THE MEANING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

l The institution of the Lord’s Supper is found in:

Matthew 26:26-29

[26] “While they were eating, Jesus took

bread, gave thanks and broke it, and

gave it to his disciples saying,, “Take

and eat; this is my body.“

[27] Then he took the cup, gave thanks and

offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it,

all of you.

l The Christians of the first century observed it weekly

Acts 20:7

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

THE LORD’S SUPPER IS:

(A) Commemoration

(B) Communion

(C) Proclamation

(D) Dedication

(E) Anticipation

I. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A COMMEMORATION

A. It is observed in memory of Christ. (Luke 22:19)

"This is my body given for you;

do this in remembrance of me.”

B. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the heart of the Gospel and redemption.

I Corinthians 15:1-14

[1] Now, brothers, I want to remind

you of the gospel I preached to

you, which you received and on

which you have taken your stand

[2] By this gospel you are saved, if you hold

firmly to the word I preached to you.

Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

l

[3] For what I received I passed on to

you as of first importance: that

Christ died for our sins according to

the Scriptures,

[4] that he was buried, that he was

raised on the third day according to

the Scriptures,”

C. Man’s inclination to forget is admitted by

all.

1. The best of memories fail.

D. The Lord's Supper is a constant reminder

of the death, burial and resurrection.

1. The emblems are appropriate and they

can be found anywhere on earth.

2. IN THE LORD’S SUPPER by faith I can see

Christ’s death for me, and be stirred to

humble gratitude.

l The power of the Lord’s Supper isn’t just in

the eating and drinking. Its more than just

blindly believing that if I can eat and drink

I’ll be saved. What did Jesus say?

This is my body and blood which is

GIVEN FOR YOU FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

l He said

DO THIS IN

REMEMBRANCE OF ME

He told us to do this so that we would remember our sins have been paid for. When we remember that, we are spiritually brought out of the sorrow of despair and lifted up to the happiness of God’s grace.

l It’s that promise of forgiveness that gives us life. It’s not that we’re trusting in the Lord’s Supper to save us, we’re trusting in the promise that Jesus died for us and we are forgiven.

II. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A COMMUNION

A. The cup and the bread are the

communion of the blood and the body

of Christ. (I Corinthians 10:16)

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for

which we give thanks a participation

in the blood of Christ? And is not the

bread that we break a participation in

the body of Christ?”

1. Communion is participation or sharing in

the benefits of Christ’s blood and body.

2. The Lord’s Supper brings us to a

realization of our union with Christ. Paul’s

argument in (I Corinthians 10) is that

eating idolatrous meat unites the eater

with the idol and he proves this by the

fact that eating the Lord’s Supper

identifies the Christian with Christ.

3. This proves the Lord’s Supper to be for Christians only.

Matthew 26:29

“I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit

of the vine from now on until that

day when I drink it anew with you in

my Father's kingdom.“

B. The Lord’s Supper is a twofold

communion.

1. With Christ (I Corinthians 10:16)

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for

which we give thanks a

participation in the blood of Christ?

And is not the bread that we break

a participation in the body of

Christ?”

2. With one another. (I Corinthians 10:17)

“Because there is one loaf, we,

who are many, are one body, for

we all partake of the one loaf.”

III. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A PROCLAMATION

A. The Lord’s Supper is an announcement, declaration. ( I Corinthians 11:26)

“For whenever you eat this bread

and drink this cup, you proclaim

the Lord's death until he comes.”

1. The Gospel must be proclaimed to the world.

(Mark 16:15)

2. The Lord's Supper is one way every Christian

can proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection

of Christ to the world.- Therefore, we ought not

to forsake the assembling.

(Hebrews 10:25)

“Let us not give up meeting together, as

some are in the habit of doing, but let us

encourage one another--and all the more as

you see the Day approaching.”

B. A sermon on God’s love, grace, and salvation

that every Christian can preach every week.

C. The Christian virtues of faith, courage, and

zeal are shown when we partake.

IV.THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A DEDICATION.

I Corinthians 11:25

“In the same way, after supper he took

the cup, saying, "This cup is the new

covenant in my blood; do this,

whenever you drink it, in remembrance

of me."

Exodus 24:5-8

[5] Then he sent young Israelite men, and

they offered burnt offerings and

sacrificed young bulls as fellowship

offerings to the LORD.

[6] Moses took half of the blood and put

it in bowls, and the other half he

sprinkled on the altar.”

[7] Then he took the Book of the

Covenant and read it to the people.

They responded, "We will do

everything the LORD has said; we will

obey."

[8] Moses then took the blood, sprinkled

it on the people and said, "This is the

blood of the covenant that the LORD

has made with you in accordance with

all these words."

Exodus 25:5-8

1. Records the sealing of the covenant of god

with Israel. –God promised to bless Israel

and Israel promised to obey God’s

commandments.

A. The Lord’s Supper represents the blood

ratified covenant between Christ and

Christians.

Hebrews 8:6-8,12

[6] “But the ministry Jesus has received is

as superior to theirs as the covenant of

which he is mediator is superior to the

old one, and it is founded on better

promises.

[7] For if there had been nothing wrong

with that first covenant, no place would

have been sought for another.”

[8] “But God found fault with the people

and said: "The time is coming,

declares the Lord, when I will make

a new covenant with the house of

Israel and with the house of Judah.”

[12] For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no

more."

1. Christ has promised to bless us with

forgiveness, peace, and hope; every spiritual

blessing.

(Ephesians 1:3)

“ Praise be to the God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us

in the heavenly realms with every

spiritual blessing in Christ.”

2. Christians, in eating the Lord’s Supper,

bind themselves to complete obedience

to Christ.

3. Christ will keep his part of the covenant.

V. THE LORD’S SUPPER IS AN ANTICIPATION.

A. It is “till He come.” ( I Corinthians 11:26)

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this

cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he

comes.”

1. In eating the Lord’s Supper , the

hope of the second coming of Christ

fills our hearts. (John 14:3)

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will

come back and take you to be with me that you

also may be where I am.”

l We need to come to

GOD’S TABLE WITH LOYALTY

He demands our undivided loyalty. The Christians at Corinth were tempted to revert to the idolatrous

practices of their former lives. Our partaking of

COMMUNION indicates that we are undivided

in our commitment to Christ. HE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY; He has PREEMINENCE in our lives.

l We need to leave the Lord’s Table with purpose. This is spiritual nourishment and strength for us … but strength for what? God would have us to be energized for a purpose, and that is to serve Him with all our strength.