The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper

Introduction

Tonight, the message is going to be a little bit shorter than usual because we had children’s night and we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper tonight. I think this is an appropriate climax to our three part study on the Lord’s Supper. We have covered Christ’s presence in the Lord’s Supper and seen that yes Jesus is with us during the Lord’s Supper and we can experience fellowship with Him even if the bread is not literally his body and blood; nor are we transported to heaven in some mystical way to feast on Christ. We have also looked at the qualifications for partaking of the Lord’s Supper worthily which included baptism, membership in a bible believing church, a clean conscience before God. Tonight, I want to ask what is the point of having the Lord’s Supper? Why do it?

For most of us, it is merely a symbolic ritual and it feels like a waste of time. But why should we do this? If its just a ritual maybe we should just do it as little as possible. Tonight, I wish to reconnect you with the meaning behind the Lord’s Supper.

Remembrance

Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

Living the Christian life can become day in and day out routine. Sometimes we can forget the death of Jesus. We need to be reminded of how much he loved us. When life hurts, I don’t always feel the love of God; but I need to be reminded of the objective proof of his love. We need to be reminded of how much it cost him. Jesus sacrificed it all for us should I give my all for Him. I need to be reminded of the cross I am called to bear. As the master so shall the servant be. My life will hurt; it will involve a cross. A dying to self.

Proclaiming the gospel

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

The Lord’s Supper is also a declaration of the gospel. There might be some here tonight who do not truly know the Lord Jesus as their savior. They haven’t had their sins forgiven. The Lord’s Supper is a sermon and that sermon says Jesus died for you. You can have your sins forgiven if you place your faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Points us to the lord’s coming

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” The Lord’s Supper is a precurser to another Supper that we will enjoy with Jesus. The wedding of the Lamb. Luke 22:16 “For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” We celebrate the Lord’s Supper as we wait for that final Supper.

Communion

1 Corinthians 10:15–17 “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 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 being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

It is a time to fellowship and draw near to Jesus. What does it mean to truly fellowship with Jesus during the Lord’s Supper? Anytime your heart is drawn to love him more, to desire him more; anytime you are encouraged to spend more time with Him; anytime you remove the things that stand in the way of your relationship with Him; you are fellowshipping with Him. Christ is here to be enjoyed right now. As you partake, pray and talk to him.

Examination

1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

We commonly emphasize this point in the Lord’s Supper and I want to reiterate it tonight. Are you eating unworthily of the Lord? Meaning is there something that isn’t worthy of a child of God, it isn’t fitting for someone who says they love Jesus to have in their lives.

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

Thanksgiving

Mark 14:23 “And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.”

Finally, the Lord’s Supper is a time to give thanks. This is why it is sometimes called the eucharist which literally means to bless or give thanks. With this in mind, I want us to spend sometime thanking Christ. I will open it up for some time to give Him thanks and then I will have a word of prayer thanking him before we pass out the elements tonight.