Mt. 26:28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Getting Ready for the

LORD’S SUPPER

First Baptist Church

Arab, Alabama

Paul T. Murphy, Pastor

2006

“There ought to be such a preparation for any meeting with God, in any of His ordinances.”

“God is a great God, with whom we have to do. It is not good to have carnal boldness in our accesses and approaches to Him; and therefore He teaches us that there is a preparation due.”

“The bride decks herself with her garments for the bridegroom. We are to do so for the meeting with Christ in this ordinance, — to stir up all the graces God hath bestowed upon us, that we may be decked for Christ.” (John Owen)

THE LORD’S SUPPER IN THE BIBLE

The Gospels

Mt. 26:26-30. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

30. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Mk. 14:22-26. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake [it], and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them: and they all drank of it.

24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Lk. 22:17-20. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide [it] among yourselves:

18. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

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.

20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Paul’s 1^ST Letter to Corinth

1 Cor. 10:16-17, 21. 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?

17. For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

1 Cor. 11:23-27. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24. And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25. After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.

26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Book of Acts

Acts 2:42, 46. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 20:7. And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Other References

Jn. 6:54; Jn. 13:1-4; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Cor. 10:3-4; 1 Cor. 11:20-34; Heb. 10:29; 2 Pet. 2:13; Jude 12

THE MEANING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper the night of the Passover feast (Ex. 12:1-28). For Christians this new ordinance symbolizes the atoning blood and the applied blood of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7).

In the early church believers shared a meal in association with the Lord’s Supper known as the agape (Acts 2:46, 20:11; 1 Cor. 11:20-34). Ignatius (ca. A.D. 110) mentioned this love feast (Smyrna viii. 2) as did Tertullian (ca. A.D. 200; Apol. 39). The feast demonstrated the believers’ commonness and charity. The church is a household of faith (Ex. 12:23) and a household of love (1 Cor. 11:18).

Baptism is the first ordinance at the beginning of the Christian life. The Lord’s Supper is the second and continuing ordinance for a Christian. E. Y. Mullins wrote, “The participants of this ordinance are those who have been baptized upon a profession of their faith, and who walk in an orderly manner as members of a church of Christ. It is not a sacrament but simply an ordinance whose value is in the truth symbolized rather than in its power to impart grace.”

In the Lord’s Supper believers symbolically remember the body of Christ (Acts 2:46) and remember the blood of Christ. The Baptist Faith and Message states: “The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.”

New Testament writers emphasized spiritual preparation for the agape.

1. Conversion. Jude and Peter (2 Pet. 2:13; Jude 12) warned of the unconverted participating in the Lord’s Supper. Only baptized believers properly participate in this ordinance. Justin Martyr (Apol. I, 66) stated, “And this food is called by us eucharist, and it is not lawful for any man to partake of it but him who believes the things taught by us to be true, and has been washed with the washing which is for the remission of sins unto a new birth, and is so living as Christ commanded.” W. T. Conner wrote, “Our position, then, is that the Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance and not an individual matter, and that Baptists cannot consistently invite to the Lord’s Supper those whom they would not admit to church membership.”

2. Confession. A believer partakes of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27) by discerning the great sacrifice of the Lord’s body (Heb. 10:29) and the precious blood (1 Pet. 1:18-19). In preparation for the Lord’s Supper, a believer should ask “Lord, is it I?” Through this self-judgment and the confession of known sin, a Christian makes spiritual preparation to take the Lord’s Supper.

Thy Broken Body, Gracious Lord

Thy broken body, gracious Lord,

Is shadowed by this broken bread;

The wine which in this cup is poured,

Points to the blood which Thou hast shed.

And while we meet together thus,

We show that we are one in Thee;

Thy precious blood was shed for us,

Thy death, O Lord, hast set us free!

We have one hope that Thou wilt come,

Thee in the air we wait to see,

When Thou wilt give Thy saints a home,

And we shall ever reign with Thee.

Samuel P. Tregelles (1813-1875)

WHEN CHILDREN ASK ABOUT THE

LORD’S SUPPER

The second church ordinance is the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted the ordinance the night when He was delivered to die (Mt. 26:20-30). Taking the Supper does not save us. It is a memorial of the death of Christ to remember His sacrifice for us (1 Cor. 10:16).

Questions and Answers

Question: Who may take the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: Those who have trusted Jesus as Savior and who have been baptized in obedience to His command (Mt. 28:19-20).

Question: What are the two elements of the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: Bread and “the fruit of the vine” (Mt. 26:29), the red juice of crushed grapes held in a cup.

Question: What do these two elements symbolize?

Answer: The bread represents the body of Christ, and the cup represents the blood of Christ.

Question: Why are these two elements not the actual body and blood of Jesus?

Answer: When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and said these words, His body stood before the disciples, and His blood flowed through His veins. The words “in remembrance of me” suggest the symbolic nature.

Question: How often should we observe the memorial of the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: Jesus left that to us (“as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup”). We could observe the Lord’s Supper every day, every week, every month, or every quarter.

Question: How should we take the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: We should take the Lord’s Supper in deepest humility and reverence. The adverb “unworthily” in 1 Cor. 11:27-29 refers to the manner of observing the ordinance, not our own worth. Because Christ made atonement for our sins, we observe the Lord’s Supper in overflowing love and gratitude.

Adapted from Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors

Sermon Notes 1

RECOLLECTION: REMEMBER THE BLOOD

Christ, Our Passover

Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7

Israel held the Passover on the 14th day of the first month, Abib (April), to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt (Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:5; Dt. 16:1).

I. Redemption

• Plague (12:13, 23, 29)

• Pharaoh (12:30)

A. Blood of the Lamb (Jesus; 12:7, 13, 22; Gen. 22:7-8; Is. 53:7; Jn. 1:29)

1. Season (12:2; Mt. 26:18)

2. Selection (12:3; Rev. 13:8)

3. Souls (12:4; Acts 16:31)

4. Spotless (12:5; Lev. 22:20; Mal. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:19)

5. Slain (12:6; Rev. 5:6)

6. Sprinkled (12:7; Heb. 9:21, 10:22)

7. Severity (12:12; Jn. 12:31-32)

B. Bread not leavened (journey; 12:8, 15, 17, 20, 34, 39)

1. Bitterness (12:8-11)

2. Brethren (12:47)

II. Remembrance (12:14, 17, 24, 42)

A. Brought out by the Lord (12:41, 13:3)

B. Brought into the land

1. Service (12:31)

2. Spoils (12:36)

“It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb should ever forget their Ransomer; that those who have been loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should ever forget that Son; but if startling to the ear, it is alas, too apparent to the eye to allow us to deny the fact.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)

Sermon Notes 2

RESTORATION: TO NEGLECT A

GREAT SALVATION

A Revival of the Lord’s Table

2 Chronicles 30:1-27

In the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, the people had not thought about the passover blood for seven hundred years. The blood had not been mentioned for eight hundred years of biblical history. A remembrance of the blood marked the revival that came (Jos. 5:9-10; 2 Kg. 23:22-23; Ezra 6:20-21). How long has it been since you came to the table of the Lord and remembered the blood?

I. Invitation (30:1-12)

II. Preparation (30:13-20)

III. Celebration (30:21-26)

IV. Intercession (30:27)

“Be careful, too, not to neglect that most blessed Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the meaner of some is, but let Him be known to you in the breaking of bread, sad in pouring forth of wine. Do this often in remembrance of Him. Ah! I am speaking to some here to day who love Jesus, but who have neglected His last dying injunction, ‘This do in remembrance of me;’ and you have not grown in grace, and are still little in Israel, as you used to be. Do you wonder at it? You have neglected God’s appointed means.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)

Sermon Notes 3

INSTITUTION: THE KING’S ROUND TABLE

The First Supper

Mark 14:22-26

I. Typology of the supper

A. Exodus (1 Cor. 5:7)

B. Elements

1. Blessing (Mk. 6:41, 8:7; 1 Cor. 10:16) for the broken (Mk. 8:6) body

2. Thanksgiving (Mk. 8:6; Jn. 6:11; Acts 27:35; 1 Cor. 11:24) for the shed (Mt. 26:28) blood

II. Theology of the supper

A. Cross (1 Cor. 10:16)

B. Covenant (1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 9:15, 13:20)

III. Eschatology of the supper

A. Waiting for the King (1 Cor. 11:26)

B. Wedding in the Kingdom (Lk. 22:30)

IV. Doxology of the supper

A. Singing (Col. 3:16)

B. Praying (Lk. 22:39)

“If the Cross demands the Crown, then our surest way to realize as certain our own possession of that Crown is to cling very close to that Cross. The more we look backwards to it the more will it fling its light into all the dark places that are in front of us, and flush the heavens up to the seventh and beyond, with the glories that stream from it.” (Alexander Maclaren)

Sermon Notes 4

EXAMINATION: A PREPARATORY TEST

How to Come Together

1 Corinthians 11:1-34

I. Congregational unity (11:1-22)

Paul mourned the contentious spirit of the Corinthians which carried over to the Lord’s Supper. Schisms (1 Cor. 1:10, 12:25) and divisions (Gal. 5:20) marked their observance of the Lord’s Supper rather than charity. By the lack of love, the Corinthians despised that which Jesus counted sacred.

II. Spiritual identity (11:23-26)

A. Remembering the body (Jn. 6:53; 1 Cor. 10:3-4)

B. Remembering the blood (Heb. 10:29)

III. Personal purity (11:27-34)

A. Judgment by conscience (2 Cor. 13:5)

B. Judgment by chastisement (Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19)

“And on the Lord’s own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. And let no man having his dispute with his fellow join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled; for this sacrifice it is that was spoken of by the Lord:” (The Teaching of the Apostles, 14; c.a. A.D. 125)

Sermon Notes 5

DECLARATION: THE SERMON IN THE SYMBOLS

Maranatha

1 Corinthians 11:26

Lamb of God

Bread of Life

Thanksgiving

Brokenness

Sharing

Communion

Blood of Atonement

Sacrificial Death

Cross

New Covenant

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Unity

Forgiveness

Cleansing

Servanthood

Memorial

Love

Testimony

Second Coming

“In our celebration of the death of Christ, we do profess against Satan; that his power is broken, that he is conquered, – tied to the chariot wheels of Christ, who has disarmed him. This is the profession we make, when we show forth the Lord’s death, against the shame of the world, against the curse of the law, and the power of hell.” (John Owen)

LORD’S SUPPER HYMNS

Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink the cup together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us drink the cup together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)

Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

As We Gather Around the Table

As we gather around the table of our Lord,

We recall His humble birth in Bethlehem,

As the angels sang, As the shepherds came,

Let us adore and worship the Lord,

Let us remember Him.

As we gather around the table of our Lord,

We recall His agony upon the cross,

There our Savior died; Alone was crucified;

Let us adore and worship the Lord,

Let us remember Him.

As we gather around the table of our Lord,

We recall the empty tomb where He was laid,

He is living still; Our longing hearts to fill;

Let us adore and worship the Lord,

Let us remember Him.

Mark Blankenship

CCLI License No. 276929

Here, at Your Table, Lord

Here at Thy table, Lord, this sacred hour,

O let us feel Thee near, in loving power,

Calling our thoughts away from self and sin

As to Thy banquet hall we enter in.

Sit at the feast, dear Lord, break Thou the bread;

Fill Thou the cup that brings life to the dead;

That we may find in Thee pardon and peace,

And from all bondage win a full release.

So shall our life of faith be full, be sweet;

And we shall find our strength for each day meet;

Fed by Thy living bread, all hunger past,

We shall be satisfied, and saved at last.

Come then, O holy Christ, feed us, we pray;

Touch with Thy piercèd hand each common day;

Making this earthly life full of Thy grace,

Till in the home of heaven we find our place.

May P. Hoyt

Break Thou the Bread of Life

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,

As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;

Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;

And I shall find my peace, my all in all.

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,

Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;

Give me to eat and live with Thee above;

Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,

That He may touch my eyes, and make me see:

Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,

And in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.

Mary A. Lathbury (1841-1913)

The Church’s One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation,

By water and the Word:

From heaven He came and sought her

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her,

And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,

Yet one o’er all the earth,

Her charter of salvation,

One Lord, one faith, one birth;

One holy Name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses,

With every grace endued.

‘Mid toil and tribulation,

And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation

Of peace forevermore;

Till with the vision glorious,

Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious

Shall be the Church at rest.

Samuel J. Stone (1839-1900)