The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper

Introduction

The Lords supper, communion, or the Lords table is a memorial service to remind us of the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are four accounts given of it in scripture: Matthew 26:26-29, Luke 22:14-20, Mark 14:22-25, and, Paul speaks of it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

There are no mystical or saving properties in the bread and in the cup, they are simply given to be a picture or representation of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord.

There is no frequency given to us in Scripture for how often we are to observe it, but in 1 Corinthians 11:26 we are told that it is to be a perpetual ordinance to be done “till he come.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Restrictions for the Lord’s Supper

It is for believers only- all those who were present at the first inception of it were born again believers. Judas had already left and gone out into the night.

 It is only for those who have been scripturally baptized- (Speak to what baptism is)

It is for those who are members of a local church of like faith (Explain what that means)– all those who are present where the members that made up the first church of Jerusalem at that time. 

It is only for those who are orderly in conduct– if you are in wicked and ungodly perverse sin, you are not to participate in the Lords supper until you get your heart right with God, and repent, and for sake the sin your life.

1 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV

11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

It is for those who have gone through a period of self examination to see if there is anything in their heart and life keeping them from being right with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:27–30 NKJV

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

Lord’s Supper Order

Opening prayer /Pass out the elements-

Talk about what the bread represents, then pray thanking God for the body of Christ.

Matthew 26:26 NKJV

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

"AND THEY ALL DID EAT IN " Talk about the blood of Christ and what it meant, then pray and thank God for the blood.

Matthew 26:27–28 NKJV

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

"AND THEY ALL DID DRINK"

Matthew 26:30 NKJV

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

END WITH ALL STANZAS OF AMAZING GRACE