The Early Church - Chapter 7 - How is Your Breaking of Bread?

Chapter 7 - How Is Your Breaking Of Bread?

Years
ago many assemblies had their Breaking of Bread service in the morning
at 11:00. After World War II many changed their schedule to have the
Lord's Supper at 9:30 and a preaching service for adults with Sunday
School at 11:00. Generally the feeling was that most people go to
church at 11:00 and this schedule would attract outsiders. And in some
cases it seemed to do so.

Then some suggested having the Lord's
Supper Sunday evening. By having Sunday School at 9:30 teachers could
profit from the message at 11:00. And the format would be more like
most churches, making it more attractive to visitors. Why not do
everything possible to attract the outsider? And certainly there is no
time schedule in the Scriptures.

But as time has passed a
disconcerting thing has happened, at least in some areas. The Sunday
night Breaking of Bread has become one of the smallest meetings of the
church. The big meeting now is at 11:00; the building may be
comfortably filled. Many are regulars; they regard this as "my church."
It satisfies their religious needs and costs them little. People are
not pressed "to join" and there is no offering taken. Many come at no
other time.

But should we not thank God that people at least come out at 11:00 and hear the Word? Is not that the main thing?

As
one reads the early chapters of Acts he discovers not a congregation of
nominal churchgoers but a group of highly committed disciples. Their
faith was so fervent and radical that "fear came upon every soul" (Acts
2:43). Those who became saved and committed joined with them (Acts
2:47). "But of the rest dared no man join himself to them" (Acts
5-13a). It was hardly a popular group to join, this radical company
following the Crucified One!

Their concern then was not to have a
comfortable group of middle-class, 11:00 churchgoers but dedicated
disciples. The whole group met for teaching, fellowship, the Breaking
of Bread and prayer (Acts 2:42). The climax of their Sunday meeting was
the Breaking of Bread when teaching which had sharpened their
appreciation for God and His grace overflowed in enthusiastic worship
and praise. Was not the cross central to their faith and hope (Gal. 6:14)? In those early days the disciples came together "to break bread"
on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Worship was of primary
importance.

Regardless of the time, if the Breaking of Bread is
poorly attended it is a sign of feeble spiritual health. What can be
done to restore life and vitality?

First of all choose a time when
most of the saints can be present. Consider the elderly and infirm; the
time should not exclude them. Teaching, worship and prayer should be
available for all of God's people.

Second, be concerned that this
time of worship be vibrant with spiritual reality and joy. Some
meetings have the gloom of a morgue rather than the joy of the Lord.
Singing should be animated and happy. Some of the newer songs and
choruses can be most worshipful as well as the older hymns.

Third,
encourage the sharing of the Word. The hymn book is opened too often
and the Bible too little. At some meetings the Bible may never be used.
A hymn, a prayer, a hymn, a prayer... The Word ministered in freshness
by the Holy Spirit will stir hearts as nothing else. Brethren need to
be in the Word on Saturday night instead of in the TV tube. "They shall
not appear before the Lord empty" (Deut. 16:16).

There are
advantages in not having a tight schedule following the Lord's Supper.
The Holy Spirit loves to have time to speak to God's people. There may
be a rousing exhortation. Or teaching, encouragement and comfort may
build up God's people. Brothers need the time and liberty to speak
God's Word (I Cor. 14:29).

We need to pray that the teaching and
preaching at other meetings will be of such a prophetic quality that
God's people will be stirred and motivated to true discipleship. We
will then be a teaching, worshipping, praying and evangelizing church.