The Lord’s SupperHere is a subject which requires careful study of the Word of God. Like baptism, the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is often misunderstood and the religious world has many substitutes for the real thing.
The only references to the Lord's Supper in the New Testament are the Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-20) and in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, in which he actually rebukes the church for disorder at the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 10:14-22 and 11:17-34).
Prior to completing this study, you are encouraged to carefully read each of these passages above. References often cited from the Book of Acts (2:46; 20:7, 11) do not refer to the Lord’s Supper because they do not mention "the cup" and because in the second instance the breaking of bread was done twice in the same night. They refer to a fellowship-type meal.
WHAT IS THE LORD'S SUPPER?
A. The Correct Terminology. There are three Bible terms.
1. The _____________ (1 Corinthians 10:16).
2. The ________ ________ (1 Corinthians 10:21).
3. The ________ ________ (1 Corinthians 11:20).
B. It is an _______________ of the church (1 Corinthians 11:2, 23). The connecting phrase, “I delivered unto you”, shows this to be the case.
C. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we…
1. Do it in ________________ of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
2. Do ___________ the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26).
D. From these Scriptures we conclude the Lord's Supper is a: (Circle the correct words.)
Sacrament (means of grace, path of salvation)
Memorial (something that reminds us of a momentous event)
E. Is the observance of the Lord’s Supper a command, or is it a choice? (See 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). It is _________________.
WHAT IS THE SYMBOLISM OF THE LORD'S SUPPER?
A. Unleavened _________ (1 Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 26:17, 26).
B. The __________ of the __________ (Matthew 26:29).
C. 1 Corinthians uses the term, the ______ (1Corinthians 11:25-26). Nowhere does the Bible refer to "wine" as part of the Lord’s Supper. Alcoholic (fermented) wine is a result of the action of yeast (leaven). Leaven is a symbol of sin (1 Corinthians 5:6-7), thus alcoholic wine and leavened bread would be invalid symbols of the Blood of Christ.
D. The bread pictures the _____________ ___________ of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24). This reminds us of the terrible suffering of our Lord, though not a bone in His body was broken (Read also: Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 27:29-31; John 19:31-37).
E. The cup pictures the _______ _______ of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:25). This reminds us that without the shedding of the blood of Christ, there could be no _____________of sin (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:15, 19).
F. Like the ordinance of baptism, the Lord’s Supper is a picture of Jesus Christ. When we observe the Lord’s Supper we portray symbolically the _______ ________ until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).
WHO SHOULD OBSERVE THE LORD'S SUPPER?
A. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, who were present (Matthew 26:20)? ______________ (It seems evident from John 13:18-30 that Judas Iscariot left the supper to betray Jesus before instituting the Lord’s Supper)
B. According to 1 Corinthians 12:28a, what did this group of people constitute? The _________
C. Compare Matthew 26:30 with Hebrews 2:12. The Lord's Supper was instituted in the ___________.
D. Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-21. Here the Apostle Paul is rebuking the church at Corinth for turning the simple memorial Supper into a drunken feast. However, note the following:
Ye ________ ___________ (v 17).
Ye _________ __________ in the __________ (v 18).
Ye ________ ___________ in ______ _________ (v 20).
E. According to 1 Corinthians l:2a, to whom was this letter initially addressed? The _________ of God which is at ___________.
F. The Lord's Supper is therefore a ___________ ordinance. It is given to the Lord’s churches to observe.
G. The Bible forbids the observance of the Lord’s Supper when there is __________ and _________ present (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).
HOW DO WE OBSERVE THE LORD'S SUPPER?
A. How Often? The Bible does not give a definite time to observe the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:26 simply says, ______________________________________.
B. According to 1 Corinthians 11:28, the observance of the Supper should be preceded by solemn, personal self-_______________.
Note: Eating unworthily means "in an unworthy manner" as the context shows (v 29).
Note: The word damnation means "severe judgment" even physical death (v 30).
C. When observing the Supper the elements are distributed to the members, then all partake together. This is because 1 Corinthians 11:33 instructs us to ___________ one for another.
D. Following the observance of the Lord’s Supper, the meeting closes with the singing of an ___________ (Matthew 26:30).