Some people think it’s about the music. Some really insist on a particular order of events. For others, what you wear is a marker. For others, it seems like the place is really critical. What really a “church service”?
In thinking about what characterizes a community of faith built together because of life in Jesus in contrast to other gatherings of people, I’m drawn to Luke description of the first community of followers of Jesus found in Acts. His description is not exhaustive; he does not tell us all and everything that composed their life. But what he does tell say must matter.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
Previous posts focused on “continually devoting themselves . . . to prayer.” (Working through the passage from the last characteristic to the first.) Prayer was woven into the fabric of their lives; they resorted to praying because prayer was always “at hand.”
In similar fashion “they were continually devoting themselves . . . to the breaking of bread.” What does Luke have in mind in referring to “the breaking of bread”?
Some understand this to be a reference to sharing meals together; and that is possible. However, just a few verses later as Luke continues his description of the life of the community of faith in Jerusalem. He writes “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” (2:46). If the expression “breaking bread” refers to eating meals together, then Luke would be saying “they were taking their meals together from house to house, taking their meals together.” But that would be unnecessarily redundant.
Apart from the Gospels, there are five times where the idea of “breaking bread” is found; four in Acts and once in 1 Corinthians (Acts 2:42; 2:46; 20:7; 27:35; 1 Corinthians 10:16). When taken together, the language seems to refer to the “breaking of bread” that Jesus instituted at the Last Supper.
When telling of his coming death, in the midst of a meal with his followers, Jesus “broke bread” and spoke of his death for them. And he told his followers that they were to continue to “do this in remembrance” of him and his death (see the accounts in Matthew 26:26-29 and Luke 22:19-20). The “breaking of bread” refers to this memorial re-enactment when the community of faith reflected on and recalled the sacrifice that Jesus had made.
What Luke is saying is that these followers of Jesus readily, often, regularly gave themselves to recalling and celebrating the life-giving, sin-freeing, redemptive death of Jesus. They were always ready to remember that his death was what defined them.
As was evident in thinking about “continually devoting themselves . . . to prayer,” Luke was not saying that each and every moment these followers of Jesus were engaged in a prolonged prayer meeting. To speak of “continually devoting themselves . . . to the breaking of bread” does not mean that these followers of Jesus abandoned jobs and other social interaction to participate in a protracted and continual communion service. But it does seem to mean that they regularly, often, typically, remembered and reflected on Jesus’ self-giving sacrifice. They regularly found themselves anchored to Jesus’ death on the cross.
Does this mean that we must adopt a certain approach to worship services and gathering together? Must we “break bread” each and every time we gather? Although I know that there are communities of faith who celebrate the Lord’s Supper every time the “large group” meets (while not always “breaking bread” when smaller groups meet), I am not sure that this text mandates that practice. From the descriptions of gatherings elsewhere in the book of Acts, the “breaking of bread” was not something they did every time they met, whether in large or small groups. But it does mean that remembering the cross through the Lord’s Supper shaped and defined what they were all about.
Luke’s description here nudges me to think about what defines me: Am I living in relationship with others where Jesus’ death for sinners defines our life together? Do we regularly celebrate who we are by remembering and commemorating what he has accomplished in dying for us?
3 Comments
Celebrating who I am because of His dying for me and making me a son really takes the pressure off of my having to “behave well”, (because I don’t always in one way or another). But if I really get focused on celebrating the sonship of others, I find that the way that I think of, and speak to, and treat my brothers and sisters has to be with respect, kindness, love, and even a little caution. I mean really…it seems to me a serious thing to mistreat the son or daughter of a Living God for whom Jesus died ………………This idea just might improve our relationships…..
Hi Brian,
Thank you for commenting on one of my blog posts. I responded to your comment today.
Great questions to think about in your post, “Always Ready to Remember.” My husband and I are currently preparing to teach a lesson for our Mini-church group this Sunday. We came across a video called “The Easter Experience: What if what happened then changes everything now?” We were led to discuss what happened before the Last Supper first. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. It’s another powerful example on how Christ models for us what it means to be a servant-leader and serve others. Then we look forward to studying more about the Passover Feast, breaking of the bread, and remembering what Christ accomplished by dying for us!
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