The Lord's Supper

"THE LORD’S SUPPER"

INTRODUCTION

1. An act of worship in which we engage each Sunday is The Lord’s Supper...

a. Known also as The Communion (1 Co 10:16) and The Breaking Of Bread (Ac 2:42)

b. Today, some refer to it as The Eucharist, from the Greek eucharisteo, "giving of thanks",

which Christ did at the time of its institution - Mt 26:26-27

2. It is a simple act, in which those who are Christians...

a. Partake of unleavened bread

b. Drink of the fruit of the vine

3. It is an important act, one that we should understand why we do it, lest our participation be...

a. Meaningless to us

b. Displeasing to God

c. Detrimental to us - cf. 1 Co 11:27

[Therefore it behooves all Christians, especially those new in the faith, to be well acquainted with the meaning and practice of the Lord’s Supper. Let’s begin by carefully noting...]

I. THE MEANING OF THE SUPPER

A. IT IS A MEMORIAL...

1. Note Paul’s account as given by the Lord Himself - 1 Co 11:23-25

a. We eat the bread in memory of His body

b. We drink the cup (fruit of the vine) in memory of His blood

2. We therefore commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross – Mt 26:28

a. Whose death make the new covenant possible - He 9:16

b. Whose blood was shed for the remission of sins - Ep 1:7

-- As the Passover was a memorial commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt through

the blood of the lambs on the door post, so the Supper is a memorial of our Lord’s death

who makes our deliverance from the bondage of sin possible

B. IT IS A PROCLAMATION...

1. We proclaim our faith in the efficacy of the Lord’s death - 1 Co 11:26a

a. That His death was indeed for our sins

b. If we don’t believe He died for our sins, why keep the Supper?

2. We also proclaim our faith in the Lord’s return - 1 Co 11:26b

a. For it is to be done "till He comes"

b. If we don’t believe He is coming, then why keep the Supper?

-- Thus the Lord’s Supper looks forward as well as backward, and will ever be observed by

His disciples who trust in His redemption and anticipate His return!

C. IT IS A COMMUNION...

1. A fellowship or sharing in the blood of Christ - 1 Co 10:16a

a. As we partake, we commune with the blood of Christ

b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing blessings we enjoy through the blood of Christ –

1 Jn 1:7,9

2. A fellowship or sharing in the body of Christ - 1 Co 10:16b-17

a. As we partake, we commune with the body of Christ

b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing fellowship together in the body of Christ (i.e., the

church), as we break bread together

["The Lord’s Supper" certainly has great significance and should not be taken lightly. We do

well therefore to consider what the Scriptures reveal about...]

II. THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER

A. TO BE DONE WITH REVERENCE...

1. That is, "in a worthy manner" (NKJV) - 1 Co 11:27,29

a. The KJV says "worthily", which some have misunderstood

b. It is an adverb, describing how we take it, not whether we are worthy (none are truly

worthy)

2. With respect for the supreme price Jesus paid for our sins

a. E.g., the cruel torture and humiliation of His physical body

b. E.g., the spiritual anguish suffered as Jesus bore the punishment for our sins ("My God,

My God, Why have You forsaken Me?")

3. Failure to observe with proper reverence brings condemnation - 1 Co 11:27,29

a. One will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord

b. One will eats and drinks judgment to himself

-- To make light of this memorial puts one in the same category as those who mocked Him as

He hung on the cross!

B. TO BE DONE WITH SELF-EXAMINATION...

1. Such as reflecting upon one’s spiritual condition - 1 Co 11:28

2. Are we living in a manner that shows appreciation for His sacrifice?

a. By accepting the grace of God in our lives? - cf. 2 Co 5:18-6:1

b. By living for Jesus who died for us? - cf. 2 Co 5:14-15; Gal 2:20

3. Or are we by willful sinning, guilty of having:

a. "trampled the Son of God underfoot"?

b. "counted the blood by which [we were] sanctified a common thing"?

c. "insulted the Spirit of grace"? - cf. He 10:26-29

4. Do we, by refusing to repent of our sins, "crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and

put Him to an shame"? – Heb 6:4-6

-- In one sense, the Supper is a very private matter between a Christian and his or her God; a