THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

THE LORD’S SUPPER

ITS PLACE

• God’s House• A spiritual house– “A Minister of the sanctuary and of the true

tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.”{Hebrews 8:2}

• House we are…– “But Christ as a Son over His own house,

whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” {Hebrews 3:6}

ITS PLACE

• God’s House• God’s house—the church– “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know

how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”{1 Timothy 3:15}

• Table in His House…– “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My

Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” {Luke 22:29,30}

ITS PLACE

• God’s House• One loaf on the Lord’s table– “For we, though many, are one bread and one

body; for we all partake of that one bread.” {1 Corinthians 10:17}

• “Breaking of bread”…– “Now on the first day of the week, when the

disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” {Acts 20:7}

ITS ORIGIN AND AUTHORITY

• The practice of the early church.

• “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” {Acts 20:7}

ITS ORIGIN AND AUTHORITY

• Taught by the Apostles.

• “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” {Matthew 28:18,20}

ITS ORIGIN AND AUTHORITY

• Paul received it from the Lord.

• “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread …” {1 Corinthians 11:23}

Jesus Instituted the Lord’s Supper

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Jesus Instituted the Lord’s Supper

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body.“ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Matthew 26:26-29

THE TIME OF OBSERVANCE

• The primary reason for assembly on the 1st Day of the week.

• “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” {Acts 20:7}

THE TIME OF OBSERVANCE

• The regularity of the observance.

• “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” {Acts 2:42}

Time of Observance

“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

Regularity How often?

THE TIME OF OBSERVANCE

• Duty of constant attendance.

• To neglect is to sin willfully.

• “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another...” {Hebrews 10:24,25}

THE TIME OF OBSERVANCE

• First day of the week was a day of regular assembly.

• “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” {1 Corinthians 16:2}

ITS DESIGN• In remembrance.• Memorial to

Christ

• “And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” {1 Corinthians 11:24,25}

ITS DESIGN• Anticipation of

hope.• “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}

ITS DESIGN• Fellowship—one

body.• A communion.

• “For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” {1 Corinthians 10:17}

ITS DESIGN• To eat regularly

and worthily is to maintain spiritual vigor.

• “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” {1 Corinthians 11:29}

MANNER OF OBSERVANCE

• Must examine self.• “Closed

communion” is an unauthorized practice of men.

• “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” {1 Corinthians 11:27,28}

MANNER OF OBSERVANCE

• Must discern to understand the true meaning of the emblems.

• “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” {1 Corinthians 11:28,29}

MANNER OF OBSERVANCE

• Communion with Christ must be the heart’s thought.

• “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, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” {1 Corinthians 10:16,17}

MANNER OF OBSERVANCE

• Must be observed in the peace and harmony of Christian fellowship.

• “For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” {1 Corinthians 10:17}