Taking Meals Together

Potluck

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the togetherness of brethren in the early church. The fellowship that they shared was based upon their common faith – “those who had believed were together” (Acts 2:44). When John wrote his first epistle, he explained that “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ,” and that they could “have fellowship with [each other]” through the proclamation of the gospel (1 John 1:3). As we have fellowship with God, we are naturally to have fellowship with the people of God.

Shortly after the church was established on the day of Pentecost, Luke recorded that those first Christians were not just meeting together but were also eating together.

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, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47).

Many churches – even among churches of Christ – host what are sometimes called “fellowship meals.” These meals are hosted by a congregation and conducted as part of the church’s work. In fact, when many people hear the word fellowship, they automatically think of food. But is a church-sponsored meal what we read about in the passage above? If not, is a local church at least authorized to facilitate its members “taking their meals together” as part of its work? There are a few points I want us to consider.Continue Reading

What Is the Gift of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:38

Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself’” (Acts 2:38-39).

When Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost, he convicted his audience of being guilty of putting the Savior to death. Yet the Lord provided a way for them to be forgiven of their sins and be saved. One of the promises they would receive when they obeyed the gospel was “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What did Peter mean by this? There are a few ideas that have been suggested:

  • Some believe that this “gift” is the Holy Spirit Himself.
  • Others have concluded that this refers to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.
  • Some see “the gift of the Holy Spirit” as synonymous with salvation.

Which of these views is correct? Or did Peter mean something else by this phrase?Continue Reading

Church Mergers: Good Idea or Bad Idea? (06/20/24)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about church mergers. It seems to be more common today to hear about two different congregations joining together to become one local church. Why is this becoming more common? And are mergers like this a good idea or bad idea? We’re going to talk about that today.Continue Reading

One Body, Many Members

Crowd

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:14).

But now there are many members, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20).

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

The verses above are taken from a portion of Paul’s first letter to Corinth, in which he described the church as a body made up of different parts that function together. Recognizing this should lead us to value our brethren. It should also cause us to see our own value in the church. So in this article, we will consider what Paul said in this passage about the body and the members that make up the various parts of it.Continue Reading

What It Means to Be “Unequally Yoked” (05/30/24)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about the warning for Christians to not be “bound together” or “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth. What did he mean by it? And how does this apply to us today? We’re going to consider this passage in our episode today.Continue Reading

The Seven Churches (Part 4): Thyatira

The Seven Churches (Part 4): Thyatira

The fourth church the Lord addressed at the beginning of the book of Revelation was in Thyatira. This is the only mention of this church in the New Testament. However, there was a notable convert in Philippi who was from the city of Thyatira. This church was not facing persecution as many others were, yet the Lord warned them not to tolerate the sin that had crept in among them.

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’” (Revelation 2:18-29).

Continue Reading

Is Eating Together the Work of the Church? (11.16.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week I’m joined by Kristofer Gardana, and we’re talking about whether “fellowship meals” are part of the work of the church. In the religious world today, it has become expected for churches to host meals and offer food as part of their basic function. Is that what we see the early church doing? Does that fit in the pattern we find in the New Testament? We’re going to discuss that in this episode.Continue Reading