Continuing Stedfastly in

Breaking of Bread

TEXTActs 2:36-42

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE TEACHING OF PETER WERE BAPTIZED.

B.  NOT AN EVENT, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.

C.  THEY CONTINUED STEDFASTLY.  IN WHAT?

          1.  The apostles' doctrine.                 3.  Breaking of bread.

          2.  Fellowship.                                  4.  Prayers.

D.  LET'S LOOK AT THE SUBJECT OF BREAKING OF BREAD.

I.  WHAT IS THIS BREAKING OF BREAD?

A.  A COMMON EXPRESSION DESCRIBING A COMMON MEAL

          (Acts 2:4620:11?;  Luke 24:30, 35).

B.  ALSO USED OF THE LORD'S SUPPER (Acts 2:4220:7).

C.  IN THE LORD'S SUPPER IT SAYS THAT BREAD WAS BROKEN

          (Luke 22:19Matt. 26:261 Cor. 11:23-24).

II.  THE EXAMPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SABBATH.

A.  AN IMPORTANT OBSERVANCE UNDER THE LAW (Ex. 20:8-11).

          1.  Given to provide rest for man and beast (Ex. 23:12Mark 2:27).

          2.  Nothing to interfere (Ex. 34:2135:1-3).

          3.  Sabbath breakers were put to death (Ex. 31:12-17Num. 15:32-36).

          4.  They remembered and kept it holy!  They continued stedfastly.

B.  WE ARE NOT UNDER THE OLD LAW TODAY ( Rom. 7:4-6Col. 2:14-17).

          1.  An example to learn from ( Rom. 15:41 Cor. 10:6, 11).

          2.  We are warned (Heb. 12:25;  10:28-31).

III.  THE NEW TESTAMENT MEMORIALTHE LORD'S SUPPER.

A.  IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY JESUS (Matt. 26:26-29).

B.  OBSERVED IN THE KINGDOM (Luke 22:16-17, 29-30).

C.  A SHARING WITH HIM AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HIS DEATH

          (1 Cor. 10:16-17).  OUR UNITY IN THOUGHT AND PURPOSE AS ONE BODY.

D.  THE MAIN PURPOSE (1 Cor. 11:23-25, 29).

E.  TO CONTINUE UNTIL HIS RETURN (1 Cor. 11:26).

IV.  WHAT OF THOSE WHO WILLFULLY MISS THE ASSEMBLY?

A.  WE ARE TOLD NOT TO FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLY (Heb. 10:25).

          1.   "Not leaving behind, not leaving in the lurch" (A. T.  Robertson)

          2.  Deals with take it or leave it attitude è see context (vs. 19-24 çè vs. 25-29).

B.  OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE MEMORIAL REFLECTS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD

          WHAT IS MEMORIALIZED (Heb. 10:29).  IS IT UNHOLY TO US?

CONCLUSION:

A.  CHRISTIANS ARE WASHED IN THE BLOOD.

B.  THE SUPPER IS A MEMORIAL OF THE DEATH THAT BLOOD REPRESENTS.

C.  LET US CONTINUE STEDFASTLY IN THE MEMORIAL.