Scripture for Worship with the Lord's Supper

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The Lord’s Supper is a powerful reminder of the essential message of the Bible, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    Jesus said about that simple meal of bread and wine, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Our Train and Multiply materials teach us that participation in the Lord’s Supper is one of the seven basic commands of Christ.

I am convinced that Jesus told us to celebrate the Lord’s Super because it is very, very important for our spiritual life and development. When we partake of the bread and the red juice with faith, we really do experience communion with our Lord. We are reminded that the same God who delivered the children of Israel from the angel of death in Egypt saves us from eternal death today. In the Lord’s Supper we remember that God sent his Son to do what we could never do, provide a sacrifice that would truly wash away our sins. In the Lord’s Supper we remember how much Jesus loves us and how he longs to spend time with us. In the Lord’s Supper, we have a chance to examine ourselves, confess our sins, and experience a deep sense of forgiveness in Christ.  In the Lords’ Supper we have a chance to reconcile with our brother or sister whom we have offended. The Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the grace of God until Jesus comes again. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to express our gratitude to the Lord for his sacrifice and his saving grace.

But sadly, some churches and some congregations rarely experience all of these facets of the Lord’s Supper.  Their experience of the Lords Supper is limited because every time that partake of the bread and the wine, they hear the same passage of Scripture from 1 Corinthians 11. Now let me say that 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 is a wonderful passage inspired by the Holy Spirit and very useful for Christians.  But it is not the only Bible passage related to the Lord’s Supper.

So here is my encouragement for you dear church planter: Use a variety of Scripture passages when you prepare your people to participate in the Lord’s Supper.  I Corinthians 11 is helpful, but it is not the only passage in Scripture about the Lord’s Supper.  From time to time read Exodus 12:1-30 about the first Passover. Compare what God did with the Children of Israel in Egypt to what Jesus has done for us his children. From time to time, read from the Gospels about that night in the Upper Room when Jesus met with his disciples, broke bread, and told about the new covenant in his blood. Remind your people that the same Jesus who was about to die for his disciples’ sins humbled himself to wash their feet on the very night he was betrayed.  You can find these stories in Matthew 26:26-30, Luke 22:14-23 and John 13:1-17.

As you read them or tell them, you will enrich your people’s fellowship with Christ and with one another.

The Lord’s Supper is full of meaning and full of potential for fellowship with Christ.  So don’t just use one passage of Scripture every time the Lord’s Supper is served. Use a variety so that your people will experience deep communion with their Lord.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #TheLord’sSupper #HolyCommunion