Why we meet

…the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (I Corinthians 11:23-25)

The imperative, "do this", is repeated. Our Lord did not suggest we remember Him, He commanded it. We are to break the bread and share the wine, and we are to do so regularly.

The Lord's command was issued to a collective assembly of believers, not to one individual, nor to many individuals considered separately. Gathered together as a group of His blood-bought saints, we remember Him.

The Scriptures imply that Christians in the fledgling New Testament church gathered for remembrance on the first day of the week, our Sunday (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2). Following their example, we meet weekly today.

One of the weaknesses we have as human beings is forgetfulness. Christ makes it clear that remembering Him is a very important thing. So He commands us to frequently bear Him in mind. He bids us think upon His incarnation, His suffering, His gift of Himself at Calvary, His resurrection, and His present heavenly ministry on our behalf.

Of course, as individual believers, we ought to remember Him and worship Him daily. But as an assembly, we ought to remember Him and worship Him at least once a week. Do this, He says, share the memorial bread and wine, to remind yourselves of Me.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (I Corinthians 11:26)

When we share in the remembrance emblems—the bread and the wine—we solemnly demonstrate the truth and the reality of Christ, especially of His death. In the bread, we proclaim that God really became man. In the breaking of the bread, we preach His sufferings. In the wine, we show that atoning blood was shed, that the sins of the world might be forgiven.

Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)

It's all the more important to persevere in meeting faithfully as a church, because the Lord of the church is returning soon. We cannot further His testimony, as an assembly, if we fail to gather together for the Lord's purposes.

And they were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)

The key word here is "devoting". Four activities are enumerated: the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. May our assembly, like those early Christians, devote itself to the Lord's things.