MEANINGFUL TABLE FELLOWSHIP

            Have you ever noticed that some Sundays you don’t even get to say hello to some of your brothers and sisters in Christ?   Often, when we do get to greet others, it’s frequently only a brief exchange.  While our first-day worship gatherings are anchored by “The Lord’s Supper”, there is also much to commend ORDINARY TABLE FELLOWSHIP like covered-dish luncheons, midweek simple suppers, L.I.F.E. gathering, church picnics, dining with brethren and friends after worship, and on TerryTours, etc.  This kind of table fellowship provides a setting for some meaningful conversation that often evades our more formal worship assemblies.  Apparently, such was the norm for the early saints.  Luke records in his journal of The Acts Of The Apostles:  Daily they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sin-cere hearts… (Acts 2:46).  Breaking bread together in an ordinary setting often redounds to deliver extra-ordinary benefits.

            Our gathering together for common meals invites speaking to one another, face-to-face and side-to-side.  Such meals build a deeper sense of fellowship (partnership).  Eating together - - it’s what families do!   Luke’s gospel delineates numerous occasions when Jesus dined with others.

cf. Lk.5:27f;  7:36f;  9:10f;  10:38f;  11:37f;  14:1f;  19:1f;  22:7f;  24:13f  and  24:36.  Our Lord was a busy man to say the least, but JESUS SAW FIT TO MAKE TIME TO DINE WITH OTHERS.  This “Jesus style” was not missed by the early church.  As Acts 2:46 clearly indicates, they imitated Jesus in this regard.  As we continually seek to be the church of Christ, this practice will surely flourish among us.  And this is as it should be.  “Amen” to that?!

                                                                                    Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ