Embracing the Lord’s Supper as a Joyful and Communal Event
Luke 15.23
“Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”
This is why we come here—to celebrate!
Part of that celebration is what we call ‘the Lord’s Supper’.
Another part is prayer – what can we celebrate in prayer this morning?
Let’s pray together…
Part 2: Let’s have a feast and celebrate
Hand out capsules at start
Introduction
Today, we will focus more deeply on the Lord’s Supper / Communion.
We will take more time over it after some teaching and discussion.
QUESTION: What is the Lord’s Supper?
QUESTION: Why do we do it? What is it for?
- What Did Jesus Do and Expect His Followers to Do, and Why?
Luke 22.19-20
“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.”
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.”
‘do this’ – what is the ‘this’?
Why – in remembrance of me
What remembering? His servant, sacrificial heart. His acceptance. His love.
Leads to – fresh inspiration out of gratitude
- What Did the Early Church Do and Why?
They gathered on the first day of the week to break bread
Acts 2.46
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,”-
Acts 20.7
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.”. .
Proclaimed Christ
1 Corinthians 11.26
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Demonstrated and strengthened their unity
1 Corinthians 11.27
“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”
Context – eating together as Lord’s Supper while being selfish and mean to one another
About not respecting Christ’s body by treating one another in a Christ-like way
Easy to have a smouldering resentment towards someone at church when taking communion while looking at the back of their head, or in a large church where you can easily avoid them
Different when sitting around a table next to them or opposite them.
Resurrection day
Probably weekly
Involved a meal
Not restricted to that?
- Traditions Around the Lord’s Supper
Traditions and further theological understanding
Transubstantiation, the idea that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ, based on one scripture.
Preserving mysticism developed into a kind of magical-ism
Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, had different interpretations.
One cup or many?
One prayer or several?
Silence, music, prayer….
Wine or not?
Who can serve it? Priests? New Testament tells us that we are all priests
1 Peter 2.9
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Who can take it? Sometimes, children or laypeople were denied the elements, but is that what Jesus intended?
- Conclusions for Us Here and Now
Five key issues
It is about Jesus: Remembering Him is the primary purpose.
It is a community meal: We gather together as a family of faith.
We feast on Christ—together: It strengthens our community unity.
‘Unworthy’ is not about sin per se: It’s about treating each other with Christ-like love. Strictly speaking, no one is ‘worthy’!
Not about the elements or the rituals: Focus on Jesus and community.
Conclusion
We eat together, with Jesus, as sinners
Luke 5.29
“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.”
Luke 14.13
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,”
Jesus ate with anyone who would eat with him.
He would come to your place for dinner – only problem- he would bring all his friends!
Last supper: Apostles would desert him, Peter deny him; Judas betrayed him
Any questions or brief comments?
Discussion with neighbour about anything God revealed to you today
Open prayer
I pray after 10 minutes
Break bread and give out – what difference does it make that I do this?
As we conclude, let’s take time to pray, reflect, and sing. Let’s prepare our hearts before we take the bread and wine, remembering the love and sacrifice of Jesus and the unity we share in Him.
Prayer
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm