I. Introduction (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
A. A Sacred Ordinance
- Given by Jesus Himself
- On the night of His betrayal
- To be continued until He comes
B. The Setting
- The Passover meal
- The night before the cross
- The last meal with His disciples
II. The Elements
A. The Bread
- His body broken for us
- The sinless sacrifice
- Broken, not the bones, but His flesh
B. The Cup
- The new testament in His blood
- The blood of the covenant
- Shed for the remission of sins
III. The Purpose: Remembrance
A. “This Do in Remembrance of Me”
- Don’t forget what He did
- Keep the memory alive
- Focus on the cross
B. What We Remember
- His love - that He gave Himself
- His suffering - what He endured
- His substitution - in our place
C. Why We Need to Remember
- We tend to forget
- The world distracts us
- Regular remembrance keeps us focused
IV. The Proclamation (v. 26)
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
A. We Show Forth His Death
- A public declaration
- A witness to the world
- A picture of the Gospel
B. Till He Come
- Looking back to the cross
- Looking forward to His return
- Living in between
V. The Warning (v. 27-29)
A. Eating and Drinking Unworthily
- Not about being worthy
- But about eating in an unworthy manner
- Treating it carelessly
B. Self-Examination
- Judge yourself first
- Confess known sin
- Come with a right heart
C. Consequences of Carelessness
- Weakness and sickness
- Some have died
- God takes it seriously
VI. The Application
A. Come Prepared
- Examine yourself beforehand
- Confess and repent
- Focus your thoughts
B. Come Reverently
- This is sacred
- Not routine
- With awe and gratitude
C. Come Remembering
- Think about Jesus
- Remember His sacrifice
- Thank Him for His love
Conclusion
The Lord’s Supper is a precious gift from Jesus. Don’t neglect it. Don’t take it lightly. Come to it with a prepared heart and a focused mind, remembering what He did for you.