SCRIPTURAL WORSHIP WITHIN THE CHURCH Examining Ourselves During The Lord’s Supper

Introduction We have looked at the subject of Worship. What it is and how we should practice it in our assemblies. Our focus is upon doing things the way God wants them done, and not doing what we want to do to please ourselves. We continue this series by looking at the Lord’s Supper. We could easily make this a three part series, but will try to explain it in one lesson.

BREAKING OF BREAD This phrase has two meanings in the New Testament. One meaning is the sharing of a common meal. We have several examples in the New Testament. In Acts 2, we see that the new Christians daily partook of the breaking of bread. In other words, they were sharing their common meals with their fellow saints. The second meaning is more commonly referred to as “The Lord's Supper” The ritual or act of worship was established and instituted by the Lord Himself while upon the earth. Matthew 26:26-29.

Since this was during the week of the Passover, only unleavened bread could be used, thus showing by example and necessary inference the type of bread used. There is no indication as to the fruit of the vine, as to whether it was fermented or unfermented (unless one considers fermentation as a form of leavening). The frequency of partaking of the Lord's Supper is also shown by approved apostolic example as is found in Acts 20:7. Jesus, when He instituted the Supper, said, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup..." 1 Corinthians 11:26.

He did not tell HOW often, nor upon WHAT day to partake. But remember that Christ promised the apostles that He would send them a Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, to direct them into all truth, John 14:16,26; 16:13-15. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ and begin to guide them in their teaching. So, once again in Acts 20:7 we see where the disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread. All of this under the guidance and teaching from the Holy Spirit and the Apostles.

When? Sunday, is the first day of the week and every week has a first day; therefore, we are to partake of the Lord's supper every first day of every week. When, under the law of Moses, God instituted the laws governing the Sabbath Day, He just said, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." He did not have to go into a lot of detail to explain that He meant every Sabbath. The Jews understood from what He did say, that He had reference to every Sabbath as often as it rolled around.

So it is with partaking of the Lord's Supper. The Holy Spirit did not have to explain to those early Christians that He meant for them to partake of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week, they understood that this was the thing they were to do and they did it faithfully. The were not trying to get out of doing it. In fact, it seems they enjoyed the privilege of partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Now, today, men teach: "Let's just take the supper every quarter, semi-annually, annually, or on special holy days.“ Or any day is as good as another. Thus ignoring the first day of the week command.

THE REASON FOR PARTAKING OF THE SUPPER The reason is stated by Jesus and restated by Paul the apostle, Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. It is a matter of "showing forth" or commemorating the Lord's death and suffering until He comes again. Christ stated, that through this means He would commune with us and we with Him, Matthew 26:29. It is upon this occasion that we commune with the Lord around His table, not with one another. So, when the argument is made that a person cannot partake of the Lord's supper, because there are hypocrites present and are partaking at the same time, then he is saying that he is communing with them rather than with the Lord. For shame!

Matthew 26: 26-29 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body’. And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’.”

From the standpoint of HOW to partake, I think the first thought should be, that we do so decently and orderly 1 Corinthians 14:40. Next, we should note the case of people adulterating the supper by their actions and thereby making it impossible for them to really partake of the supper in a scriptural way. Read, 1 Cor. 11:20-22 “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you”. The Corinthians had taken something that was apparently authorized, and abused it. Thus the command by Paul to remove the social common meal from the worship of the church and keep it entirely spiritual. Their time of eating a common meal would be separate from the assembly meetings.

These people had brought their own supper or meal to eat along with or just prior to the Lord's Supper. In doing so, they shamed or embarrassed those that had no supper of their own, and besides that, they became drunken in the process. Under these circumstances they wanted to partake of the Lord's Supper, which Paul said was impossible for them to do. Paul further says the following: Read 1 Cor. 11:27-29 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup on the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 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, east and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly”.

Many brethren get from this the idea that if they have done any sin during the week, they are not worthy to partake of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day. But this is not the teaching of these verses of scripture. Repentance and prayer are for the purpose of forgiveness of sin, not the Lord's Supper. So, if we sin during the week and do not repent and pray God to forgive us, and then we come to services and refuse to partake of the Lord's Supper, because we have sinned, we have thereby committed our second sin by not obeying the command of the Lord to partake of the supper every first day of the week.

Remember also that the individuals must examine themselves. The weekly occurrence of the Supper should remind everyone of the great think Christ has done for them, and it should motivate them to repentance. If one realizes they are not right with the Lord, they should be reminded that they need to do so quickly, and the Supper does that as well. An individual who chooses to stay out of a right relationship with the Lord, ought not to participate in the Supper feast, for it does no good at all.

Besides this, just how much faith do we put in the prayer led by a brother in the worship where he requests forgiveness of sin for all present even before the Lord's Supper is served? Paul just plainly tells us what he is talking about, when he says, "...if he discern not the body." v. 29. A person has to have his mind upon what he is doing and the reason for it. This is what is meant by discerning the body. If a person has his mind upon other matters while he is partaking of the supper, he is not discerning the body of Christ.

Brethren, where is your mind and what are you thinking about when you partake of the supper? It behooves me to warn you to shut out the things of a worldly nature from your mind while you are partaking of the supper. Bring your mind to bear upon the cross of Christ and why He is there. At no time during the supper should you let your mind wander off of that glorious occasion back there when the Precious Lamb of God took upon Himself to hang suspended between heaven and earth, giving His life for the sins of the world.

Who Can Partake Of The Bread And The Fruit Of The Vine Actually it is open to anyone who wants to partake. But it only benefits those who are in the body of Christ. Membership in Christ has its privileges. While those outside of Christ may do the same acts of worship as members, it really is of no effect for their souls. As long as they are outside of Christ, they are lost. Some might get the idea that if they let me participate, then I am accepted. Perhaps by them, but not God, and we must emphasize this point.

This Is NOT A Sacrament Even though it is treated as such by many who call themselves Christians. We see this in the behavior of some who appear to show up only to participate in the Supper and then leave. It seems that to these people, they have done their duty to God, and anything further is not necessary. There are many that will come Sunday morning to partake, but ignore the evening services.

Conclusion The Lord’s Supper is a feast where we commune with Christ. We do so as a proclamation of His death. We will do so until He come again, and we will do it every first day of the week (Sunday). We will examine ourselves to make sure we are in the right frame of mind to share with Christ. And we will continue to teach people about the importance of the Supper. Remember, Christians are the only ones who benefit from the Lord’s Supper. If you are not a Christian, what is holding you back?