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Communion

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by mont974x4, Feb 9, 2012.

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  1. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
    1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
    1Co 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
    1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
    1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
    1Co 11:28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
    1Co 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
    1Co 11:30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. (NASB)

    Recently I had the honor of leading Communion during our Sunday service. I asked two of our teens to pass out the bread and juice. They are both saved and baptized and growing young men. However, apparently, some in the congregation were not happy about it. I say "apparently" because no one has bothered to voice the issue directly to me....Yes, this speaks to another serious issue that we are addressing soon.

    Unlike baptism there is a consequence for not taking Communion rightly. We, individually, must examine ourselves. So there is a wrong way to take it and hinges on our understanding as God leads us. It is a serious, but joyous, occasion.

    That said, I see no reason for it be required that only ordained men can pass out the elements. Nor do I see any age limits. Given how this was done in the historical/cultural context of the first century it is likely that no one passed the elements to each person but rather it was passed around the table person to person.
     
    #1 mont974x4, Feb 9, 2012
  2. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    In any given congregation there would be those who be unhappy if Jesus Himself passed the elements. Encourage the naysayers to become Episcopalian or something and use your energies in discipling those two young men.
     
    #2 padredurand, Feb 9, 2012
  3. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    :tonofbricks::laugh:

    that was aweome
     
    #3 mont974x4, Feb 9, 2012
  4. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Sometimes I forget the number of churches that maintain a hierarchy of who can and cannot serve in a variety of capacities.

    People need to stop all their nonsense.
     
    #4 SaggyWoman, Feb 18, 2012
  5. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    We don't have that kind of hierarchy, we just have some people who think we should.
     
    #5 mont974x4, Feb 18, 2012
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Hezekiah 5:18 says only the ordain may pass the elements - did you miss that day in Bible College? :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #6 Salty, Feb 18, 2012
  7. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    :type: must of been busy typing a paper entitled "what would Jesus Drive" for the ecological ethics class.

































    :flower::laugh:
     
    #7 mont974x4, Feb 18, 2012
  8. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

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    Actually, the Sydney, Australia Anglicans are in favor of what they call "lay presidency" of the Eucharist -- that is, laymen may preside at and administer communion.
     
    #8 Michael Wrenn, Feb 19, 2012
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    In other threads, Dr. Bob said he likes the head of the household to give the elements to members of his own family.

    Actually, thats what I did last month when I presided over communion. (except for the father is blind)
     
    #9 Salty, Feb 19, 2012
  10. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: All God's Children Have Gifts:
     
    #10 Jerome, Feb 19, 2012
  11. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I'm guessing that the practice of deacons' serving Communion comes from the New Testament, where they were selected to serve tables during the fellowship meals, so the Apostles could spend more time in Bible study and other ministries.

    It seems to me that it was at those Agape feasts that the Lord's Supper was also observed. I take that from Paul's writing in I Corinthians 11.

    So it would not be a big leap for the deacons who helped with the Agape meal to also help with the Lord's Supper.

    Having said that, I see a scriptural example of deacons' serving communion but not a specific command that limits service to deacons.

    Further, autonomous Baptist churches may do it the way they want to as long as the method does not violate clear scripture.

    I don't see this as grist for a big argument. You'll get a bigger argument over who should be eligible to participate in communion.
     
    #11 Tom Butler, Feb 19, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 19, 2012
  12. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

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    Because communion was originally a meal, as Jesus celebrated it with His disciples, and because I hold to the priesthood of the believer, I believe any regenerate person may both administer and serve it.

    And I believe communion should be open to any believer.
     
    #12 Michael Wrenn, Feb 19, 2012
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    It boils down to this: "but this is the way we have always done it"! and "it might also say that in our constitution".
     
    #13 Salty, Feb 19, 2012
  14. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Uh-oh, I knew I shouldn't have brought that up. Let's confine this thread to who should serve, not who should be served. We can start another argu--uh--thread on who should receive it.
     
    #14 Tom Butler, Feb 19, 2012
  15. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I'll have to say that in every church I know about, the Lord's Supper has always been served by the deacons.

    Hmm, it's not in our constitution, but maybe we ought to fix that.

    Seriously, I really think that any Baptist church may do as it wishes in this matter without violating any scripture.
     
    #15 Tom Butler, Feb 19, 2012
  16. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    Our senior pastor was also surprised by the few complaining about this. I have never been in a church that only let deacons serve Communion. It was always a way to invite more people to be involved in our corporate times of worship.
     
    #16 mont974x4, Feb 19, 2012
  17. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

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    Okay; no problem. :)
     
    #17 Michael Wrenn, Feb 19, 2012
  18. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    We solved the problem of who can serve by setting up tables in front in an "À la carte" manner.

    Rob
     
    #18 Deacon, Feb 21, 2012
  19. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    One Sunday about 18 months ago I prepared a message on Communion. I made lunch for my family (9 people). I served them. While we ate I taught on Communion and the Last Supper. Towards the end of my lesson I served win and bread (I made homemade unleavened bread). It was a great time of fellowship and worship.
     
    #19 mont974x4, Feb 21, 2012
  20. MNJacob

    MNJacob Member

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    In the three Baptist Churches that I have been a member, deacon's served the Lord's Supper.
     
    #20 MNJacob, Feb 22, 2012
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