Names for:

1. The Lord's Supper 1 Corinthians 11:20

2. Lord's table 1 Corinthians 10:21

3. Communion 1 Corinthians 10:16

4. Breaking of bread Acts 2:42; 20:7

5. NOT CALLED:

   1. Sacrament = oath or vow

   2. Eucharist = giving of thanks

When should we partake?

1. Acts 20:7 Upon the first day of the week

2. An example is binding when it illustrates a requirement.

   1. First day assembly is required. 1 Corinthians 16:2

   2. Assembly is required. Hebrews 10:25

   3. Communion is required in the assembly. 1 Corinthians 11:18

3. Can we observe communion on Saturday night?

   1. NEB Acts 20:7 "On Saturday night, in our assembly for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was to leave the next day, addressed them, and went on speaking until midnight."

   2. See other uses of same phrase, "first day of week" Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; 1 Corinthians 16:2 Greek - "main tou sabbaton" -"first of seven"

   3. Two problems:

      1. Is this Roman time – midnight to midnight?

         1. They met on Sunday evening.

         2. They had communion that evening.

         3. Paul preached till midnight.

         4. Talked till Monday morning.

      2. Is this Jewish time - 6 PM to 6 PM – Sunset to Sunrise?

         1. They met on (what we call Saturday) night.

         2. Remember, to them it was Sunday, not Sat.

         3. Paul preached till midnight.

         4. Talked till Sunday morning.

      3. NOTE: Either view - the facts are the same. The Lord's Supper was part of their regular worship. They met on the first day of the week.

   4. Calendars change, leap year, skip days.

   5. George Washington was born on Feb. 18, now Feb. 22.

   6. International Date Line - lose or repeat a day.

4. What about Sunday night?

   1. We offer it on Sunday night to those who were not able to be present Sunday morning. (Stay with one who is sick, Working, etc.)

   2. NOT FOR:

      1. Those who want to take a trip, visit someone, sleep, go fishing, or other activities of pleasure.

      2. Planned absence.

      3. What is the difference? IF - One comes Sunday AM to take communion and stays home Sunday night to watch TV.
         OR IF - One fishes Sunday AM and takes communion that evening.

Who should partake?

1. Citizens of the Kingdom Luke 22:30

2. Those who remember his death 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

3. Those who respect his blood 1 Corinthians 11:29

4. The self-examined 1 Corinthians 11:28

What are the elements?

1. Unleavened bread. On the eve of Passover, all leaven was thrown away. This was the original "spring house cleaning." They swept, cleaned out the cupboards, and removed everything that might contain leaven.

2. NOTE: Leaven does not mean anything that rises. It had to do with yeast. Yeast is old, fermenting and decaying. There was to be nothing rotten, decaying or putrid in their home for Passover.

3. Fruit of the Vine. In every reference, this phrase is used. Grape juice is the most common.

How are we to partake?

1. When assembled together. 1 Corinthians 11:33

2. Worthily. 1 Corinthians 11:27, 29

3. Remembering. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

4. Anticipate the second coming. 1 Corinthians 11:26

5. Giving thanks. Matthew 26:26-27

6. Discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:29

Should communion be "open" or "closed?"

1. "Closed" communion refers to restricting the participants to those we know to be in fellowship with God. It involves judgment. It is not Biblical.

2. "Open" communion teaches self-examination. We should teach what communion is, who should partake, how they should partake - then, let each individual make the choice for themselves. 1 Corinthians 11:28

What was going on at Corinth? 1 Corinthians 11:18-22

1. MacKnight's running commentary on this passage. 18 For first indeed I hear, that when ye assemble together in the church there are divisions among you; and I believe it with respect to part of you. 19 For there must even be heresies among you, that the approved may be made manifest among you. 20 But your coming together into one place is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating it, every one taketh first his own supper, and one is hungry, and another is filled. 22 What! Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or do you think amiss of the church of God, and put to shame those who have not a supper? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? I praise you not.

2. NOTE: What was changed?

   1. Changed communion into a common meal.

   2. Changed fellowship into a display of wealth.

   3. Changed fellowship into selfishness.

   4. Changed coming together into division.

   5. Changed serious worship into a party.

   6. Changed "love feast" into segregation.

   7. NOTE: The early church often had "love feasts" (see Jude 12) before their worship began. Corinth had allowed the dinner to degenerate from a pot-luck, sharing, fellowship into a rich vs. poor exhibition. The dinner had overshadowed the communion.

Difficult texts examined.

1. Eat in the church building. (v. 22)

   1. They were meeting in homes.

   2. They did not have "church buildings."

   3. Study - Acts 20:7-12.

2. "Another is drunken" (v. 21)

   1. The word "signifies to be drunk with wine, of being intoxicated." (Vine, pg. 343)

   2. They were literally "drunk" when they came to worship. Their mind was not clear enough to partake of communion and discern the Lord's body.

3. "This is my body." (v. 24)

   1. This is NOT Transubstantiation. It is still "bread" in verse 26 and 28.

   2. This is a figure of speech, metonymy. "Using one name in place of another."

      1. She set a good table (good food).

      2. Ranch has 300 head (cattle).

      3. He is a hired hand (worker).

      4. I'll have another cup (coffee).

      5. God so loved the world (human race).

   3. The prayer offered is one of thanksgiving.

      1. This does not involve a miracle.

      2. There is no power in who leads the prayer.

   4. "Unworthily" (v. 29)

      1. An adverb describes HOW the action is done.

      2. Not describing the person, but the action.

      3. "In a worthy, proper, fitting manner."

   5. "Many are weak and sickly" (v. 31)

      1. Does communion have physical benefits?

      2. I believe the "weak and sickly" are those weak in faith and sick in spirit.

      3. The benefits of communion are spiritual, not physical.