1.7 KiB
Message 1
New Testament reformation fellowship – expound Greek of "do this in remembrance of me" newtestamentfellowship.org
Acts 2:42 – taking their meals together, continuing in breaking of bread (amongst other things)
Sense we get is that Lord's Supper in the context of actual meal together, celebrated often.
Changes over history: orthodox forbade the taking of meals together (?) in favor of the eucharist. Restricted taking home provisions, having a meal in church building.
Third counsel of carthage 393 AD and second counsel of orleans, reiterated prohibition on feasting in churches.
Supper turned into a ritual instead of a meal. Supper was always holy and honorable, but not a ritual. It was a meal together, remembering covenant the Lord made for us.
In early church, there was no building—perhaps early believers met in the temple. They met in homes.
"and" (kai) missing from Acts 2:42 between "fellowship" and "breaking of bread". Implication being that fellowship was accomplish by the breaking of bread together.
Message 2
Topic: practical considerations for "love feasting".
Good point: we don't like to change in church and one of the reasons is that doing so has to admit that were either ignorant of how we ought to do something or we were doing it wrong or with adjustments needed.
How would a large church do a love feast?
First we need to ask:
- What is an appropriate church size (locally, of course)?
- What are practical intelligent ways to practice this?
Of course, after Peter preaches on Pentecost the church goes from 120 to 3000! In one day, the church grew tremendously. Yet, they seemed to adapt quite well.
Answer is that the ancient church probably never met in groups larger than 60-70 people.