THE LORD’S SUPPER

1. Cannot overestimate the importance of properly observing the Lord’s Supper.

2. Some have abused the Lord’s Supper with serious consequences. Re: I Corinthians 11:29.

I. Meaning of the Lord’s Supper.

A. Memorial – commemorates Christ’s death on the cross.

1. We are to eat the bread in memory of Christ’s body. We are to drink the cup (fruit of the vine) in memory of Christ’s blood.

2. Just as the Passover was a memorial commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the Lord’s Supper is a memorial commemorating Christ’s death (which makes our deliverance from sin possible).

B. Proclamation.

1. When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the power of Christ’s blood.

a. Hebrews 9:11-15 – By his (Christ’s) own blood he obtained eternal redemption for us.

2. When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the fact that Christ will come again.

a. Acts 1:11 – At Jesus’ ascension, two men in white apparel asked his disciples, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

b. I Corinthians 11:26 – "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come."

c. I Thessalonians 4:16 – "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

d. Revelation 1:7 – "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."

II. Misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s Supper.

A. Over emphasis.

1. Treating the Lord’s Supper as if it were the only important part or most important part of our worship.

2. Thinking there is some "special, inherent" power in the Lord’s Supper apart from what it represents (Christ’s sacrifice).

B. Under emphasis.

1. By observing the Lord’s Supper on less than a weekly basis.

a. I Corinthians 11:25 – "This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."

b. Acts 20:7 – "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…"

2. By observing the Lord’s Supper unworthily Re: I Corinthians 11:29 (in an unworthy manner – NJKV).

III. Manner in which the Lord’s Supper is to be observed.

A. With reverence.

1. With respect for the price Jesus paid for our sins as well as the suffering he endured.

2. To make light of the Lord’s Supper places a person in the same category as those persons who crucified Christ.

a. I Corinthians 11:27 – "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."

B. With self-examination. Re: I Corinthians 11:28.

1. Are we appreciative of Christ’s sacrifice? Are we living lives that demonstrate our commitment to Jesus? Re: Galatians 2:20 – "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

2. Or are we willfully sinning, refusing to repent?

a. Hebrews 6:4-6 – "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame."

b. Hebrews 10:26-29 – "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace?"

1. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial to Christ’s death that must be observed in the proper manner.