Communion was not to be taken lightly. When the early church gathered, they were warned to keep their focus upon the sacrifice of the cross and what that meant to them as children of God.
Biblical Church Fellowship
A Remembrance Service: What is written in Scripture, is that when the early church gathered, they were warned to keep their focus upon the sacrifice of the cross and what that meant to them as children of God. This was not to be taken lightly. They were warned about taking part in this remembrance if they were not serious in committing to Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:18. For first of all, when you come together as a church, … 23. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24. and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'' 25. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'' 26. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 29. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
Church Ministerial Service: In this letter the apostle Paul points to how the Holy Spirit was to lead that time of fellowship through those that were committed to Christ. In this fellowship an unbeliever or one uninformed would realize through the revelations that God had given through this church that God was truly with them. Also, they learned and were encouraged by one another from the things that were revealed to each other by the Holy Spirit.
I do not see any Pastor, Music leader, Sunday School teacher, Deacons nor any Bishop leading or directing any part of this fellowship. And I think that is because the responsibilities that they were given was directed to taking care of the other immediate needs of life, leaving the deep things of God to be revealed by God through His Holy Spirit, by those and to those with an open heart for God. For God is the center of this fellowship, revealing what was important and needed to those with an open heart and ears to hear.
1 Corinthians 14:23. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. 25. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 26. How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
Assembling together in Fellowship: There is no greater fellowship than our relationship and fellowship within the fullness of God. And when we can share in this with others that are experiencing the same thing, this is one of the greatest experiences we can have in the love that God has intended for us. Setting beside someone in an organized assembly does not fulfill this experience. There is a richness that is found in our relationships in our everyday lives, in our commitments and responsibilities with others, especially with those that are in Christ.
Matthew 18:20. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.''
1 John 1:3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15. from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19. to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Scriptures show that the equipping for the ministry is proof that the whole body of Christ, the church are to be involved in ministering to each other, all growing in the knowledge of the Son of God, being united in faith, speaking and living by the truths that are revealed by God through His Holy Spirit. There is strength, security and confidence in the church, the body of Christ, when all do their share in defending against the deceptive trickery of men.
When we consider the behavior of the church in the book of Acts, and if our tradition of corporate worship of today was not so similar to the carnal, spoken by the apostle Paul, then maybe God would be doing more of the above in our denominational corporate worship. I think we have missed a lot of God's blessing and gifts due to our corporate division and the falling away from the righteousness of God.