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THE CHURCH PROVIDES THE LORD’S SUPPER, INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE COMMON MEALS
Jesus ordained the Lord’s Supper as a memorial to his death on the cross for the sins of the world in Matthew 26:26-29. Speaking to his Apostles shortly before his death, he said of the unleavened bread, “Take, eat; this is my body” (vs. 26). He said of the fruit of the vine, “Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (vv. 27-28). When the Apostles taught the first church the right way to worship, the Lord’s Supper or “the breaking of bread” was included (Acts 2:42). The Lord revealed this same memorial to Paul, who taught it to all the churches (1 Cor. 11:23-26; 4:17).
The Lord did not teach his followers to isolate themselves from each other to observe the Lord’s Supper in private devotion but to assemble as the local church to observe it. Paul waited a week at Troas to participate with the saints in their worship assembly including the Lord’s Supper. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow” (Acts 20:7). When Paul addressed the abuse of the Lord’s Supper at Corinth, he noted it was observed “when ye come together in the church” (1 Cor. 11:17-34, see vv. 16-17, 20, 33).
It is clear from the New Testament that the local church provides the Lord’s Supper as part of the proper way to worship our Lord.
The New Testament teaches Christians to extend and express their fervent love to each other by showing hospitality and sharing common meals with each other. This is a function of individual faith and duty exercised largely in the context of family life. Jesus said a person who gives even “a cup of cold water” to refresh one of his disciples will be rewarded (Matt. 10:42). Hebrews 13:1-2 teaches, “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The New Testament repeatedly urges Christians to share in the spirit of hospitality (Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:8-9).
Meals are generally shared in the setting of home and family life where we provide for our physical needs. The virtuous woman is diligent to prepare food for “her household” and to share with the poor and needy (Prov. 31:15, 20). After Paul baptized Lydia and her household, Luke says that “she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house’” (Acts 16:15, NIV). Men are instructed to provide “for those of his own house” and women are instructed to “love their husbands, to love their children,” and to be “keepers at home” (1 Tim. 5:8; Tit. 2:4-5). These duties include the work of providing daily food. Paul said that rather than expecting the church to provide our daily meals, “if any man hunger, let him eat at home” (1 Cor. 11:34).
It is clear from the New Testament that it is the duty and the privilege of individual saints to provide daily food for their families and to extend hospitality to brethren as well as help to the poor as ability and opportunity permit.
The Pattern in Acts 2:42-47
The pattern of New Testament teaching consistently shows that the church provides the Lord’s Supper and individuals provide common meals. Acts 2:42 gives a brief summary of the worship conducted by the first church in Jerusalem: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Each activity mentioned in this verse is a specific expression of worship. “Breaking of bread” refers to the Lord’s Supper. The fellowship mentioned here involves giving into the collection as part of the service. This created the treasury of the church, which was used immediately to relieve the suffering of needy saints (vv. 44-45).
The English word “fellowship” loosely defined can include sharing meals, ball games, fishing and hunting trips, gymnastics, movies, sexual intimacy, family activities, business functions, political movements, religious gatherings, or virtually anything else. The New Testament uses “fellowship” in reference to spiritual relationships and activities including our unity with God and the saints or sharing in sin (1 Jn. 1:3; Eph. 5:11). The “fellowship” family of words is used in Acts 2:42, 44-45 in reference to the church treasury, not sharing meals (no passage uses “fellowship” to refer to the church providing social meals). Specific acts of worship are indicated by the Greek construction of Acts 2:42 which speaks of “the breaking of bread” (not just eating in general) and “the fellowship” (not just sharing anything in general). Notice the word “the” in each case, referring to something unique and concrete. “Fellowship” here is koinonia in Greek and the same root word koinos is translated “in common” in vv. 44-45 concerning the use of the treasury for benevolence. The same root word is used when the treasury is used to support preachers (koinoneo: "communicated," Phil. 4:15). We share by giving into the treasury and by utilizing the funds to support the work of the church, thus “fellowship.”
Though “fellowship” is not used in verse 42 of a social meal, we read of saints sharing meals in verse 46. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” For some period of time the church met in the temple courtyard for daily teaching in order to edify the many new converts. When it came to sharing common meals, this was not a function of the church but was done “house to house.” Sharing common meals was a function of individuals and families, not a function of the church.
The Pattern in Acts 20:7-11
Saints at Troas met every Sunday to worship, which included the Lord’s Supper as a memorial of Christ’s death for the sins of the world (Acts 20:7). Paul preached at length in addressing questions and issues of great interest to the saints there. A man sitting in a window fell asleep, then fell three stories to his death, which interrupted the worship. Everyone went downstairs and Paul raised the man. Preparing to travel, Paul ate some food and after visiting a little longer left on his journey (vs. 11). It is significant to notice that the whole church did not eat. The church had provided the Lord’s Supper but not a social meal. Paul’s eating was an individual action in preparation for his journey, not a function of the local church.
The Pattern in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
We find this same distinction made in the instructions revealed in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34: The church provides the Lord’s Supper and individuals provide common meals. The worship was disrupted and brethren were divided by Christians who arrived early and consumed the elements prepared for the Lord’s Supper. Paul reproved them in these words, “What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” They were not to use the elements of the Lord’s Supper to satisfy their hunger, nor were they to expect the church to provide a common meal. They were to satisfy their hunger at home! After instructing them in the proper observance of the Lord’s Supper, Paul again emphasized, “And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation” (vs. 34).
Notice that the solution was not to keep the Lord’s Supper and a common meal provided by the church separated. The solution was for the church to provide and observe the Lord’s Supper. No social meals were planned and provided by the church, period! Common meals were simply not the duty of the church. “If any man hunger, let him eat at home.” Our common meals are necessary to sustain life, and sharing them brings additional joys and blessings, but these meals are to be provided by individuals in the course of family life and not as a function of the church.
The only occasion for the church to make provisions for common meals is during an emergency such as a severe drought, or when a widow who is a faithful Christian has no means of support. The church can act in the realm of benevolence to provide for daily needs as was done when the Jerusalem church provided “the daily ministration” or “the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1, NIV). When there was a drought in Judea, the church at Antioch sent relief to the elders to be distributed among the needy saints (Acts 11:27-30). The practice of churches today providing social meals, parties, and celebrations is not benevolence. Such activities are the duties of individuals and families, not the local church.
The Pattern Is Clear and Consistent
The New Testament pattern is clear and consistent. The church provides the Lord’s Supper. Individuals provide common meals. Christ did not design or authorize the church to engage in social and recreational activities. Elders are obligated by Christ to “watch for your souls” not oversee social meals, party rooms erroneously tagged “fellowship halls,” ball teams, bowling leagues, picnics, wedding showers, birthday parties, gymnasiums labeled “family life centers,” and other secular activities and facilities (Heb. 13:17).
Let the church focus on evangelism, worship, and benevolence to needy saints. Let individuals tend to physical, social, and secular activities.
