Should the church sing during the Lord’s Supper? (Mickey Burleson - 8.10.2006) The Lord’s Supper is a vital part of our worship on the first day of the week.  We receive our instructions from the Bible as to what is to take place during our Communion together with Christ.  Lets see what the Bible says concerning the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:26-30 Here we find that Jesus and the apostles were eating the Passover meal in the evening.  We must remember that Jesus and the apostles lived under the Law of Moses.  Today we live under the authority of Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2).  As they were eating Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples telling them to “Take, eat; this is My body.”  He then took the cup, and gave thanks.  He gave it to them saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood…”  They sung a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.  Verse 17 of this chapter tells us that the bread that Jesus and His disciples were eating was unleavened bread since the occasion was the Feast of Unleavened Bread.   In verse 29 of this passage we find that they were drinking the “fruit of the vine.” Mark 14:22-26 According to Mark, as Jesus and His disciples were eating, He took bread, blessed, and broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat. This is My body.”  He then took the cup and gave thanks.  He gave it to them and they all drank from it.  They sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Luke 22:14-23 According to Luke, we find that Jesus and the twelve apostles were eating the Passover meal.  Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and told the disciples to take the cup and divide it among themselves.  He then took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the apostles.  He then took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 Here the apostle Paul reminds the brethren at Corinth of the plan and purpose of the Lord’s Supper.  On the night of Jesus’ betrayal, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said to the disciples, “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same way Jesus took the cup asking the disciples to drink it in “remembrance of Me.”  When Christians eat the bread and drink the cup, they do so in remembrance of Jesus proclaiming His death until He comes again.  Paul warns the Christians as Corinth that they must not eat and drink in an unworthy manner.  If they did so, they would be guilty of the body and blood of Christ.  He instructed them to eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper examining themselves.  He warned that some in the church were eating and drinking judgment to themselves because they were not discerning the Lord’s body. Consider that Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians about A.D. 56 which was some 23 or so years after Jesus and the apostles first shared the Lord’s Supper just before Christ’s death.  From this we conclude that the church of Christ met on Lord’s day, or the “first day of the week” to remember Christ’s death in the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42, 20:7). Now to our question about singing during the Lord’s Supper.  In the Scriptures that we have considered so far concerning the Lord’s Supper, did you notice any instruction as to our singing?  Well, in Matthew and in Mark we find that just before Jesus and the apostles went out to the Mount of Olives, they sang a hymn. A question:  Why would anyone want to sing during the Lord’s Supper?  Is it a matter of change for the sake of change?  Is it a matter of a culture that is resistant to silence, to what is calm, quiet, and serene?  Could it be that in silence we begin to see ourselves as we really are?  Could it be that in those quiet moments of meditation we begin to see God?  Psalm 46:10 is a quiet reminder of the pathway to the knowledge of God.  “Be still, and know that I am God.” In the American culture of high-speed, fast-food, remote-controlled, quick-response, high-impact, wide-open, no- holds-barred, in-your-face living; how can eating unleavened bread and drinking the fruit of the vine upon the first day of the week in quietness be inspiring? Lets consider once again what is taking place while we eat the bread and drink the cup.  As we eat and drink we are remembering Jesus Christ.  We think of Judas’ betrayal.  We think of Peter’s denial.  We think about the road on which Jesus’ our Savior walked carrying the old rugged cross up to the hill called Calvary.  We hear the hammers as they strike the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet.  We hear Him say, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”   Often I think of Jesus’ sacrifice in terms of “7.” One Savior Two thieves – one on each side, both guilty Three nails – as they pierced His hands and feet Four soldiers – as they cast lots for Jesus’ garments Five wounds – His hands, feet, and his side Six hours – in agony for you and me Seven statements of Jesus on the cross 1.        Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34). 2.        Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43). 3.        Woman, behold you son!  Behold your mother (John 19:26-27). 4.        I thirst (John 19:28). 5.        My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). 6.        Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46). 7.        It is finished (John 19:30). What can we conclude from our study concerning singing “during” the Lord’s Supper.   1.        We find that Jesus and His disciples did not sing during the Lord’s Supper.  They did sing after the Lord’s Supper, but not during the Lord’s Supper.   2.        We find also that Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians about 23 years after Jesus and the apostles shared the first Communion together. In his letter we find that the church was still meeting to remember Christ and examine themselves as they ate unleavened bread and drank the fruit of the vine. In his instructions Paul does not at any time mention singing as a part of the Lord’s Supper. 3.        Therefore we can be certain that the Scriptures do not offer a command, an example, or a necessary inference giving us authority to sing during the Lord’s Supper. May we always follow the teachings of God’s word in all matters of faith and doctrine. May we always have an open mind and a graceful heart in matters of opinion. May we always have a submissive spirit in every matter.