When You Come Together as a Church (1 Cor. 11:18) The individual’s worship in the assembly

Worship Acceptable to God, Jno. 4:23-24 Individual, Psa. 146:1-2; Jas. 5:13 Congregational arrangement, Psa. 122:1; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:24-25 ◦ Provides fellowship ◦ Produces edification 2

A Question Arises May (should) Christians eat the Lord’s Supper when we cannot assemble for worship? ◦ What are we to do when we cannot assemble? Willingness to study this subject is commendable and appreciated, 2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11 “What does the Scripture say?” Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13 3

What is Not in Question Whether Christians should worship on the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 Whether Christians should eat the Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:23-26 When Christians eat the Lord’s supper, Acts 20:7 Why Christians eat the Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:

The Question Is… Has God specified the setting in which we eat the Lord’s Supper? When hindered from attending the worship assembly, are we expected to eat the Lord’s Supper privately? ◦ If “yes”, it becomes mandatory ◦ If “yes”, we must be sure all are doing so, including hospitals, nursing homes, etc. ◦ If “yes”, we imply a sacramental quality to the Lord’s Supper 5

Establishing and Applying Bible Authority Clear authority to eat the supper when the church comes together ◦ Church in Corinth, 1 Cor. 11:17-34  Come together (17)  As a church (18)  In one place (20, 21-22)  Come together to eat (33)  Not for judgment (34) ◦ In assembly, each Christian eats (24-26) and examines his manner (27-32) 6

“When you come together as a church…in one place” (1 Cor. 11) 7 -v. 17 -v. 18 -v. 20 -v. 33 Worship Assembly Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…”

Establishing and Applying Bible Authority What authority approves eating the LS outside the assembly? 1 Ths. 5:21 ◦ Remember: Issue is not whether we should eat the LS, but whether we have authority to eat the LS outside the assembly What about Matthew 18:20? ◦ “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” 8

Establishing and Applying Bible Authority What about Matthew 18:20? ◦ Immediate context: Apostolic authority on earth, 18:18-20 (16:19); cf. Acts 1:21-26 ◦ Applied context: Unrepentant sin, 18:15-17 ◦ Broader context: Christ is present when the apostles reveal heaven’s authority, cf. 1 Cor. 5:4 9

Establishing and Applying Bible Authority Using Matthew 18:20 to sanction out-of- assembly LS proves too much: ◦ Is Christ absent when there is only one Christian? ◦ Would authorize and endorse whatever 2-3 Christians agree upon This verse speaks of the agreement of heaven with apostolic authority ◦ Not with whatever 2-3 of us do together 10

Unintended Consequences Assembled worship ultimately becomes optional, unnecessary – or at least, a secondary consideration, Heb. 10:24-25 Assembled worship becomes secondary to our convenience We imply that 2-3 gathered together constitute the church, Matt. 18:16-17 We are compelled to arrange the LS for all who do not attend the assembly Consistency will compel us to treat all other acts of worship the same way 11

Conclusion We stand on solid ground by eating the supper when the church comes together in one place, 1 Cor. 11:20 Let us hold fast this pattern of sound words and carefully follow the apostles’ doctrine, 2 Tim. 1:13; 3:10 12