Lord's Supper Service November
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Introduction:
Christians throughout the ages have believed that the preached Word is the audible means of grace by which we receive the gospel by our hearing of faith, whereby our faith is strengthened and encouraged in the promises of the gospel.
God has also given us a visible means of grace, through the ordinances or symbols, Jesus gave to us to remind us of God’s good and gracious promises towards us in Christ.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Shorter Catechism
Q. 92. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Shorter Catechism
Q. 96. 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 showed 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.
And today we observe what we traditionally called the Lord’s Supper or communion, which means we share in a meal with the living God by which our faith is strengthened by His Holy Spirit.
The visible word in the Lord’s table should be just as encouraging to your in the preached Word.
What the Table symbolizes
What the Table symbolizes
This meal symbolizes God’s promise of forgiveness and reconciliation to us in Christ.
This meals symbolizes Christ’s shed blood, his resurrection from the dead, and his return.
This meal symbolizes our covenant toward one another as one body in Christ as we have been brought into his family by his own blood and therefore we are one in Christ.
Who this meal is for
Who this meal is for
This meal is for Christians. It is for baptized believers who have been joined to Christ by repentance and faith and who have also been joined to his church.
So if you are a baptized member of the church, we invite you to partake.
If you are a baptized member of another local church that preaches the same gospel we do, we also invite you to partake.
Struggling Christian—This meal is also for the struggling Christian who needs to be reminded of God’s love for you in Christ. This meal is God’s pledge to you in Christ that his Son really did die for you and he is coming again not to bring judgment but salvation. This meal should be an encouragement to you.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1:
Who this meal is NOT for
Who this meal is NOT for
This meal is not for non-Christians. So if you are a visitor or have not responded in faith in Christ, we would ask you kindly just to reflect silently in your seat and let the bread and cup pass by you and we do pray you would reflect on what it means to put your faith in Jesus Christ.
This meal is not for unrepentant Christians. All Christians sin, but true Christians are those who repent of their sins. If you are unwilling to repent of a specific sin, we would also ask you to refrain from this meal until you get right with God.
1 Corinthians 11:27-
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. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
But if you have a broken and contrite heart, and are asking God to help you in your repentance, than let this meal be an encouragement to you that Jesus died for that sin and he is willing to forgive you and embrace you again.
Let us eat this meal with humility and reverence before our Holy and Gracious God.
Let me read our Scripture to prepare our hearts:
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:
Let us look to the Lord in prayer.
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, 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.”
Distribute the elements.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24
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.”
Eat the bread. And Pray.
1 Corinthians 11:
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.”
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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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.”
Distribute elements.
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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Distribute elements.
Drink the cup.
Sing closing line of communion Hymn.