Pentecost Week 6 - The Breaking of Bread

Christ Church Elders
2 days ago
3 min read

Scripture Reading

*Explain the context: “This week, we will look again at what happened right after Peter finished preaching the gospel on Pentecost."

Acts 2:41-42

Big Idea (For Parents)

Baptism is our entrance into full participation in church worship including the Lord’s Supper.

The phrase “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42 refers to the Lord’s Supper as one aspect of the early church’s gathered worship alongside baptism, teaching, fellowship and prayer.

Acts 2 is one example of a repeated biblical pattern: an initial water cleansing followed by a sacramental meal. For example, Paul described Israel’s Red Sea crossing and then receiving manna and water from the rock like this:

“…our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.”

—1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Paul described those events while teaching that Israel’s experience was important for understanding the proper use of New Testament sacraments.

Similarly, ordination of Israel’s priests required first washing with water and then receiving a sacramental meal (Leviticus 8:6, 31-33).

Following this order, Jesus instructed his followers to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”, including taking the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 29:19-20).

As the Israel of God and a holy priesthood, the Church now fulfills these things in its worship as people are first baptized and only then receive the Lord’s Supper. By this order, God first expresses his cleaning and marking of them by baptism as those fit to be present with him at his table. Being so marked, they may then boldly come into his presence and receive the nourishment only he can provide.

Family Reflection

(Read aloud or summarize)

At Pentecost, many people came into the Church. First, they were baptized. Next, they began to participate fully in Church worship, including by taking the Lord’s Supper, sometimes called “the breaking of bread.” This order was important.

Baptism came first. In baptism, God marked the people as his own. Just as water cleanses from dirt, God’s baptized people were to be cleansed from sin. As such, they would be fit to be in God’s presence.

The Lord’s Supper came second. Having been marked in baptism, the people could then confidently come into God’s presence in worship and receive the nourishment from his table that only he can provide.

Discussion Questions

(Adjust for age)

1- The Bible gives a specific order for receiving the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. What are some other things in life that best come in a specific order?

2- How does our baptism give us confidence when we come into God’s presence to receive the Lord’s Supper?

Practice—A Prayer at the Sink

Pray this prayer to close this family worship:

“God, thank you for washing your people clean from sin so they can confidently come to your table. Please satisfy your people’s deepest hunger this week by giving them yourself. Amen.”

For parents and older children, this week whenever you wash your hands before a meal, try to remember how baptism pictures God washing his people from sin so they can enjoy a meal with him. When you think of it, while washing, pray something like the above prayer. For parents of littles, pray out loud with them while helping them wash their hands if needed.