The Lord’s supper—what and when?
BQ: Someone once said to me about, "Wow, you guys take the Lord's supper, it's been a long time since we've had it at Grace (church)." My inner reaction about that large church was, "uh oh...."
Q: What is the Lord's supper, and when do we take it?
A: 1 Cor 11:1, Philp 4:9, Act 20:7, 1 Cor 10:16-17, 1 Cor 11:20-32, Mt 26:26-29
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes:" We are told to imitate the example given, and the example is that the assembly took it weekly. I once had a friend who wanted to make jokes during it--but it's a remembrance of the price paid for us, a persistent and living hope, and a reminder of our new covenant with God. It's both somber and joyous. The Lord's supper is an incredibly important event, and not something to take lightly.
(PN42)
Giving it all you’ve got.
BQ: My friend Luke pointed out the example of Levi the tax collector in Lk 5:27-28, who, when Jesus said, "Follow me," left everything behind. Are we still clinging to things of the past? There's a tendency for us to want to give and receive credit for it, while holding a little back.
Q: What does the Bible say about giving?
A: 2 Cor 9:6-7, Acts 5:1-11, Lk 16:10-12
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to give some money, but they also wanted to hold back a little in secret. Much more dangerous for us is wanting to worship God a little, yet hold back some secret sins. 1 Cor 10:31, Col 3:23, and many other verses tell us to do everything for the Lord, holding nothing back.
(PN54)
Partaking in what manner?
BQ: Once during the Lord's supper, a friend of mine was trying to cut up with me and tell jokes, etc. It would usually be considered harmless playful or flirtatious behavior.
Q: What does the Bible say about how we should act during of the Lord's supper?
A: 1 Cor 11: 26-29
From the verses above, "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." In the case above, the person was simply ignorant and had little familiarity with God's word, coming from a church that rarely took communion, but God's word is a matter of eternal life or death. Let's be serious about the cost of our freedom. : )
Importance of Fellowship
BQ: Is fellowship important? This deserves MUCH more, so it'll DEFINITELY be a subject of a note in the future! Thanks Ashley! This is awesome.
A: Heb 10:25 “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Prov 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”
For you to look up: Eccles 4:9-12, Eph 4:11-16, Mt 18:20, 1 Cor 10:16-17, Eph 5:19-21, 1 Cor 12:14, Gal 3:28
Attendance problems are often a sign of a deeper problem—a problem where Satan's playplace is more appealing than being held up out of it by our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's usually the first sign that we're moving back into the world.
My brother Jerod Schaefer said, "If you think you can do the things you used to do and get away with it...you are SO wrong. And you are gambling your soul, and if you have kids, you're gambling theirs, too." If we let the world be our home, we lose the kingdom. Fellowship is critical. Absolutely critical.
(PN7)
What does it profit?
BQ: It's Easter. The churches were packed today; articles in the paper talked about how people make sure to attend on Easter. Many people reassure themselves that they're "Christian" and going to heaven by showing up once or twice a year.
Q: What track event does the Bible compare being a Christian to? What does he say about the assembly?
A: 2 Tim 4:7 & 1 Cor 9:24. Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 14:23;26, Heb 10:25
Being a Christian is likened by God to a race. There is a prize at the end. Often God asks what "profit" there is in something. Being a Christian is also a marriage of the church to Christ.
Here are some things to consider: we're told to hold fast to the things given to us. One of those is the assembly on the Lord's day. It isn't one day a year, or two. Would you win a race by exercising once a year? Would you make much profit if you went to work once a year? Would your marriage do well if you professed your love and saw your wife only once a year? What about twice?
Are you trying to serve your own self, or are you giving God's race all you've got? Those who sit on the sidelines will not get a reward. 2 Thess 3:10 applies to the spiritual health of a person. "if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either." Let's work for the Lord every day!
(PN63)
You attend, but does that save you?
BQ: The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembly of the saints (Heb 10:25), but does doing everything perfectly in church and having a 100% attendance record cover you for the rest of the week?
A: Let's look at some people back under the Old Covenant who were doing sacrifices to God, burning incense, praying, etc., and see what God said. Isaiah 1:10-15:
“Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle, and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats...“Bring your worthless offerings no longer; incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.Your hands are covered with blood.”
Showing up every Sunday is good, but only for the right reasons. God does not delight in us doing the minimum amount possible to fulfill what we "have to do" before we can get "back on with our lives." Here's the solution for everyone, though, from Is 1:16-17, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow."
(PN176)
Tithing.
BQ: Under the old covenant, the Levitical priests were commanded to receive tithes from the people. (Heb 7:5) In Hebrews 7:11-18, we can see that the priesthood has been changed. So what's up with giving money today? Hint: it's not really a tithe anymore!
A: One thing that has always bugged me is giving money to...what? Enlarge a bank account? Is God somehow poor? Build a water park? Does God wish to go swimming? What about the spirits at stake?
In 1 Cor 16:1-3, we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints... On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper... When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem." At this time, there were poor brothers and sisters in in Jerusalem who could use help. Here we see a good model for giving, and a great reason.
In the new covenant, no proportion of money is stipulated to be given. Instead, we are to give cheerfully as God has given to us, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7). However, we should give liberally and not be misers because, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (II Corinthians 9:6)
When we give, that money is God's, and it has been entrusted to use as the God's assembly to make it grow. There is no commandment to pass an offering plate (note: a box in a hallway accomplishes the same thing without, say, causing embarrassment to the poor, the widows, etc.), but we do need to give cheerfully. And if the money isn't being used well, we owe it to God to urge that such a situation be corrected.
(PN223)