Sharing the Bread and the Cup
If there was any first-century church that needed to be reminded of the collective nature of the church, it was the Corinthian church. They were a divided church and may have even struggled with some individualistic tendencies, living as if their individual behaviors did not impact the rest of the body. Some of the members of the Corinthian church were still flirting with idolatrous practices. Paul emphasized that participation in a ceremonial meal (whether the Lord’s Supper, Israel’s sacrifices, or idol feasts) binds you together with the other participants. When we share the bread and cup, we celebrate and solidify our oneness in Christ. (Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)