THE LORD'S SUPPER
Remember His Sacrifice
The Lord's Supper is a solemn ordinance given to the local church to remember the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ until He comes again.
WHAT IS THE LORD'S SUPPER?
A Memorial Given by Jesus Christ
The Lord's Supper is one of the two ordinances Christ gave to the local church.
In the bread and the cup, believers remember the body of Christ given for them and His blood shed for the remission of sins.
The elements do not become the literal body and blood of Christ. They are symbols that direct our hearts back to Calvary and to the sacrifice that made our salvation possible.
THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE
“This do in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24 — KJV
THE ELEMENTS
Bread and the Cup
Each element points us to a specific part of Christ's sacrifice.
THE BREAD
His Body Given for Us
The bread is a memorial of the body of Jesus Christ, willingly given in suffering and death for sinners.
THE CUP
His Blood Shed for Us
The cup is a memorial of the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for our sins under the new testament.
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
The Lord's Supper Does Not Save
Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by participating in the Lord's Supper.
The ordinance does not add to the finished work of Christ, remove sin, or impart eternal life.
It is for those who have already trusted Christ, and it serves as a solemn remembrance of the salvation He has already accomplished.
UNTIL HE COME
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 — KJV
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
A Church Ordinance for Believers
The Lord's Supper is not a general religious meal. It belongs to the life and worship of the local church.
Saved
Participation begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through salvation.
Baptized
The New Testament order places believer's baptism before participation in the ordinances of the church.
Walking in Fellowship
Believers should approach the Lord's Supper with a clear conscience, humility, and a desire to walk rightly with God and the church.
EXAMINE YOURSELF
Come with Reverence and a Clean Heart
Scripture instructs each believer to examine himself before partaking of the Lord's Supper.
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
This is a time to confess known sin, seek reconciliation where needed, and remember the seriousness of Christ's sacrifice.
The purpose is not to discourage sincere believers, but to prevent careless or hypocritical participation.
BEFORE YOU PARTAKE
Remember Christ
Confess Sin
Seek Reconciliation
Give Thanks
THE LOCAL BODY
The Lord's Supper Also Reminds Us We Are One Body
The ordinance is personal, but it is not individualistic.
The Lord's Supper is observed by the gathered church. It reminds believers that they are joined together in Christ and share responsibility toward one another.
Division, bitterness, pride, and unresolved conflict are contrary to the spirit in which the church should approach the Lord's table.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Understanding the Lord's Supper
Does the Bread Become Christ's Body?
No. The bread is a memorial symbol. Christ commanded His disciples to remember Him through the ordinance.
Does the Cup Forgive Sin?
No. Forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ through His finished work, not through participation in the ordinance.
Why Is It So Serious?
Because it remembers the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and Scripture warns against careless or unworthy participation.
Why Does the Church Observe It Repeatedly?
Because the church is commanded to continue remembering Christ's death until He returns.
THE CHURCH ORDINANCES
Baptism Comes First
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances Christ gave to the local church.
Baptism is the believer's first public step of obedience and identification with Christ. The Lord's Supper is then observed repeatedly as a memorial within the life of the church.
Together, the ordinances preach the Gospel visibly: baptism pictures Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, while the Lord's Supper remembers His sacrifice until He comes again.
Learn About BaptismTWO ORDINANCES
1. Baptism
Once, after salvation.
2. The Lord's Supper
Repeated in remembrance of Christ.
REMEMBER CHRIST
His Body Given. His Blood Shed. His Return Promised.
The Lord's Supper keeps the sacrifice of Jesus Christ before the heart of the church.