A Biblical Church’s Lord’s Supper

17 November 2013 PM – 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 – Biblical Church – Scott Childs

Introduction: This evening as we examine the subject of the Lord’s Supper, let me begin by reading a quote by R.J. Anderson.

“There seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding on this very important subject. I believe that most of this misunderstanding has been brought about by taking men’s opinions rather than a thorough study of God’s Word. I think that the first thing we need to fix clearly in our minds is that it is the Lord’s Supper, therefore, He alone has the right to fix the requirements for partaking and say who are fit subjects to partake. If anyone of us should prepare a supper, we would certainly claim the right to say who should be invited to partake of it, and if someone we considered a friend should be so presumptuous as to tell us what to serve, how to serve, and then insist on the right to invite whomever he pleased, we would certainly think his actions exceedingly unfair.” ^{(Vital Church Truths)}

Transition: This evening I hope to answer four important questions about the Lord’s Supper that I hope will give you a Biblical understanding of the Lord’s Supper.

I. What is the Lord’s Supper?

A. It is a memorial

1. It reminds of Christ’s broken body and shed blood for our sins (1Co 11:24-25).

2. It proclaims the Lord’s return (1Co 11:26).

3. It challenges Christians to examine their hearts and drawing closer to the Lord (1Co 11:28).

4. It pictures communion or fellowship with Christ (1Co 10:16).

B. It is not a sacrament

1. It does not save anyone.

2. It does not help one’s salvation.

3. It does not keep a person saved.

4. It does not give any special grace to anyone.

C. It is symbolic

1. The elements represent the body and blood of Christ. Jesus did not cut His flesh to serve this supper.

2. The elements are not literally the body and blood of Christ nor do they become that.

D. It is a church ordinance

1. Jesus gave the Lord’s Supper to His apostles when He laid the church’s foundation (Lu 22:19-20). It is a church ordinance to be observed by a congregation.

2. After Pentecost, the Lord’s Supper is only mentioned in church contexts.

3. There is no Bible evidence that anyone partook of the Lord’s Supper outside of a church service. Most of the verses that speak of “breaking bread” sound like a meal, but if they were having the Lord’s Supper in homes, it was because they had no church buildings.

Acts 2:46-47 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, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

II. What are the Elements of the Lord’s Supper?

A. The first element is unleavened bread.

1. The bread pictures the broken body of Christ.

2. The bread was unleavened because Jesus instituted the supper during the Passover week when leavened bread was forbidden.

Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

B. The second element is the fruit of the vine.

1. This pictured the blood that Christ shed for our sin.

2. Jesus used unfermented grape juice. He never called the juice wine. He called it “the fruit of the vine” (Mt 26:29, Mr 14:25, Lu 22:18) and “the cup” (Mt 26:27, Mr 14:23, Lu 22:20, 1Co 11:25). Remember, all leavening (fermenting) was forbidden during Passover as well. (Ex 12:20)

III. Who may partake of the Lord’s Supper?

A. A person must be a Christian to partake

An unbeliever has no reason to partake. If he has not received Christ’s salvation, it only reminds of his coming doom.

B. A person must be biblically immersed to partake

Immersion after salvation is a requirement for church membership.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

C. A person must be a church member to partake

After Pentecost, only church member biblically observed the Lord’s Supper

1. The Acts 2 Christians were members of the Jerusalem church (Ac 2:41).

2. The Corinthian Christians were members of the Corinthian church – a body of Christ (1Co 10:17). We also know they were church members because they practiced church discipline which is impossible without church membership (1Co 5).

3. Though the Bible does not call believers at Troas a church (Acts 20), they must have been a church since it is the consistent New Testament pattern for local believers to form a church.

D. A person must examine himself before partaking

Church members must examine their hearts before partaking (1Co 11:28). They are to partake in a worthy manner. Failure to eat with a clean heart and in a worthy manner results in God’s judgment (1Co 11:30).

E. A visiting member of another biblical church must be invited before he can partake

The congregation may invite members of another biblical church to partake with them. This is called “close communion.”

IV. Why is the Lord’s Supper only for church members?

A. “Members only” was the New Testament practice

1. The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance.

2. Church membership was the norm in the New Testament.

B. “Members only” is a necessary practice

1. The group partaking is to be one body.

1 Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

2. The group is to be separated from ungodliness.

1 Corinthians 10:21 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.

3. The group must not have divisions. They must have one salvation, one baptism, and one doctrine.

1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

C. “Members only” is a logical practice

1. Berlin Hisel gives this excellent illustration of this.

Suppose a coach gave a supper for his basketball players. I heard of it and went. They would say to me, “You can’t eat here”. Then I would cry, “unfair – bigots”. They would tell me, “You go try out and if you make the team you can come next year”. Would I be justified to say they didn’t love me, etc.? Of course not.

2. Since the Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance, it only makes good sense that before you may eat the Supper with the church you must be a member of the church.

Conclusion: In my 30+ years of ministry, I do not believe there is any subject that has caused as much conflict as that of the Lord’s Supper. Many people who did not want to submit to biblical doctrine and join our church were offended because they could not partake in our church’s Lord’s Supper. We are not trying to be unkind or unloving. We want to follow the Bible.

The solution is simple; anyone who joins our church and is living for God is welcome to eat the Lord’s Supper with us.

If you still do not have a solid understanding of the Lord’s Supper, I encourage you to download my sermon notes and further the study on your own.

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337