The Frequency of the Lord's Supper

[Costeon]

In the process of Paul correcting the Corinthians' practice of the Lord's Supper, he seems to imply that they were celebrating the Lord's Supper whenever they came together as a church.

"17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it" (1 Cor 11:17-18). He goes on to note how their chronic division was clearly seen in the way they were practicing the Lord's Supper.

When they were gathering together as a church it caused more harm than good because their practice of the Lord's Supper was exacerbating the divisions in the church. In correcting them Paul never suggests that it was wrong for them to have the Lord's Supper so often, but only corrects their abuse of it.

Though this passage implies the Corinthians had the Lord's Supper frequently and though the earliest writings after the NT (Ignatius's letters) support frequent Communion, I have never been a part of a Pentecostal church that celebrated it frequently.

Do any of your churches celebrate the Lord's Supper frequently?

[Michael The Disciple]

When I Pastored in the 80's communion was every Sunday morning. Later working with another Pastor we did once a month. Where I attend now is once a year the Sunday before Easter.

[diakonos]

Romans 11:29

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

When I Pastored in the 80's communion was every Sunday morning. Later working with another Pastor we did once a month. Where I attend now is once a year the Sunday before Easter.

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by diakonos

Romans 11:29

no offence but That verse should be left in context.

[Costeon]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

When I Pastored in the 80's communion was every Sunday morning. Later working with another Pastor we did once a month. Where I attend now is once a year the Sunday before Easter.

The year before I was filled with the Spirit I attended a non-charismatic, non-denominational church that had Communion each week, which I enjoyed. Besides that, while attending Pentecostal churches, one of them had it once a quarter. Mostly it has been twice a year.

With all the differences in practice that you've experienced, all the way from once a week to once a year, do you have a preference? More importantly do you think Scripture supports frequent or infrequent Communion?

[votivesoul]

It is very difficult to have a love feast in a traditionally organized and structured church assembly. House churches or other churches with a strong emphasis on home groups can more frequently have the Lord's Supper.

Another concern is whether the specific, admittedly Passover-based elements must always be present (that is, unleavened bread in particular and wine in general, lamb notwithstanding). If it is the case that these features must be present, it becomes even more difficult for some assemblies.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

It is very difficult to have a love feast in a traditionally organized and structured church assembly. House churches or other churches with a strong emphasis on home groups can more frequently have the Lord's Supper.

Another concern is whether the specific, admittedly Passover-based elements must always be present (that is, unleavened bread in particular and wine in general, lamb notwithstanding). If it is the case that these features must be present, it becomes even more difficult for some assemblies.

If having a frequent Lord's Supper, I would say regular bread may be used (except during Passover). But if done say once a year, unleavened bread would seem preferable, as it then becomes more of a Passover-type memorial.

Don't forget the footwashing!

[Bro Flame]

In my home church now, we usually have Communion once a year, typically around the time of Resurrection Sunday. We have had it the Saturday before or after so that the service can be prolonged to include a foot washing, testimonies, and things of that nature. This year we didn't get to have one because of funerals, sick babies, and my Pastors overseeing three different congregations (one church was left in their care after the death of an Elder in December).

Coming up, when we attended Baptist and Nazarene churches, I still remember Communion usually being once a year. There may have been instances where it was more frequent, but all the churches I've attended have officiated the service once a year.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Costeon

The year before I was filled with the Spirit I attended a non-charismatic, non-denominational church that had Communion each week, which I enjoyed. Besides that, while attending Pentecostal churches, one of them had it once a quarter. Mostly it has been twice a year.

With all the differences in practice that you've experienced, all the way from once a week to once a year, do you have a preference? More importantly do you think Scripture supports frequent or infrequent Communion?

The reason I believe the most scriptural is:

Acts 20:7

7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

They met on the first of the week to break bread. I take that to mean as in communion. Thats why when I Pastored we did this. When an aquaintance later on down the road asked me to be an elder with him he believed once a month would be ok.

He was the founding Pastor so I deferred to him. When I am leading a communion service I prefer using unleavened bread and wine altho Grape juice would be acceptable.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Costeon

In the process of Paul correcting the Corinthians' practice of the Lord's Supper, he seems to imply that they were celebrating the Lord's Supper whenever they came together as a church.

"17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it" (1 Cor 11:17-18). He goes on to note how their chronic division was clearly seen in the way they were practicing the Lord's Supper.

When they were gathering together as a church it caused more harm than good because their practice of the Lord's Supper was exacerbating the divisions in the church. In correcting them Paul never suggests that it was wrong for them to have the Lord's Supper so often, but only corrects their abuse of it.

Though this passage implies the Corinthians had the Lord's Supper frequently and though the earliest writings after the NT (Ignatius's letters) support frequent Communion, I have never been a part of a Pentecostal church that celebrated it frequently.

Do any of your churches celebrate the Lord's Supper frequently?

Once a year in the UPCI if you were lucky. AG and CoG do it more often.