Bobby Stafford What Is The Lord's Supper?       Lord's Supper

What Is the Lord’s Supper?

Introduction:

We have just partaken of what is called “The Lord’s Supper.”  What does it mean?  Is it for everyone?  Why do we observe it every Sunday?  Let’s turn to the Word of God for the answers.

Body:

I.  Why is it called “The Lord’s Supper”?

·  It is a feast, a memorial, a remembrance that honors our Lord.

·  Read I Corinthians 11:23-26.  “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” NKJV  Jesus Himself instituted it on the night He was betrayed.  Matthew 26:26-29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Fathers’ kingdom.’ ” NKJV 

II.  Are there other names for the Lord's Supper?

·  It is a “Communion.”  I Corinthians 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? “NKJV  It is participation or sharing.

·  “Breaking of the Bread”  I Corinthians 10:16  Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” NKJV  Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” NKJV

·  “Table of the Lord”  I Corinthians 10:21 “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” NKJV  It belongs to the Lord; it is by His authority.  The importance is what is on the table.

·  The Lord’s Supper should not be called a sacrament or the Eucharist. 

III.  What does the Lord's Supper mean?

·  This memorial is a reminder that the Son of God became flesh and blood; He suffered; and He was crucified on the cross of Calvary.

·  The two elements both are symbolic emblems to help us in this remembrance.

1.  The unleavened bread  Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ ” NKJV  Luke adds “which was given for you.”

2.  The fruit of the vine  Matthew 26:27-28 “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  NKJV

·  The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Jesus’ presence with us.  Matthew 26:29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ ”  Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” NKJV  This verse would also apply.  His presence with us is real, but not in His physical body.  Note also Revelation 3:20.  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” NKJV

·  This memorial is also a time of fellowship with other Christians.  Note I Corinthians 10:16-17.  “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” NKJV  We declare our unity based upon Christ as the head of the body. 

·  It provides strength.  I Corinthians 11:27-30 “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” NKJV  We must understand what the Lord’s Supper means in order for us to receive strength.  We must meditate on Jesus, the bread of life. 

IV.  Who is to partake of the Lord's Supper?

·  Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” NKJV  Disciples of Jesus, Christians  Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.  So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people.  And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” NKJV

·  Also Acts 2:41-43 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” NKJV

·  Those in the “one body”  I Corinthians 10:16-17 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” NKJV 

V.  Why do we observe the Lord's Supper every Sunday?

·  Read Acts 20:7.  “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” NKJV  The practice was to meet on the first day of the week.

·  The Lord’s Supper is observed on the first day of the week.

·  Paul waited a week in Troas for the church to come together, which they did on Sunday to observe the Lord’s Supper and to give of their means.  

  I Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” NKJV

·  The church met on other days for prayers, etc.

·  Note I Corinthians 16:2, the English Standard Version, states “every week.”

Invitation:

·  The Lord’s Supper is so critical to our spiritual health.

·  These blessing are reserved for Christians only!

 

Bobby Stafford 

July 2, 2017