The Lord's Supper

Introduction:

The Passover

First, It is a time of Remembrance (v19-20)

We Remember Through These Elements. (is) (1 Cor. 11:23)

How I remember family members

We Remember His Suffering (brake, shed)

We Remember His Substitution (given for you, shed for you)

We Remember His Settling of the New Covenant

Second, It is a time of Spiritual Refreshment (v16-18)

This is a meal He has placed (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:23)

This is a meal where He is present (Luke 22:16-18)

This is a meal where He will provide nourishment (1 Cor. 10:16-22)

There are two ordinances to the Church. The first is baptism which is a sign of ones entry into the Church. The Second is the Lord’s Supper which is a continuing sign of the New Covenant.

There are many things that can be called “Means of Grace”. Now, don’t get scared by that word, the Catholics have taken it and twisted it to mean if you partake of this you will get more grace in your tank that will give you energy to do more good works so that you will be saved. That’s not at all what that is to mean. A small list of the means of grace are listed in Acts 2:42 where we find those who are baptized believers growing under the Preached Word, Fellowship with Believers, the Lord’s Supper, and Prayer. Like I said a moment ago, these don’t make you “more saved” but they are promised avenues that the Holy Spirit will work in your life to grow you in your walk with Christ.

At the Lord’s Table the believer is united to His Lord and comes to a close communion at the Table of the Lord, as a guest to whom the Lord of glory administers nourishment to us and sanctifies us.

This is a meal where we will enjoy the pleasure of unity both with Christ and believers.

Third, It is a time of Examination (1 Corinthians 11)

Purpose of the Examination

First Corinthians is a corrective and instructive letter from Paul to the church in Corinth. One of the issues Paul addresses is the manner in which the people were taking communion. Often a fellowship meal, would accompany communion, meaning communion was more of an “event” than it is in many churches today. First Corinthians 11:17–34 indicates that some were gorging themselves at the feast while others were left hungry. Some were even getting drunk. The people were not waiting for one another, nor were they appropriately sharing provisions—they ate the food they brought themselves, and, if someone couldn’t bring much, he did without. Separation between rich and poor was evident. As a result of the unfairness and gluttony surrounding communion, Paul says they were not really even eating the Lord’s Supper (verse 20). The people were not treating communion as a sacred ordinance instituted by Jesus. Instead of reminding people of Jesus’ sacrifice, communion became a means of self-gratification, furthering the divisions among the Corinthian Christians.

Paul is essentially asking the people to do a “heart check” before communion. Are their hearts in the right spot? Are they eating the meal to remember Christ’s sacrifice and to engage in community? Are they divided among themselves or unified in Christ?

Those Not Permitted to Partake

The Conditions for participating in the Lord’s Supper are being saved and being obedient to the Lord, but here in 1 Corinthians, Paul calls us to each inspect our hearts to see whether we are qualified to partake of Communion. A few dis-qualifiers seen throughout the Bible are:

Being in rebellion against the Lord since, in 1 Cor. 5 and 2 Thes. 3, we find that those in sin are to be removed from the Church.

Another is teaching false doctrine (Titus 3 and 2 John)

Also, if you are promoting division in the Church (Romans 16:17)

And, most seriously, not being a true believer. For, if you are saved yet you are judged the worst case is that you “make it by the skin of your teeth”. But if you partake and are judged with sickness or even death then there is no hope for your salvation for Scripture tells us clearly that after death there is judgment.

Conclusion:

Here at Five Forks we affirm the ordinances of the Church as instituted by our Lord. Those ordinances are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper and today we gather to partake of the Lord’s Supper. These ordinances are only for those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

Call June to Piano and take a time of prayer, inventory, and thanksgiving.

At this time I would like to ask you to please stand, and, as an open statement of faith and identification of yourself with Christ, I would like to ask that we make a line down the center aisle to distribute the elements. (Do a few pews at a time) Once you have received them please take the side aisles and make your way back to your pews.

The Bread:

At this time I would like to ask brother Linwood Long to pray over the bread.

Luke 22:19 says, “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”

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

Please join me as we partake of the bread.

The Cup:

At this time I would like to ask brother Barry Matherly to pray over the cup.

Luke 22:20 says, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

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

Please join me as we partake of the cup together.

Prayer:

We thank you, dear Lord. You have fed us the spiritual food, united us with Christ, given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and provided a seat for us at your table. For this we are ever grateful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”