Spiritual Disciplines: 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.

When we speak about spiritual disciplines, we often think of activities that we

do when we are alone with God. Praying and meditating on God’s word are

spiritual disciplines that we often practice by ourselves. But there is a spiritual

discipline that must be practiced in fellowship with others. We call it the

Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion.

The Lord’s Supper is the meal that Christians eat to remember Jesus’ sacrificial

death for us. “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and

when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for

you; do this in remembrance of me.” When we as Christians gather together to

remember Jesus in the upper room with his disciples, to remember the

Passover meal with bread and wine, to remember Jesus triumphal entry into

Jerusalem; his betrayal by Judas; His sham of trial before the chief priests,

before Herod, and before Pilate; when we remember all this, we draw near to

Jesus by faith.

As we remember Jesus’ suffering on our behalf, we are filled with gratitude.

Some Christians even call the Lord’s Supper “The Eucharist.” Eucharist means

thanksgiving. As we remember the unmerited, loving sacrifice of Jesus on our

behalf, and as we give thanks, our faith grows. We gain assurance of our

salvation, we feel secure in the love of God. Our fears of the devil and his

schemes melt away. We know that we are secure in the love of God. We know

that our sins have been forgiven. We no longer fear. And we recognize that we

are a part of a body of believers who have had the same experience. This

brings us peace and joy.

For all of these reasons and more, it is very important for all Christians to

participate in the Lord’s Supper: Christians in the city and Christians in the

most remote village; old Christians and young Christians; Christians who attend

large churches and Christians who attend tiny churches. We need the grace

that comes to us individually and as a body through the Lord’s Supper.

As a Village Church Planter, your job is to make sure that your people receive

the Lord’s Supper at least four times per year, and ideally much more often. If

your church has authorized you to serve the Lord’s Supper, make sure you do so

on a regular basis. Explain the meal very well. Fill your remembrance of Jesus

 with Scripture and song. Celebrate with your people the new covenant Jesus

established with his blood.

If you as a church planter have not yet been authorized by your church to serve

the Lord’s Supper, stand up for your sheep. Make sure someone comes to your

church at least four times per year to serve the Lord’s Supper so that your

people can obey Jesus. Remember, he lovingly said, “Do this in remembrance

of me.”

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #TheLord’sSupper #Eucharist