DEVOTED: The Breaking of Bread

INTRO: “Lowering the basketball hoop to dunk”…not that impressive. Rise up to meet the standard, not lower the standard to make it easy on you or how you want it.

There were those in the early Church that were doing that with worship, specifically The Lords Supper. But first, lets look at how the day 1 Christians were purely DEVOTED to it.

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

The breaking of bread, or as we call it “Communion/Lords Supper”, is a special act of worship we see the Church doing as the assembly.

WHY WERE THEY DEVOTED TO IT? WHAT IS THE BROADER PURPOSE OTHER THAN JUST HAVING SOMETHING TO DO?

It something Jesus established for His Church to remain right minded and unified, to be strong together!

(PPT) Jesus Established it To Remember Deliverance

The NEW Covenant of NEW Deliverance

Luke 22:15-20

During the Passover meal that contained the same elements.

Delivered from Sin, Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

We focus and praise our God who is a faithful deliverer!

(PPT) Jesus Established it To Remain Unified

Look at the following verses in Acts 2:43–47 “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

There was a special bond, a special sense of unity and togetherness. Completely the opposite of what direction the Corinthian Church was taking when Paul addressed them in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:17-22

What makes “the Lords Supper” NOT “the Lords Supper”? What makes it NOT Communion? When it’s about ME instead of WE.

It was a wasted time, it was a meaningless thing they were doing. It wasn’t worship!

Illustration: “This meeting could’ve been an email.” I didn’t need to be here, this didn’t need to take place, this wasn’t really a meeting that needed my attention, we didn’t get anything accomplished....

Just showing up DOESN’T make it worship!

Notice how V.22 includes specifically their mistreatment of one another! They failed to be DEVOTED in their breaking of bread because they failed to be properly in fellowship with one another!

Paul is about to say “YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED OF JESUS!!! You need to be reminded of when and how Jesus established this, how it has a sacrificial nature at it’s root instead of a selfish self seeking motive.

(PPT)1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Commemorate, v.23-26

Memorial, NOT a funeral

Illustration: war memorial in DC – “not falling into the same mistakes”

Proclamate, v.26

Each and everyone one of us are doing that!

Katangello – proclaim, announce, report

Status Report: He ain’t dead, we’re delivered, and He’s coming back!

Anticipate His Return, v.26

Examinate, v.27-29

Partaking in an “unworthy manner” needs to be understood correctly. He’s talking about polluting the lords supper by causing division, being self indulgent and selfish, not proclaiming the Lord’s death and Victory over it. The issue is the attitude we bring to the table that isn’t right with God.

It was like how in Malachi they were disregarding the importance of what they were doing. Malachi was addressing an apathetic people who are bored with worship, there was no passion or devotion, yet God’s people still expected God to bless them. They had lowered the goal yet still thought God should be impressed.

“examinate” = “to prove with a view to approving,”

Do you have enough time to do that before the plate reaches you?...

When you take it, it’s the moment of remembering and celebrating with one another. It’s NOT the moment of reflection, you gotta do that BEFORE taking it!

Am I contributing to division or unity? V.17-19

They were CARELESS with something special.

Illustration: spilling soda on moms photo albums - carelessness leads to hurt and can ruin something good/significant.

1 Corinthians 11:30

Those that have done this wrongly and continue to are WEAK and Spiritually DYING. You’re dying! You’re not devoted to life and holiness, you’re not devoted to true worship...but you’re devoting yourself to condemnation...

1 Corinthians 11:33

SO, wait for one another.

That means to long for, to look out for, to desire to share this with one another.

Illustration: Family Gatherings/Meals

You ever have one of those awkward family gatherings for dinner where you plan in your mind to say “I’m just gonna make my quick appearance and grab a few snacks and get out of there” OR the position of “I’m not caring who is here I’m just going to grab the best stuff and sit in the best spot and put on what I want to watch so I don’t have to socialize”....?

We travel for family Holidays. It’s hard being away. But our family makes us feel welcome and still part of the family because they arrange schedules around us so that we can celebrate together. They “wait on” us!

Paul is saying “don’t be like that inconsiderate family”. INSTEAD, have a desire to be with one another, a desire to share in worship with one another. He’s not saying find a day that works best (we know it’s sunday). It it’s the attitude and the manner in which we as a body of believers exist together!

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 -

Its serious business’s of unity and praise, its proclamation that we are saved and heaven bound and He is coming back!

It’s about FELLOWSHIP

With Jesus

Matthew 26:29 “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.””

When was the Kingdom of God established? At the point of the resurrection. (Acts 1-2: Ascension, Keys given, and Church participation)

With One Another

We Christians take our little portions separated out, but we are not separated. We take it acknowledging and reminding each other that we are ONE in Christ. Because we all needed the same one sacrifice we’re remembering! And those of us who are in Christ have the same unified blessings of Christ’s sacrifice. We’ve been delivered and added to the body, the Church.

It’s not a sad time, it’s the ultimate celebration and thanksgiving sharing.

Have you ever wondered what the Apostles first communion was like after the Church started? After they have the full understanding of what Jesus was teaching them before? After stepping into this new leadership role to guide believers in the very things Jesus told them? Think about that moment together. I bet they were smiling and looking at one another, I bet they were teary eyed out of joy, perhaps a bit of sadness remembering Jesus was with them showing them how and why to do this, but you know they were doing it in fellowship with Jesus, in anticipation of Him, knowing that He’s coming back.

They taught the Church to be devoted to this, they were devoted to this weekly celebration and PROCLAIMING that Jesus defeated the enemy and is coming back. It’s devotion to celebration, to remembering, and participation.

It’s part of a Christians devoted life WEEKLY. Even outsiders knew that about us.

We could point out Acts 20:6-7 – Where Paul waiting for the first day in order to take communion.

Plinius Secundus (Pliny The Elder), a well known Roman Author and Philosopher in 112 AD wrote – “They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang an anthem to Christ as God, and bound themselves by solemn oath not to commit any wicked deed…after which it was their custom to separate, and then to meet again to partake of food, but food of an ordinary and innocent kind”

Even non-Christians knew that this was a weekly and important time for Christians to come together. Non Christians knew what we were devoted to!

What Are We Known For?

If someone wrote a letter about our church, what would they say we’re devoted to?

Are we known as people like Acts 2:42?...would people even know what to say about us at all?

(PPT) You can’t be devoted to something if you only do it once or twice a year. The significance of it and the importance of it speak to the fact that it NEEDS to be regularly done, not just should be done, but NEEDS to be!

Without it our unity suffers, our forward perspective suffers, our devotion to truth suffers, and overall we are proclaiming Jesus less….

The Corinthians had lowered the standards but Paul wasn’t impressed. They had diminished something of great value. They weren’t proclaiming Jesus, their hearts and motives were guilty of being wrong and against Jesus ————- ironically, that’s a similar position Judas had at the very time Jesus instituted the Lords Supper: a heart working against Jesus’ purpose.

I don’t want to be in the position of betraying, I want to be in the position of DEVOTED.

CONCLUSION:

I see now why the Church was DEVOTED to this....

Imagine after 52 communions where we celebrate and self-evaluate, how much growth we can have in unity and harmony, how we make it a mission to not loosen our grasp on the significance of what Jesus has done for us.

To be DEVOTED to the breaking of bread is to be devoted to…remembering , rejoicing , and proclaiming that Jesus has won, and He’s coming again. We don’t hinder it by being a selfish exercise or by not seeking restoration and unity with one another.

We don’t lower the standard. We keep it special together.

Are you ready for His return?