By

Shelby G. Floyd

The New Testament clearly outlines the essentials of the public worship of the church. These are: the Lord’s Supper, the contribution, prayer, preaching, and singing. However, in the matters of judgment or incidentals the New Testament does not have a lot to say. This indicates that God leaves it up to our human judgment as to how we should carry out what he has commanded. At Troas we see the church breaking bread on Sunday (Acts 20:1-12).

Encouragement

Paul traveled to Troas with eight co-workers. He encouraged them with the word of God. Comfort and encouragement mostly come from the word of God. “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece” (Acts 20: 2).

First Day of the Week Worship

We notice that worship at Troas was on the first day of the week. This is what we call Sunday. “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight” (Acts 20: 7). Why did the New Testament church worship on Sunday instead of Saturday, which was the day of worship of the Jews? By his own resurrection from the dead on the first day the week, Jesus Christ himself sanctified the first day of the week, not the seventh day (Luke 24:1).

The Lord’s Supper Observed on Sunday

Let us also be devoted to taking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week to remember the salvation we have in Christ. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2: 42). The apostle John was exiled on the island of Patmos and declared he “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” This was definitely Sunday the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

Copyright © 2023 Shelby Floyd All Rights Reserved

 

Shelby G. Floyd, Heartland Church of Christ, 1603 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142