The Lord's Supper When?
 

" ...Upon the first day of the week … the disciples came together to break bread … (Acts 20:7)."

Why should Christians partake of the Lord's Supper on Sundays?
Does the Bible command it? Is there anything in the Bible that binds a first day of each week observance on Christians?

The answer to this question rests on the fact, one time in the Bible the Supper is mentioned. In that one example Christians met on the first day of the week to partake of it. Acts 20:7 says, " And 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."

These disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread. When was the first day of the week? It came the day after the Sabbath (Matthew 28:1). The Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, was Saturday.

The following day, the first day of the week, was Sunday. These early Christians observed the Lord's Supper on Sunday.  

When Jesus instituted the Supper He did not say when it was to be observed nor the number of times it was to be observed. (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22: 19,20). However, Paul used the word "often" with reference to the Supper when he wrote, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come (1 Corinthians 11:26)." While he does not name the day nor state the number of times brethren were to partake of the Supper what he wrote suggests they observed it a number of times.

The first day of the week figured prominently in the early church. Not only did brethren in Troas meet on Sunday to break bread, but, according to 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 brethren were to assist needy saints in Jerusalem by laying aside (giving) funds on the first day of the week for this purpose. It is logical Paul intended for them to make this a weekly practice. These brethren were to give as they had been prospered when they came together, which took place regularly on the first day of each week.

Why should we feel obliged to take the Supper on the first day of the week? In the main because that was the day early brethren came together to worship and because the one time the Supper is mentioned it was observed on the first day of the week. What they did was an approved example. Even the Apostle Paul was present. As first day of the week observance met heaven's approval then there is no doubt it meets heaven's approval now.  

Is there anything wrong with observing the Supper on some other day of the week also --perhaps on a special occasion as a holiday? The difficulty is, there is no command or example of it being observed on holidays and special occasions, and for those striving to do as did the early Christians this presents a difficulty.  

What if we decide to limit the observance of the Supper to certain Sundays of the year, as perhaps once each quarter, once every thirteen weeks? Again, there is no command or example for quarterly observance. The approved example is that the disciples met on the first day of the week to break bread. This, at least, puts the practice of weekly Sunday observance beyond doubt. While questions can be raised about partaking of it on other days of the week there is no question about its observance on the first day of the week. 

Another important matter to consider is that of the effect weekly observance has on unity among believers. No question should be raised regarding the observance of the Supper on the first day of the week since there is a first century example of it, with Paul present. Believers may unite on this without giving up anything taught in the scriptures on the subject, and without adding anything to their practice the Lord does not approve.

So, if someone asks where in the Bible it says Christians are to partake of the Supper on the first day of every week and are not to observe it on any other day of the week one can reply that it doesn't say it this way. What it points out is an example of brethren in Troas meeting on the first day of the week to partake of the Supper. We may follow their example and feel confident that in so doing we are meeting with God's approval and that we are practicing something on which all Christians may unite. It is unreasonable to expect people to unite on a practice that has no support in scripture. This practice however, is acceptable. It is a step in the right direction because it meets with God's approval and should appeal to the good judgment of everyone.