ADDITONAL THOUGHTS—LORD’S SUPPER

 Unleavened bread is used at the Lord’s table.  Have you wondered how unleavened bread is made?  In the Gospel Advocate (1886) a good Christian related how she made the bread.  “Taking the best white flour, I mix it with pure sweet milk, with the cream still on, putting in nothing else whatever.  The cream that is in the milk is sufficient shortening to prevent toughness yet it is not greasy and does not bake so hard as when lard and water are used.  It should be baked rather slowly and should not remain in the oven long enough to become hard.”

                                                         BALL CHURCH

For many years, I had heard about the Ball church.  Ten years ago, I was in their building for the first time.  Now here is the story I want to relate.  Reba McGinnis told that as she grew up in the Dora area, her dad was not a member and he told the men of the Ball church, “I will not be a member and drink of the same cup and expose others with my physical condition.”  The Ball church at that time  used only one cup and the men talked about it and said, “Let’s use more than one container at the Lord’s table.”  Soon Reba’s dad was baptized and lived and died as a Christian. 

                                                           ABOUT 1900

I assume in 1900 that most churches of Christ considered themselves to be “one cup” churches.  I know it was some years before 1950 that the Elijah church began to consider the subject.  After prayer and much study of Scriptures, the men announced to the church that more than one container would be used in serving the Lord’s Supper.  As you might expect as a church grows then it is more difficult to use just one container.  At Madison, Tennessee the church grew to thousands.  At one time they were about 8000.  It would have been very difficult to have used just one container.  Question:  If Jesus said to use one container then would not all churches of Christ in the world have to use the same container?                        

                                                                    NEW

 Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and at the Passover time.   He spoke of the Kingdom (church) and indicated that in a “new” way He would commune with them.  Also Jesus spoke of “that day.”  Based on Scriptures, I conclude that the Lord was speaking of the beginning of the kingdom-church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) and that His table would be in the church (kingdom) and He would commune in a new way with His disciples.  From the Word we learn that the table is in the church (1 Cor. 10:16-17, 21).  Early churches met on the First Day of the Week to “break bread” (Acts 20:7).  “Break bread” was an expression used to refer to the Lord’s table.  Writers described Christianity from the time of the apostles as a people who met on Sunday to sing, pray, preach, partake of the Lord’s Supper and make an offering.  Over the years faithful followers of Christ have done the same.  Incidentally, when Jesus spoke of “that day” (Matt. 26:29), I believe that is referring to the First Day of the Week.  Pentecost of Acts 2 was on the First Day and reference is made to the First Day in Scriptures (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2) and it seems that the assembly as referred to in Hebrews 10:25 was the Sunday gathering of the disciples.

                                                          IMPORTANT

Much has been written and said about the Lord’s Supper but when it comes to your life and mine, a good question to ask is this... do you really worship and commune with the Lord when we assemble on the First Day of the Week?  Do we remember His life, His death, burial and resurrection?  Do we remember He died for all, even the ones not in the church building on Sunday?  Let’s honor and praise the Lord in the assembly of worship.  Be in your place every Sunday.

-Pat Casey