Lord's Supper

Directions

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 ESV

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

God creates a church by creating Christians, and by enabling those Christians to commit to each other.

But how exactly does a group of Christians enact this commitment?

The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper play crucial roles

Baptism

In baptism — you publicly commit to Christ and his people

Baptism is where faith goes public

It’s how a new believer shows up on the world and the church’s radar as a believer

In other words — baptism marks off a believer from the world

In baptism — the church says to the world, “This one belongs to Jesus!”

The Lord’s Supper

In the Lord’s Supper — we renew our commitment to Christ and his people

But — distinct from baptism — the Lord’s Supper is something we all do together

The Lord’s Supper marks off an entire group of Christians as one body — drawing a line between them and the world around them

And by drawing a line between the church and the world — baptism and the Lord’s Supper draw a line around the church

The ordinances make it possible to point to something and say “church” — rather than only pointing to many somethings and saying “Christians.”

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 ESV

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father; we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too many of the desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your gracious work in Christ, there is not health in us.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge with great sorrow our many sins and wickedness’s, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against Your divine majesty, provoking most justly Your wrath and indignation against us.

But, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare all, O God, who confess their faults. Restore all who truly repent; according to Your promises declared in Christ Jesus our Lord. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for our wrongs; remembering them now grieves us; the burden of them is intolerable to us.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Forgive us all that is past. And grant, most merciful Father, for His sake that we may hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, by living a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Your holy name.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Titus 3:4–5 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

We praise God for His mercy — We praise God for His loving kindness!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Father God, thank you for your mercy that you have given to us. We praise your name for the forbearance you have bestowed upon us.

We are confident that when we approach your throne of grace, we are met with forgiveness as you tell us in your Word.

Bless this time of unity as we come around your table.

In Christ’s name, Amen

The Lord’s Supper

The Bread

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Take eat, this is a symbol of Christ’s body.

The Cup

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Drink the cup

Closing Prayer

Lord God, we pray for those who are unable to be with us this day. May they return to this house of prayer quickly

We praise you for the hope that we have in Christ. We are able to hold fast to your promise that Christ will return again. Until that day, may we never forget to remember Christ Jesus and the sacrifice that He made upon the cross.

You have set us apart to do your will by sharing the good news of your Son. Guide us in this holy calling by your living Word.

We ask these things in Christ’s name, Amen.

Sing Amazing Grace