Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
When You Come Together as a Church
Intro.
1. Acceptable worship must be in spirit and truth, John 4:23-24.
2. Worship is uniquely individual, yet the Lord has arranged the local church to provide fellowship in worship that produces edification as a benefit of our gathered worship, Ps. 146:1-2; 122:1; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25.
3. The question arises: May (should) Christians eat the Lord’s Supper (L. S.) when we cannot assemble together. (I was asked to teach on this topic due to its relevance. I appreciate the desire to study this together, 2 Tim. 2:15 (Acts 17:11).
4. Like every other question, we ask “What does the Scripture say?” Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13
I. UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE.
A. What is Not in Question.
1. Whether Christians should worship on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2.
2. Whether or not Christians should eat the L. S., 1 Cor. 11:24-26.
3. When Christians should eat the L. S., Acts 20:7.
4. Why Christians eat the L. S., 1 Cor. 11:24-26.
B. The Question is:
1. Has God specified the setting in which we eat the L. S.?
2. When Christians are hindered from attending the worship assembly are they expected to eat the L. S.?
a. Answering “yes” spawned taking the L. S. to Christians in hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
b. Answering “yes” implies a sacramental quality to the L. S.
II. ESTABLISHING AND APPLYING BIBLE AUTHORITY.
A. Clear Authority to Eat L. S. when the Church Comes Together.
1. The Corinthian church assembled to eat the L. S., 1 Cor. 11:17-34.
a. Come together (17)… as a church (18)… in one place to eat (20, 21-22)… to eat (33)… not for judgment (34).
b. In the assembly, each Christian responsible to eat (24-26) and to examine his manner of eating (27-32).
2. The Troas church “came together” on the first day to eat L. S., Acts 20:7.
-Occurred after Paul wrote 1 Corinthians; Paul practiced what he preached, Acts 20:6 (16).
B. By What Authority Shall Christians Eat the L. S. Outside the Assembly of the Church? Matt. 21:23; 1 Thess. 5:21; Col. 3:17
1. First, remember the issue is not whether we should eat, but whether we have authority to do so outside the assembly.
2. Using Matthew 18:20: “Two or three gathered…Christ is there.”
a. Immediate context: Apostolic authority practiced on earth, 18:18-20 (16:19). [See Acts 1:21-26 for an illustration.]
b. Applied context: How to address unrepentant sin, 18:15-17.
c. Broader context: When heaven’s authority is revealed by apostolic teaching, Christ is present (John 14:23). cf. 1 Cor.5:4
d. Using Matt. 18:20 to approve out of assembly L. S. proves too much:
1) Is Jesus absent when there is only one Christian? Of course not, because Jesus is always present!
2) Would sanction whatever 2-3 Christians agree upon.
e. The verse speaks of the agreement of apostolic authority with Christ; not whatever 2-3 of us agree together to do.
III. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
-These are not being suggested by anyone here. However, the logical extension of the practice warrants caution since some have advanced to these or similar conclusions.
1. Assembling together for worship ultimately becomes optional and unnecessary, or at least, a secondary consideration, Heb. 10:24-25.
2. Assembled worship is subordinated to convenience.
3. We imply that 2-3 gathering together constitute the church (it does not), Matt. 18:16-17. (In the very context used to support the practice of at home L. S. a clear difference is made between individual action and collective action.)
4. We are compelled to arrange the L. S. for everyone who did not attend the assembly. If not, why not? Is it a matter of opinion, or revealed faith?
5. We will be compelled to treat every other worship activity approved for the church assembly in the same way (sing, pray, teach and give). (Into what treasury does one give when not in the assembly?)
Conclusion
1. We stand on solid ground of truth when we eat L. S. when the church comes together in one place (1 Cor. 11:20).
2. Let us hold fast this pattern of sound words, carefully following the apostles’ doctrine (2 Tim. 1:13; 3:10).
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: March 20, 2014