The Lord's Supper

This session explores the scriptures that support a weekly communion service, who should participate and the spiritual meaning behind the event.

Readings

Acts 2: 41-47
41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
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? 17. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Corinthians 11:23-30
23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 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. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

1 Corinthians 16

1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Acts 20:7

7. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

Priority of the Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper should be the first scheduled event of every week for the believer. Acts 20:7-11; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 2:41-47.

The New Testament pattern shows that the regular habit of the church is to conduct the Lord’s Supper every week.

The first priority of a believer is to worship God. Therefore, the first event of the week is to remember the Lord.

The entire church practices the Lord’s Supper.

Institution

1 Cor 10:16 - Each believer partakes of the loaf. Participating in the breaking of bread means the believer is saying “My sins caused the Lord’s death.”

Instruction

The primary goal of the breaking of bread is to remember him and to proclaim his death.

Believers give thanks for the death of the Lord. Our worship is a result of previous meditation of Christ’s worth, sinnlessness, perfection and shameful death.

Injunction

“ye do shew the Lord's death till he come” means that we proclaim the truth of his death to God.

Inclusion

The bread and cup are emblems that represent his body and blood. They are still bread and wine. They do not become his body and blood. His presence is every meeting of the assembly, not just the breaking of bread.

Investigation

The mental state of a believer should be focused on Christ and His death. Failing to recognize him is a sin.

1 Corinthians 11:26-29
26. 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. 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. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.