomination? No, Christians in  New Testament times were not members of some  denomination because denominations did not exist. In  fact, the first denomination did not form until hundreds  of years later. Were Christians in the times of the New  Testament members of the church of our Lord? Yes.  Why were they members of the church of Christ? They  were members of the church of Christ because the Bible  says so (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:2; Phil. 1:1). Therefore, it  is possible to be a member of the church in the Bible  without being a member of a denomination.

If we were to follow the New Testament, would  its commands lead one to become a member of a  denomination? No, in order to become a member of a  denomination, one must do something more than what  the New Testament commands. Would it lead one to be  a member of the church of our Lord? Yes!

If following the New Testament will not lead one  to become a member of a denomination, what must one  do to become a member of a denomination? He must  leave the teachings of the New Testament. This shows  us that there is a great difference between the church of  our Lord and denominationalism.

Do those in denominations strictly adhere to  the teachings of the New Testament? If they did, they  would not be a denomination. We can see a difference  in what some do and what the New Testament teaches.  For example, concerning the plan of salvation, most  denominations teach other things. Concerning worship,  most denominations teach other things, although God  means what He says and says what He means—Cain  and Abel, Nadab & Abihu and such like illustrate this  (John 4:24; Acts 20:7). Scholars agree to what these  things mean, but it is a matter of whether God means  what He says.

If everyone quit following everything but the  New Testament and just followed the New Testament,  what would happen? Denominations would crumble  and go away. Would the church crumble? No, because  following the New Testament makes one a member. Are  there Christians in denominations? If so, how did they  get there? (cf. Acts 2:47).

Therefore, we learn that Christians were not  members of denominations in the times of the New  Testament. Obeying the New Testament does not make  one a member of a denomination. To become a member  of a denomination, one must leave the teachings of  the New Testament. Those in denominations do not  strictly adhere to the teachings of the New Testament.  If everyone followed only the New Testament, no one  would be a member of a denomination!

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Missed and Ignored Opportunity

One of the great failings of many Christians is their failure to react correctly whenever an opportunity to teach God’s message is presented to them. It is not an unusual event to ignore opportunities to teach another person; actually many of us do not realize when an opportunity comes our way to teach another person. Opportunities to teach others are often neglected because we do not understand what an opportunity is.

Many opportunities to teach others are nearer than we realize. Did you ever consider your husband, wife, children, in-laws, relatives, and neighbors as possible opportunities to instruct them about your religious beliefs versus their non-religious connection? Indeed, many times our opportunities escape us because they are so near to us. We must awake to opportunities that are ours because those unnoticed and neglected people in our lives need the gospel as much as those that we read about in foreign countries.

The New Testament is full of instruction and examples for us regarding possible missed or overlooked opportunities to convert a lost one. Some of those examples follow;

1 Tim. 4:6-11 – 6 if thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. 11 These things command and teach. KJV

1 Tim. 6:1-3 – 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; KJV

2 Tim. 2:24-26 – 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Titus 2:3-4 – 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, KJV

Heb. 5:12-14 – 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. KJV

2 Timothy 2:2 – 2 and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. KJV

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The Beginning of Wisdom

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”   (Proverbs 1:7)  Solomon here teaches that true knowledge and wisdom can only be attained by one who has a proper respect for the Lord God and His teachings – by one who “fears” God. To fear God is to recognize His Greatness, Power and Sovereignty. To be properly “awed” by His attributes.

The fear of God has dual meaning. In one sense, it means “terror” – fear God because He has the power to judge our eternal soul. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11a) In another sense, it means to have a reverent awe for God. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

One cannot come to “a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4) without due respect for God and His Word. The knowledge that leads to true wisdom begins with the fear of God. True wisdom can only be found by turning to God’s Word. According to Solomon in Proverbs 1:7, “fools despise wisdom” – the wisdom of God. The fool is further describes in Proverbs 1:29-30, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.” The “fool” in Proverbs is the man who is identified as being “simple” or the man identified as a” slanderer” or a perverse person. The “fool” despises God and takes no thought of Him in his dealings.

The fool will not be saved unless he embraces the wisdom of God by turning to the Word of God. We are saved by faith “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith comes by hearing the Word. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The Word of God teaches obedience to all of God’s commandments. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3) Commandments such as, confession (Romans 10:9-10) and repentance, followed by baptism. (Acts 2:38) God wants all to be saved, even fools. [God] “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

Do you want “To know wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:2)? Do you want to “increase learning” and become “a man [or woman] of understanding” (Proverbs 1:5)? Do you want to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)? Then “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Do that and do it often and you will “love life, and see good days.” (1 Peter 3:10)

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Not Ashamed

In Romans 1:16, Paul stated, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. The word ashamed is full of meaning. Paul is saying that he was not “to be ashamed.” In the past, we have done things of which we are now ashamed. For as Paul wrote, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” (Rom. 6:21). Therefore, we live now so as to not be ashamed when we face God. As John said, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 Jn. 2:28). Thus, the person who is ashamed of Jesus and of His word will find that Christ is ashamed of him on the Day of Judgment. For, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mk. 8:38). So, Paul was not ashamed of the good news of Christ. He told it openly!

Another meaning of this word is ashamed is “embarrassed.” Paul was not embarrassed to suffer for Christ. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12). Paul was not embarrassed and neither was the good man Onesiphorus who went to visit Paul in the Roman prison. “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he o[ refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:” (2 Tim. 1:16). Likewise, Timothy was also instructed not to be embarrassed when he preached about a man dying on a cross. For, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.” (2 Tim. 1:18). Therefore, no Christian is to be embarrassed when he suffers for Christ’s sake. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Pet. 4:16). Paul was not embarrassed by the gospel of Christ. He repeated it proudly and so should we!

This word ashamed also contains the idea of “disappointment.” Paul seems to use it this way when he says that his hope is based on Christ and because of that, he will not be ashamed. He said, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” (Phil. 1:20). Peter describes Christ as a cornerstone, tested and tried. He promises that the one who puts his trust in Him will not be disappointed. “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Pet. 2:6‐8). Paul was not disappointed in the good news about Jesus. He affirmed it confidently!

So, are you ashamed of the story of Jesus? Do you ever tell it to your friends? And, will Christ be ashamed when you face Him in judgment and say you are His?

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