Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 9/8/02 Radio Program

Question:

Is there anything wrong with having the Lord's Supper at home alone?

Answer:

When one begins to read and study about the Lord's Supper, one thing that stands out is the fact that the Lord's Supper was taken when the local church "came together." We do not see a time when people ate the Lord's Supper by themselves, or "at home alone" as the querist stated.

The New Testament shows that Christians, regardless of where they lived, would partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week, when they "came together," or assembled to worship God. We find this happening:

1) At Jerusalem: After about 3000 "gladly received his word" and were baptized (Acts 2:41), "they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (v. 42). This "breaking of bread" has reference to partaking of the Lord's Supper. This is something these 3000 did together.

2) At Troas: We see Paul waiting until "the first day of the week" in order to worship God with the disciples, which included among other things, coming together to "break bread."(i.e., partake of the Lord's Supper). He then preached until midnight (Acts 20:7).

3) At Corinth: Paul wrote the Christians, and spoke of some problems they were facing when they came "together" and were to partake of the Lord's Supper (I Cor. 11:18, 20). Notice again the emphasis on their coming together and partaking of the Lord's Supper. They did not do this by themselves, as the questioner said, "at home alone."

Here, are three clear examples of times when Christians partook of the Lord's Supper. When they did this, they were together. While we know that one may read and study their Bibles at home alone, pray at home alone, etc., partaking of the Lord's Supper is one thing which cannot be done "at home alone." The apostolic example shows that these people were together when they observed and ate the Lord's Supper. This is what we need to do as well (I Pet. 4:11).

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