THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper was given to be a memorial of our Lord Jesus. In it we remember his death, burial and resurrection. It was observed by the church from the beginning as the focal point of the worship service. Generally speaking, not only many Christians, but many churches also greatly neglect this memorial. In it’s place they usually have placed another focus, often the sermon or the musical portion of the service. In either of these cases, the focus is placed on something that is of man. It would seem that this attitude of neglect has become typical of the Christian’s attitude toward all of our Lord’s Commands. If He is Lord, He is to be obeyed in all things! If He is not Lord, then the church is meaningless.

1. I Corinthians 11:23a "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you."

A. From whom did Paul receive the command he is speaking of?

B. For whom was it meant?

2. I Corinthians 11:23b-24 "That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 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."

A. When did our Lord give this memorial for the church to observe?

B. What was the feast being observed that night?

C. What was different about the bread at that feast from normal times Why?

D. Why did he "break" the bread rather than tearing it as usual?

E. What does the bread represent in this case?

F. Why is this service especially important to us?

3. Matthew 26:26 "Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body."

A. What did Jesus do with the bread?

B. What did He call it?

C. In verses 28, He: "took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to then, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

1. What was used to seal a "covenant"? (Blood)

2. Christians live under a "new covenant" or (testament).

3. The Old has been replaced. What major differences are there about the new covenant?

4. How long does the "new covenant" last?

5. When will this "memorial" cease to be observed?

4. Matthew 26:26 "Take, eat, this is my body.

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

A. When Jesus speaks of the "cup", what does he mean?

B. What do the bread and the cup represent?

C. Will all men be forgiven their sins because of this sacrifice? "many"

D. Why or why not? John 3:16 "whosoever believeth" Do all believe?

5. Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

A. Some churches do not observe this memorial. Are they keeping Christ’s command? "Do this in remembrance of me."

B. Some meet annually, or quarterly for this. Can we really say this is "steadfastly" Remembering.

C. What was the example of the early church?

6. 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."

A. This was clearly Saturday night before mid-night. How can it be called the "first day of the week"? (Sunset to sunset was the Jewish way of defining "day") (Romans = "Midnight to midnight") We clearly use the Roman definition today.

B. Why did they gather together on this particular night?

7. Luke 22:19 "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."

8. By what names does the New Testament speak of the Lord’s Supper?

A. Acts 2:42 "breaking of bread"

B. I Corinthians 10:16 "cup of blessing", "communion"

C. I Corinthians 11:20 "Lord’s supper"

D. I Corinthians 10:21 "cup of the Lord", the "Lord’s table"

9. 1 Corinthians 11:29 "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body."

A. How is the observance of some described? "unworthily"

B. How does the text define what is "unworthily"? "not discerning"

C. What can be the result of this sin? "damnation"

D. What else, considering the next verse after this text? "Weak", "sickly" and even death. (Sleep)

E. Perhaps, this may explain many of the mysterious illnesses some in the church have!

10. I Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come."