In the last week, several questions have arisen regarding the observance of the Lord's Supper - when it should be observed and how often it should be observed. At the church of Christ in Sparks, we observe the Lord's Supper every Sunday because this is what we feel the Scriptures instruct us to do.
However, other churches may only observe the Lord's Supper once a month, once a quarter, or once a year. Sunday is traditionally viewed as being the day of observance, but there are some churches who might observe it on other days of the week, or who believe that the day doesn't matter.
In fact, based on my experiences and observations, I would say that the church of Christ is in the definite minority when it comes to the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper (on Sunday).
In this brief article, I'd like to explain why we partake of the Lord's Supper every Sunday.
In Acts 20:6-7, Luke records for us the following...
"But we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."
The phrase "break bread" may refer to a common meal (Luke 24:35; Acts 2:46), but it may also refer to the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:26; 1 Cor. 11:24). Only the context can really tell us whether the breaking of bread in Acts 20:7 is a reference to a common meal or the Lord's Supper, and I believe that the context points to the Lord's Supper.
Think about it. Paul was with these Christians in Troas for an entire week. Surely, they shared many meals together during that time. But when Sunday rolled around, they "came together" as a church for the purpose of breaking bread. This was special, not common. Moreover, we learn here that this was a spiritual assembly, for in addition to breaking bread, Paul preached until midnight. The details of this passage, when carefully considered, point to a spiritual assembly in which the Lord's Supper was observed.
By way of contrast, the breaking of bread in Acts 20:11 refers to a common meal. How can we know this? Because the assembly had ended, and no longer do we see a spiritual focus. Now, Paul is eating a meal in preparation for his impending journey.
Now consider 1 Corinthians 16:1-2...
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."
Once again, we learn that the early churches were in the habit of assembling on Sunday. When Paul issued this command to the church in Corinth (which he had issued to many other churches), he wrote with the assumption that they were already assembling on Sundays. He merely adds another component to their worship, namely, the collection.
When you consider Acts 20:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 together, it's obvious that the early churches met on Sundays. Perhaps you're wondering how this could be so obvious when we only have two allusions to the Sunday assembly in the entire New Testament. You have to understand, though, that the early churches received direct, oral training from the apostles (2 Thess. 2:15)...something we don't have today. This is why the Sunday assembly is assumed in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. When these churches had been established, they had been personally instructed in the ways of Christianity. In many cases, the apostolic writings merely supplemented or repeated the information they already had. In other cases, such as in 1 Cor. 16:1-2, new commands were given.
Having said that, all we have are these two passages. But what we learn from these two passages has great impact on our Christian faith.
"All Scripture" is to govern our lives and conduct in Christ (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We're to do all things by the authority of Jesus (Col. 3:17). We're not to "think beyond what is written" (1 Cor. 4:6). We're to speak where God has spoken (1 Pet. 4:11). We're to imitate the examples of the apostles (Phil. 4:9) and even the early churches (1 Thess. 1:16-17). In other words, the New Testament, though not written directly to us, contains the will of Christ and the pattern for our Christian faith.
Regarding the Sunday observance of the Lord's Supper, here's what I know. I know that when the early church met on Sunday for the purpose of observing the Lord's Supper, God approved. I don't know that God approves any other day for its observance. Am I condemned if I partake of the Lord's Supper on Monday or Tuesday? Maybe not. But I know if I observe it on Sunday, I'm right.
Here's a great verse that ought to govern our response to questions such as this...
"Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Instead of searching for condemnation of a practice (to know that it's condemned), we ought to seek authority for a practice (to know that it's right).
This is why we at the Queen Way church of Christ observe the Lord's Supper every Sunday. It's part of our effort to obey the pattern of the New Testament. After all, we love our Lord and want to please Him in every way.
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