Foundation Lesson 9

What is the Lord's Supper?

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord's death till He comes. - 1 Corinthians 11:26

The Lord's supper is when Christians meet take some bread and drink a cup of juice to remember
the death and resurrection of our Lord and to remember that Jesus is coming again. This is a
fellowship meal where believers meet together to remember what the Lord Jesus did for us that we
can give thanks together and hold on to the promise that He will come again. The table in the New
Testament was either taken as often as the believers met together Acts 2:46 or On the first day of
the week which is Sunday Acts 20:7.

Why do we have the Lord's Supper?

We have the Lord's Supper because Jesus did it Luke 22:14-20, the apostles did it Acts 2:42, Acts
20:7 and it is explained in Pauls Letter 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 for the Church to do.

What does the bread and wine mean?

The bread is a symbol of Christ's body, which was beaten beyond even looking like a man Isaiah
53:18, 53:4-7, Psalm 22:12-17.

The cup is a symbol of Christ's blood that He shed for us Matthew 26:28. When we eat the bread
and drink the cup we are saying as a testimony to the world that Jesus has done an inward work, so
in taking the bread and cup we say that we are remembering that Jesus was beaten, died on the cross
shed His blood, risen from the dead and is coming again 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

We must also know that this not the actual body and blood of Jesus like Catholics believe,the Bible
forbids drinking blood Leviticus 17:14, Acts 15:20. The bread and cup are only symbols of Christ's
body and blood, they remain bread and juice. We only do the supper in remembrance of what Jesus
did for us 1 Corinthians 11:24-25.

The normal way to take the bread and cup is bread first then the wine as shown in the bible, 1
Corinthians 11:23-26, Matthew 26:26-28, Luke 22:19-20, Mark 14:22-25.

Who can take part in the Lord's table?

Only people are born again can take part in the Lord's table, this is not for unsaved people or
children. It is meant to be done among a body of believers not to be taken alone, the Bible always
tells believers to meet together and not to forsake meeting Hebrews 10:25, never to be alone.

What does it mean to examine ourself?

We know from 1 Corinthians 11:17-22, that the Corinthian church was not taken the table serious,
they were coming around it drunk and there was divisions among them and it was not orderly,
which was a bad testimony and mocking what the Lord did for them. When we take part there
should be no division among us, no bad feeling toward anyone and we should take it orderly with
Godly fear and reverence. There should be unity among us. There should be no laughing or talking
while this is going on its not to be a casual taking, the table is serious and needs our full attention.
Foundation Lesson 9

We are told to examine ourself before we take part in the Lord's supper, this means to repent and ask
for forgiveness of the sins of which we have done that week. Because if we take in an unworthy
manner we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord 1 Corinthians 11:27, this means we are to
take the table serious of what Christ has done for us, this does not mean to let the bread and wine
pass by no Christian should ever do that. If you know you are going to let the table go by and go out
and willingly sin and do something you shouldn't, you should repent and put yourself right before
the Lord. You are not doing the Lord any favours letting the cup pass by, in fact He wants you to
take it and you are willingly disobeying the Lord.

The Bible tells us because many have took part in the table in an unworthy manner and have had
unconfessed sin before the Lord many are weak, sick and some have died and are eating and
drinking God's judgement upon themselves 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 which means they were taken to
be with Lord before they were meant to, the table is not to be taken lightly.

But we are meant to judge ourself and put ourself right so the Lord doesn't have to 1 Corinthians
11:31-32, and God doesn't have to discipline if we do it ourself. One comfort that can be taken if
being judged by God in this is that when he does discipline us we wont be condemned with the
world 1 Corinthians 11:32.

Questions

1) Read 1 Corinthians 11:29. In what manner do you take the Lord's table? Is it just a bit of bread
and juice? Religion? Just something you do in church? Or does it have real meaning of
remembering what the Lord has done for you? If you take this and it doesn't really mean anything to
you, you will need to repent and go over again and learn what the Lord's table means. Or if you
have trouble understanding about it talk to your pastor and he will help you understand more.

2) Do you let the bread and wine pass you by. There is no reason at all not to take part as the Bible
teaches that we should repent of our sins, and to go out and willingly commit sin. If you are doing
so repent of what you are doing and stop. Also talk to your pastor in case its something thats very
hard to let go, he will advise you and pray with you and help you.

Things to do

Memory verse 1 Corinthians 11:31

When you take part next in the Lord's table really take time and remember and give thanks for what
the Lord has done.

Please write any questions you have below