What’s the Lord’s Supper
I Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-29
Intro:
1. ILL: Antaeus, son of Neptune & Terra, battles Hercules & loses because he is held above the earth!
a. You must remain in contact with the Lord to have strength & life.
b. One of the means to remain in contact is the Lord’s Supper.
2. What is the Lord’s Supper?
I. 10:16-17 - It’s a Participation
A. What is participation?
1. Participation (κοινωνία) = (KJV) communion, partnership, having something in common.
2. We get our word “coin” from this word - a common method of exchange.
a. The idea is the Lord’s Supper binds us together with a common heritage.
b. Phil 2:1-2 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and pur- pose. We have a common participation by showing encouragement, love, affection & sympathy to one another.
c. I Cor 16:1-2 - Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. We have a common participation when we pass the offering plate.
d. We have this same common bond when we share in the Lord’s Supper.
B. It involves a participation with God & one another as the body of Christ.
1. v16 - The elements of the Supper represent the Lord’s physical body & blood.
a. The body = the incarnation: God became a man with a physical body & dwelt among us teach- ing & living God’s life as an example for us.
b. The blood = the atonement: the crucifixion where Jesus paid the price for your sin.
2. v17 - As you participate, you represent the spiritual body of Christ; His church, His family.
3. I Jn 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. By having this fellowship (same word) with God, He will continue cleansing you from your sin.
II. 11:24-25 - It’s a Memorial
A. What’s a funeral supposed to accomplish?
1. It’s a memorial to the loved one who has passed away.
2. It’s an opportunity to formally share together in the loved one’s memory.
3. God’s word tells us over 200 times to remember!
B. We are to remember the cross as God’s love expressed to us.
1. John said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - Jn 1:29.
2. I Cor 5:7 - For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
C. We are to remember the cross as the event that established the New Covenant.
1. This New Covenant was predicted by Jeremiah, The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. - Jer 31:31.
2. This New Covenant is connected to the cross.
a. Lk 22:20 - In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
b. Heb 9:15 - For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance -- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
D. We are to remember to participate in the Lord’s Supper as a command from the Lord.
1. Lk 22:19 - And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
2. Since we participate at the Lord’s specific command, it’s called an Ordinance.
III. 11:26 - It’s a Proclamation
A. Proclaim (καταγγέλλω) = to speak forcefully, to preach.
B. The Lord’s Supper proclaims:
1. The gospel message.
a. You are proclaiming your dependence on the blood of Jesus for your salvation.
b. You are proclaiming the unity of the family of God - families eat together!
2. The promises that were made.
a. I Jn 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
b. Jn 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
3. The Second Coming.
a. It proclaims “until He comes again”.
b. As a marriage is temporary “until death”, so the Lord’s Supper is temporary “until He comes again”.
IV. 11:27-29 - It’s an Examination
A. This is a time to make a discernment.
1. It is not to decide if you’re worthy or not - none of us are worthy! Rom 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
2. The problem was the Corinthian church didn’t seem to care much for one another - they weren’t dis- cerning the church, Christ’s body.
3. You need to understand that we are the Lord’s body functioning together in love.
4. Use the time before you partake to examine your attitudes. If you have sin in your life, confess it in prayer! If you have an unforgiving attitude toward another person, confess it in prayer!
B. This is a time to make a commitment.
1. In many churches, the Lord’s Supper is called a Sacrament. ILL: The oath a Roman soldier made when enlisting was his sacrament.
2. This is a time of rededication to the Lord of your faith, your obedience & your love.
C. This is a time to express thanksgiving.
1. In many churches, the Lord’s Supper is called the Eucharist (εὐχαριστέω) = to give thanks.
2. You can use this time to thank the Lord for His redemption, continual presence & help of His Holy Spirit.
Every time you take that piece of bread & that little cup, you . . .
1. Participate together in a shared experience.
2. Remember the Lord Who loved you enough to die for you.
3. Proclaim the gospel message faithfully until He comes again.
4. Examine your relationship with the Lord & one another.
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