This study was first taught on October 7, 2018

Topic: Church Life (5): Church Business (Celebrating & Remembering the Lord Jesus Christ)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
In our last meeting, we saw another activity that the Church of God, when gathered together should be engaged in—fellowship. We defined fellowship as participation, partnership, and partaking together with others, based on a common experience as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ—salvation, faith, belonging to the same body, having been baptized into that one body, etc. As a result, the Holy Spirit seeks to bond us together as one through the love of God which has been shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5).

Bonding, we noted, is crucial, because believers in Christ come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and, are of diverse tongues, etc., and must be transformed into a people, having the same mind—the mind of Christ—and pursuing the same purpose—the doing of the Will of God. The bible teaches that when bonding takes place, everyone in the body can be nourished by what others contribute to the body which includes, spiritual activities like teachings, and regular activities like giving to the needy (Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:3-9).

The goal of bonding and sharing is to bring the church, as one cohesive unit, into fellowship (partnership, participation, and partaking) with the Godhead, such we have a Quartet, rather than a Trinity (John 17:20-23)! For when bonding and sharing is seamlessly taking place, the power of God is freely demonstrated through the Church, the joy of the Holy Spirit fills the whole community of Christians, and we can mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. Indeed, faith is only truly faith when it brings us all together in love and we are concerned about the welfare of other Christians and even unbelievers!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:41-42, 46
Following teaching and learning, and, bonding and sharing, it is a natural progression to “breaking bread”. There is something about sharing a meal together with others that make bonding a joy and a worthy or meaningful and lively activity, as against a bland and worthless ritual! As we take a deeper look at the expression “breaking bread”, we shall continue with our discussion on …
Our first order of business in this study is to break down the expression “breaking bread”, and then see its application to, and implication for, the church today, as per our meetings.
Matthew 14:19; 15:36; 26:26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24; Acts 27:33-36; Genesis 14:17-20; 18:1-8ff; Luke 24:30-35; John 21:9-14; Exodus 24:9-11; Luke 22:19-20; Genesis 15:7-21; 1 Chronicles 12:16-18; Psalm 55:12-14; Jude 1:12a; 1 Corinthians 11:26-34; Acts 2:46; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:17-22; 10:31; John 6:26-40; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 10:14-33; Romans 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-12; 2 Peter 2:13b-22; 1 Peter 1:13-19.

Conclusion
The expression “breaking bread” connotes the Lord’s supernatural provision of food; the Lord’s Supper—as a symbol of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind; an ordinary meal being shared with others, but may hold some spiritual implications; the means by which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, recognized and affirmed the risen Lord; and, the sealing of God’s covenant with man. In application, “breaking bread” is our demonstration of the Lord’s compassion toward those who have need by sharing our meals with them. It also shows our willingness to make sacrifices for others, just as the Lord made for us when He died for our sins; as well as our willingness to share our meals with those who don’t have. “Breaking bread” also speaks of our realization of the presence of the Lord in our midst, even at meal time; and it is indicative of our renewal and reminder of the Covenant the Lord has made on our behalf, and to which we must be true.

The implication of all these is that:
1. We are being warned not to take our salvation for granted, by engaging in sinful acts and then say, “I am under grace”.
2. We are being reminded that we are all one in Christ (as the one bread that is broken) and there must be no discrimination of any sort among the brethren.
3. We are being reminded that we are partaking of the Lord’s table—not the table of a man, or an earthly lord—and so, we must not only be properly clad outwardly, but more importantly, we are living a life of holiness before God.

The Early Church “broke bread” from house to house because there really wasn’t a place large enough for them to gather together for that purpose. Be that as it may, the “breaking of bread” from house to house, was more importantly relational in the sense that it enhanced relationship among the brethren during these meetings (love feasts), since they were in smaller, more cohesive groups.

Breaking of bread does not imply that one person foots the bill while others sponge off the individual. No! each one should play his part as best as he can. Also, when we are set to eat our meals, we must remember those who may not have anything to eat, as well as those who may have, but who cannot eat because of one health challenge or another. We should also send food from our table, to the needy in our neighbourhood from time to time!

The breaking of bread, which is really the celebration and remembrance of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ (including His sacrifice), must also be seen as a means or even another form of bonding and sharing—fellowship!

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