Scripture, 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
When ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you. (1 Cor. 11:18)

In the early days of the New Testament church, the observance of the Lord's Supper was preceded by a common meal called the "love feast," to which each believer brought his own contribution of food and shared it with others. Its purpose was twofold: to relieve the hunger of the needy saints and to provide opportunity for those who "had" to share with the "have nots." Within the Corinthian fellowship a great disparity of economic status existed. Probably a few were very well-to-do and could bring rich food and wines. Others were poor and had only a piece or two of coarse bread and cheese and possibly a small jug of sour wine. Instead of sharing, however, some of the wealthy gorged themselves with some of the delicacies of the "pot luck" while the poor munched on their "peanut butter sandwiches."

Needless to say, the "love feast" could not have been a great success under those carnal conditions. Some were satiated or drunken, and others were bitter and jealous. Paul rebuked them sharply, reminding them that if they were interested only in eating, they could do that at home. The tension and resentment created by the Corinthian situation hindered any fruitful exchange of confidences, confessions, or counsel. Furthermore, it left believers in no frame of mind to think of the meaning of the Lord's death for them or to partake meaningfully of the emblems that represented His body and blood.