Why We Partake?

A question many preachers and Christians are asked is "why do you take the Lord's supper or communion every week"? The best answer is one that comes directly from God's Word. There are two reason, the first being that the Bible states very clearly that the first century church, under the guidance of Christ's inspired apostles, observed it that often. And it was on that day, the first day of the week, that they observed it. The second is that this sacrifice of the Holy Son of God was and remains the only way mankind has to get into Christ and reach our heavenly home. There is no greater event that we can remember and the price it cost our God, and Christ Himself, to go through the pain and suffering He went through. These facts are more important than most people realize.

What the original Church did correctly, as taught and directed by those men chosen and empowered by our Lord, constitutes the STANDARD for the church in all ages. The early Church lovingly remembered the Lord in holy communion every first day of the week, and so should we.

The record of Jesus' words does not establish the frequency of the Lord's supper, but apostolic guidance established a weekly observance. The Church of God at Corinth, for example, met on the first day of the week (1Corinthians 16:2), and a careful reading of 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34 makes it clear that the Lord's supper was to be a part of their regular assemblies. The disciples at Troas met on the first day of the week for the expressed purpose of breaking bread, i.e., partaking of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7). Although often used by many, there is no command, example or precedent for a monthly, quarterly or annual observance of the Lord's supper. we do, however, have the apostolic precedent for observance on the first day of the week.

Philip Schaff, in Volume n of his work on church history, pp. 236-237, wrote: "The communion was a regular and the most solemn part of the Sunday worship... The services proper consisted of two principle acts: the oblation, or presenting of the offering of the congregation...and the communion, or partaking of the consecrated elements." This writing was of the period between A.D. 100 and 311.

For seven hundred years this practice took place every week. John Calvin said, "The change was a contrivance of the devil." Even John Wesley advised his people to spread the table each Lord's Day.

Why do we partake weekly? Because it is scriptural and on that basis it is right...because Christ grows more precious and special with each remembrance. Some have come up with the idea that to remember weekly makes it commonplace or not so important. My question would be "For what reason do we assemble if not to remember and gives thanks for the wonderful and tremendous sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?"
God Bless until we meet again.