It's Time To Break Bread

Here's an easy question for all Christians: How often should you take communion? 

Maybe it's not as easy to answer as you might think. Some churches take communion once a week while others take it once a month.  Ask your local clergy and your likely to hear that the Bible doesn't mention how often to take communion. That answer might work for them but does it work for God?

Let's look at Acts 20:7 (KJV)

 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..."
The verse is describing when the communion is given.  Does "upon the first day of the week" sound familiar? It's also part of another verse that deals with how often the church takes collections. 

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store..." (1 Cor 16:2 KJV).
Every preacher, elder, and deacon clearly gets the message about taking our money every Sunday,  but the same language used in taking communion is ignored.

How often communion is taken is not left to interpreting just one verse. In 1 Corinthians 11:18-26, Paul admonishes the church for taking communion as a common meal. The key to the passage is verse 18. The passage gives the timeframe Paul is instructing the church about communion, "..when ye come together in the church.." Paul is telling the church that when the members come together, they are to take communion seriously. The big question is how often does the church meet? Every Sunday. 

We can also look at history to help answer the question. The early church took communion every Sunday. You can even read "The First Apology," an old manuscript dating back to 159AD confirming communion every Sunday. Still not convinced? Then let's just rely on common sense. Why are you a Christian? It's not because Jesus was a nice guy. It's because he proved to be the Messiah by dying for our sins and being raised from the dead. 

"And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" (1 Cor 15:14 ESV). Why worship every Sunday and leave out the one act of worship that acknowledges and honors the foundation of our faith?

Think about it.