The Meetings and Spiritual Exercise of the Local Church

The Local Church Meetings

1. The Lord’s Table Meetings of the Local Church

In the Lord’s table meeting, or the bread-breaking meeting (1 Cor. 10:14-22; 11:17-34) of the local church, the believers gather to participate in the fellowship of the Lord’s blood and body for their enjoyment (1 Cor. 10:16-17) and to remember the Lord for His enjoyment (1 Cor. 11:24-25). In the following portion, Watchman Nee and Witness Lee discuss the significance of the Lord’s table meeting in the local churches, its structure, and various other related matters. Watchman Nee and Witness Lee also emphasize that in partaking of the Lord’s table in the local churches we must also “discern the body” (1 Cor. 11:29); that is, we must examine ourselves concerning the Lord’s Body, so that our standing as the local church expresses the genuine oneness of the Body of Christ.

In the following points, Witness Lee presents some basic matters related to the Lord’s table meetings in the local churches:

The Lord’s table meeting is the bread breaking meeting (Acts 20:7), in which the believers come together to eat the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:20) and attend the Lord’s table (1 Cor. 10:21).

The Lord’s table meeting is the most important meeting of a local church; it is for remembering the Lord with the remembrance of the Lord as its center for the Lord’s enjoyment.

Everything done in the meeting—whether the singing and speaking of the hymns, prayer and praise, Bible reading, or words of inspiration—should take the Lord as the center.

The attendants in the meeting should speak concerning the Lord’s person and work, His love and virtues, His living and suffering on the earth, or His glory and honor in heaven, that others may consider or realize these things in order to remember the Lord Himself.

(Witness Lee, Remembrance, 7)

In the following hymn, Witness Lee beautifully expresses the significance of the Lord’s table:

1. When on Thy table, Lord, we gaze,
   We marvel at the signs:
   A loaf of bread, a cup of wine,
   Displayed as God designs.



2. The loaf portrays the bread of life
   As heav’nly food to us,
   Imparted by Thy mystic death
   That we may share Thee thus.



3. The portion is the cup divine,
   Composed of Jesus’ blood;
   This cup of blessing we receive
   And gain what is of God.



4. We eat of Thee, the Bread of life,
   By sharing here this bread;
   Thus we remember Thee in love
   And with Thyself are fed.



5. We all enjoy the blessings gained
   By drinking of this cup;
   Thus we remember Thee with joy,
   Till we are taken up.



6. By feasting on this bread and cup
   Thy death we now declare,
   And testify Thou art our life
   And all we daily share.



7. We’re waiting for that glorious hour,
   When in the fullest way
   We’ll feed on Thee and feast with Thee
   And worship Thee for aye.

(Witness Lee, Hymns, 200)

As Witness Lee states in the first quote, the Lord’s table meeting is the most important meeting in a local church. It is centered on the Lord Himself through the bread and the cup on the table as described in the above hymn. In the additional quotes, Watchman Nee and Witness Lee continue with more details of the significance of along with the believers’ participation in the Lord’s table in the local church.

MORE QUOTES…

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