Lesson 5.

 What Doth the Lord require of Thee?

In Reference to the Lord’s Supper

 Christians gather together on the first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord’s Day to worship God. Acts 20:7  One element of this worship is the Lord’s Supper or Communion. An understanding of this part of the worship should be of vital concern to the Christian. I Corinthians 11:29

 I.     Background of the Supper 

A.   Teachings concerning the Lord’s Supper are to be found in the following passages.     

    Read

                   Matthew 26:18-30

Mark 14:12-26 – give description of the room

Luke 22:10-23 – says the Lord told the apostles to “take and          divide

John 13:1-31 – does not mention the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread

Acts 20:7 – this passage tells when the disciples gathered together to “break Bread” – an expression for participation in the Lord’s Supper.

I Corinthians 10:16-17 – here Paul tells us, as did Christ that the fruit of the vine represents Christ’s blood. The unleavened bread the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12:17-34 – in these verses it is evident that Paul is stressing the importance of one’s attitude when he assembles to partake of the supper.  

II.  Facts One Should Know about the Lord’s Supper

A.   It was instituted by Christ. I Corinthians 11:23-25 ( And the passages aforementioned from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) This means one must follow the instructions of Christ, and not those inspired men of the subject. John 8:32  

B.   Elements of the Supper are fruit of the vine and unleavened bread Luke 22:7,18-19

C.   It should be observed every first day of the week. Acts 20:7  

D.   It is memorial feast. I Corinthians 11:24     

This eliminates the doctrine of “transubstantiation” – saying the fruit of vine becomes the actual blood and the unleavened bread the actual body of Christ through the mystery of the mass. When Christ said: “this is my body” he was saying in essence this represents my boy.” For a parallel read Luke 13:31-32. This also eliminates the doctrine of “consubstantiation” – saying the elements by faith on the part of the individual actually become real in his mind.  

E.    One should examine himself prior to partaking of the Supper. I Corinthians 11:28-29

F.    Lord’s Supper can be desecrated by the individual if his attitude and actions are wrong.   I Corinthians 11:17  

III.   Things That Can Hinder Christians from the Rightful Participation of the Lord’s Supper

A.   Pride – the type that becomes one’s master is a chain about the neck. Psalms 73:6

1.     All of God’s children are equal in respect to the soul and its preciousness in His sight. Acts 10:34; Acts 17:26

2.     Bible gives some emphatic lessons on pride. Proverbs 13:10; 29:23; Luke 18:10-14

a.      Always come around the Lord’s table with the attitude of humility.  

B.   Selfishness – this will take one’s mind off of Christ’s sacrifice

1.     If one comes with this attitude, he comes as did Judas

2.     We can be selfish about many things. We can think how we could be spending the time spent in worship at some pleasure. What ever the selfish desire or feeling, it is wrong and should be conquered if the individual is going to partake of the Lord’s Supper in worthy manner. Read Matthew 16:24

C.   Divisive spirit – such is a violation of Christ’s prayer request unto God. John 17:21

1. Such a spirit is exactly what Paul was writing against.               

    I Corinthians 1:10; 12:25

2. We should be welded together as Christians were in the first   

    century. Acts 2:44-46

D.  Hatred – this stands diametrically opposed to everything Christ teaches the Christian to have in his heart. Galatians 5:20,  I John 2:9,11; 3:15;4:20

E.    Irreverence – this is a bad as anything thus mentioned. It shows our unfitness.                 I Corinthians 11:17

IV.   The Lord Requires An Examination.

A.   Lord does not require perfection; just expects the best from His children. II Peter 3:18, Philippians 3:14