WORSHIP
LESSON 4
When To Worship
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. (Acts 20:7)
This verse tells us that the early church met upon the first day of the week. Remember this is the day Christ arose from the dead (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20) and the church began on the day of Pentecost which was on the first day of the week, Sunday.
pentekostos an adjective denoting "fifieth," is used as a noun,
with "day" understood, i.e., the "fifieth" day after the Passover,
counting from the second day of the Feast,
Acts 2:1; Acts 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8. For the Divine instructions of Israel see Ex. 23:16; Ex. 34:22; Lev. 23:15-21; Num. 28:26-31; Deut. 16:9-11.
They (the early church) participated in five acts of worship and we find these all mentioned within the New Testament scriptures.
When they came to worship they…
Took the Lord’s Supper
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. (Acts 20:7)
The breaking of bread is the same as the Lord’s Supper/communion.
Break/Breaking as used in Acts 20:7
Strong's Number: 2806 kla/w Original Word: kla/w Word Origin: a primary verb
Transliterated Word: Klao Phonetic Spelling: klah'-o Parts of Speech: Verb
TDNT: 3:726,437
Definition: to break
used in the NT of the breaking of bread or communion
Bread as used in Acts 20:7
Strong's Number: 740 aµrtov Original Word: aµrtov Phonetic Spelling: ar'-tos
Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine TDNT: 1:477,80
Definition: food composed of flour mixed with water and baked
the Israelites made it in the form of an oblong or round cake, as thick as one's thumb, and as large as a plate or platter hence it was not to be cut but broken
loaves were consecrated to the Lord
of the bread used at the love-feasts and at the Lord's Table
food of any kind
The Lord Himself instituted this:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Cor. 11:23- 28)
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 10:16)
Let us note:
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that
the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “ They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:31-37)Although, His bones were not broken, His body was still broken for us… They broke the skin when nailing Him to the cross, His skin was cut when the soldier thrust the spear into His side and His heart was broken from those rejecting Him.
By study of the scriptures we know what kind of bread is to be used and what is to be in the cup of blessing:
After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. (Mark 14:1)
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-30)
Fruit of the vine… this would indicate that it was Grape juice, and grapes were plentiful in the land where Jesus lived.
We also find that when one takes of the Lord’s Supper; there is a certain way we should take it. We must have the right attitude and be focused upon why we are to observe this act of worship which Christ commanded.
Let’s look at 1 Cor. 11:23-28 again:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
We are told why… in remembrance of Jesus. He suffered the cruel death of the cross for our sins, He knew no sin.
For He made Him who knew no sin
to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (1 Cor.
5:21)
Therefore Jesus also, that He
might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (Heb.
13:12)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, (1 Peter 3:18)
When we are taking the Lord’s supper we should remember what He has done for us, giving us the opportunity to be righteous before God. We can be found unworthy when observing this act of worship.
In the verses of 1 Cor. 11 we read “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
The church comes together every first day of the week, which is Sunday and this is when the early church took of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). . Every Sunday when the church comes together and takes of the Lord’s Supper they do this as a memorial to Christ. And we are told to do this until He returns. We are also told to examine ourselves!
QUESTIONS:
(Please give scripture to back your answers.)
1. When did the early church meet?
2. What act of worship did the early church participate in that was instituted by Jesus Himself?
3. When did they do this act of worship?
4. What does the bread represent?
5. What does the cup represent?
6. What kind of bread is to be used?
7. What is to be used in the cup?
8. What is the reason given for taking the Lord's Supper?
9. What should be our focus during the Lord's Supper?
10. How often should we take of the Lord's Supper?
11. What else should we do while observing the Lord's Supper?
12. How long are we told to observe this act of worship?
13. Do you believe that the church should practice this act of worship?
Please give scripture as to why you do or why you do not.
14. On what day was the church born and what day of the week would that be?
Foot Notes:
http://www.antioch.com.sg/bible/vines/ http://www.studylight.org/lex/