Directions for Observing the Lord’s Supper

1. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial.

2. Jesus instituted this memorial the night of his betrayal and arrest.

3. Luke 22:19-20 “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. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

4. We are to observe in remembrance of Jesus sacrifice.

5. We remember the death of Jesus. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

6. Remember…

1) The betrayal of Jesus at the hand of his disciple Judas.

2) The prayer that Jesus uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane.

3) The arrest of Jesus by the soldiers and the kiss of Judas.

4) The mock trial at the hands of the Jews.

a. The false witnesses.

b. Peter’s denial.

c. The high priest’s accusation of blasphemy.

5) The trial at the hand of Pilate.

6) The times he pronounced Jesus innocent.

7) The threat of the Jews to expose Pilate to Caesar.

8) The scourging.

9) The carrying of the cross.

10) The nails.

11) The crucifixion.

12) The death.

13) The spear.

7. Our first direction in observing the Lord’s Supper is to go back.

1. The Lord’s Supper is also a self examination.

2. 1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

3. In examining ourselves, we think about the need for Jesus death on the cross.

1) Our sins separated us from God. (Isaiah 59:2)

2) Jesus died for our forgiveness while we were enemies (Romans 5:10).

3) Through Him we have forgiveness and hope of eternal life.

4) Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

4. In examining ourselves we think about the church.

1) Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

2) Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

5. In examining ourselves we think about our unity.

1) The Lord’s Supper is a communion.

2) It is a showing of unity both with Jesus and with one another.

3) 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 “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? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

4) Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:17-23).

6. Our second direction in observing the Lord’s Supper is to go inward.

1. The Lord’s Supper is worship of God and Jesus as God’s Son.

2. It was love that sent Jesus to the earth. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”

3. It was for love that Jesus gave His life for us.

1) John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

2) Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

4. Jesus sacrifice for us, however, would have been meaningless without his sinless life.

5. The fact that Jesus was wholly innocent made him the perfect sacrifice.

1) 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2) 1 John 3:5 “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

6. Because Jesus was both God and man He is the perfect mediator for us.

1) 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

2) Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

3) 1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

7. Our third direction when we observe the Lord’s Supper is to go upward.

1. The Lord’s Supper speaks of the future as well.

2. 1 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.”

3. In the Lord’s Supper we’re reminded that Jesus is coming again.

4. Acts 1:10-11 “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

5. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

6. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

7. Our fourth direction for observing the Lord’s Supper is to go forward.