On 11/13/2009 9:21:10 PM Pathway Said:

Mike:

The Bible nowhere indicates that 3000 ever communed in one assembly. In fact, the Bible indicates in Acts 2:46 that they broke bread from house to house. Romans 16:5, 1 Cor. 16:19 and other scriptures tell us that there were "house churches." They had no church buildings so no doubt they met for worship from house to house.

On 11/13/2009 9:09:29 PM Pathway Said:

Eric:

Matthew 26:27 states:
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it."

"The" means "one." His command is "All of you drink of it." Must we obey a command?

Mark 14:23 lets us know that the disciples understood his command for it says:
"And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it."

Please note that when the apostle Paul gave instructions to the church at Corinth, he gave the same information in 1 Corinthians 11:23 with the added command:
"This do in remembrance of me." (Not do something else, but "this do.")

For added emphasis, Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 11:1,2...
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."

Surely you will agree that it is one thing to "keep the ordinances" as they were delivered, and entirely another to "keep the ordinances" any other way. The Bible speaks of only one bread, or one loaf because there is only one body (1 Cor. 10:17). We must use one cup and one loaf because that is a command and that is what was delivered. What is your authority for "unleavened bread" or do you believe that matters?

The verse says that "they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers'-- I havent heard the one cup debate, but it is really irrelevent.. the cup(whether one or many) is an expedient. It assists in an authorized service, but doesnt change it... same with the unleavened bread... what does it matter if it was one loaf or many? The point is that on the first day of the week they observed the lords supper, as should we...