The Pillars of the Church
Part 3: Breaking of Bread
I.
Introduction
a.
Last time we
looked at the importance of fellowship
i.
God commands it
ii.
God uses
fellowship as part of sanctification
iii.
Fellowship is
encouraging and refreshing
b.
This time we are
going to look at breaking of bread
II.
What is it?
a.
Some commentators
interpret this as generic sharing of meals—they ate together—because “breaking
of bread” was/is a common idiom for sharing a meal
b.
Most commentators
have traditionally identified this as the Lord’s Supper
c.
Part of the
confusion might be the way we do the Lord’s Supper because while the ceremonial
taking of the bread and wine was always distinct, it was often done in the
greater context of a full meal—the love feast
d.
While it is
possible that this is merely referring to communal sharing of food, I believe
that it is specifically referring to the Lord’s Supper
i.
The language of
“bread breaking” is used in the Gospel accounts of the institution of the
Lord’s Supper—Luke 22:19
ii.
While Luke 2:42
is not referring to things done only in a “worship service,” it is referring to
liturgical things
iii.
The language
of “bread breaking” seems to be used in the New Testament to distinguish the
Lord’s Day—Acts 20:7
e.
Keep in mind that
the reason the Lord’s Supper was instituted is that sharing meals held great
significance in that culture. Why did
Jesus choose a meal? Because sharing
food has spiritual symbolism. The
potency of the metaphor of the Lord’s Supper is derived from the universal
importance of “breaking bread”
f.
So, all this is
to say that “the breaking of bread” is specifically the celebrating of the
Lord’s Supper
3. What is the Lord’s Supper?
a.
Freedictionary.com
b.
GCI
c.
Westminster
d.
Me: “The Lord’s
Supper is the covenant meal, which is comprised of bread and wine ritually
taken, and which was given to the Church by Christ as a perpetual commemoration
of His sacrifice on the cross.”
4. A Brief Word on Sacraments
a.
We do not believe
in ex opere operato (from the work
worked, or doing it, it is done)
b.
The bread and wine
are not physically the flesh and blood of Christ
c.
They are
spiritually, or covenantally, the body and blood of Christ
d.
Three views
i.
Memorialism—the
physical act is nothing but a commemoration
ii.
Sacramentalism–grace
is automatically conferred by the physical act
iii.
Reformed view—the
physical act is a means used by God to give us grace
e.
The sacraments
are signs and seals
1. Signs picture for our weak minds that which God has
done for us
2. Seals authenticate the promises made by the signs
f.
WCF 27:1-2
g.
Going through the
motions hypocritically will do nothing but condemn you more
h.
This doesn’t mean
that we should abstain if our faith is weak or if we don’t fully understand
what is happening—the Lord’s Supper is designed to teach and to build our
faith
5. Why should we devote ourselves to the Lord’s Supper?
a.
Because we are
commanded to—1 Corinthians 11:23-25
b.
Because by doing
so we are preaching the Gospel—1
Corinthians 11:26
c.
Because it is a
means of grace used by God to strengthen our faith—Heidelberg
d.
Because it unites
us to Christ covenantally by faith—John
6:56 and 1 Corinthians 10:16
e.
Because it
pictures our unity with each other—1
Corinthians 10:17
f.
Because it is a
time of covenantal renewal—Luke 22:20—it
is a call to covenantal faithfulness
6. What happens if we neglect the Lord’s Supper?
a.
We lose out on
all the benefits God has given us through it
b.
We misunderstand
how the sacraments function
c.
We become
imbalanced in the tone of the service—hope vs. conviction
d.
Man—the
pastor—becomes the center of the service
e.
We become individualistic
f.
We may even lose
the Gospel
7. How should we partake of the Lord’s Supper?
a.
Regularly
i.
There is no
explicit command
ii.
Acts 2:42 and
other passages give us a pretty good example
iii.
Any good reason
why you wouldn’t do it every Sunday?
Would you preach or sing once a quarter?
Would you pray once a month?
iv.
Why not more
often?
b.
Corporately
i.
In a context of
worship
ii.
Gathered with the
body of Christ
c.
Conscious of our
brethren—1 Corinthians 11:29 and
12:27
i.
Open table
ii.
Children
iii.
The meal that
pictures our unity must not exclude any member of the covenant
d.
Solemnly and yet
joyfully
e.
In faith
8. Conclusion
a.
God has given us
this meal as a gift
b.
This bread and
wine picture the only path of salvation
c.
This is why we
gather—we are united by Christ’s death
d.
If you believe,
take part in Christ
e.
If you don’t
believe, see and believe…and then come and take part in Christ
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