The Lord’s Supper

Reading 1 Cor 11:17-34

Q: What is the Lord's Supper?

A: The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is shewed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

It was based on the Passover – 1 Cor 5:7-8

Leaven - a substance, as yeast or baking powder, that causes fermentation and expansion of dough or batter.

This is a symbolic meal

V23-24 – The bread is the broken body

Bow our heads and think on the broken body

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

V25 – The wine is the blood

Bow our heads and think of the blood that was shed for us and ultimately His death.

Hebrews 9:12-15 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

The Lord’s Supper was commanded by Christ – Matt 26:26-28, 1 Cor 11:23

This was to be repeated. V23, Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42

It is a symbol of our sharing or partaking of Christ 1 Cor 10:16

This feast is a coming together, there is to be fellowship – 1 Cor 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34, Acts 20:7

This is a meal of thanks giving – 1 Cor 11:24-25

It is a time to think of His love for us

This feast is a looking for Christ’s return – 1 Cor 11:26 “till he come"

It is a time of dedication – 1 Cor 10:21

We need to have done with the old life – 1 Cor 5:7-8 (Read the whole chapter)

We need to enter into the Lord’s Supper with care – 1 Cor 11:27-29

V29 Damnation – Judgement (It is not damnation to Hell). We must also realise how the church at this time were behaving (see v34).

Q: What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper?

A: It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.

1 Corinthians 11:28-29, John 6:53-56, Zechariah 12:10, 1 John 4:19, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:17-22, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Why do you not partake?

You should take part. You are missing out by not partaking of His body and blood in faith.