In this authoritative guide to the Lord's Supper, Jim Henry underscored the biblical basis for the practice, then offers practical suggestions for congregations seeking to conform their worship service to the will of God.
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Far too often, the church has made the Lord's Supper a stepchild in the faith, a tag-on at the end of a service, a snapshot in the corner of a larger portrait. I as a pastor have been guilty of this. I am sure many other pastors join me in this confession.
Several years ago, during a sermon, I asked the question, “How many of you would like to observe the Lord's Supper more than once a quarter?” To my amazement nearly every hand went up in that large congregation. It registered with me that our people were hungry to share this symbol, and that they better understood its deeper significance than their pastor. This began a redirection in our emphasis on the Lord's Supper which has blessed our church—and me. It continues to be a growing and enriching experience in my journey of faith. And well it should. The celebration of the Table is deeply embedded in the fabric of our faith.
“The Lord's Supper” is the title given by Paul (1 Cor. 11:20). It bears other names. Luke used the phrase “breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42-46; 20:11; Luke 24:35). Paul employed the term communion, which referred to believers' relationship with the Lord (vertically) and with fellow believers (horizontally). Eucharist, another designation for the Lord's Supper, is derived from the Greek word eucharistia, “giving of thanks,” as it implies the thanksgiving over the bread and wine (1 Cor. 11:24). Paul referred to it as “the Lord's table” (1 Cor. 10:21).
Augustine, in the fourth century A.D., called the Lord's Supper a “sacrament,” which comes from a word that originally meant a pledge or bond. Many evangelicals have believed it is not a sacrament of saving grace, but it is rather a commitment, a promise, a pledge of allegiance to the Lord. The Gospels (Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20) and Pauline accounts (1 Cor. 11:23) indicate that the Lord's Supper is rooted in the Old Testament ceremony of Passover.
Jesus used the occasion to identify Himself—by His actions and words—as the sacrificial Lamb, further expanding the messianic and eschatological meaning of the event. Christ's words and actions initiated the celebration of this powerful symbol, the early church practiced it (Acts 2:42, 20:7), and it continues to be observed as one of the most powerful symbols of the faith.
The Lord's Supper not only carries historical significance, but also theological significance in that it symbolizes the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus. The bread and the wine symbolize the very body and blood of Christ. The blood, being essential to His earthly life and all other life, was shed redemptively for our lives.
The meal also carries ecclesiological significance for His body, the church. Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology has pointed out that the church reaps the benefits earned for us by His death and that we receive spiritual nourishment for our souls (John 6:53-57) through the Lord's Supper. The Table affirms His love to me in that He invites me to come to His supper, and my partaking of the meal affirms my faith in Him. I am redeemed and accepted by Christ's actions, and my actions proclaim it.1
The celebration of Communion also carries eschatological significance. As it commemorates a past event, it also anticipates a future consummation in His coming (1 Cor. 11:26). Thus, a feast of love, a memorial of faith, becomes a prophecy of hope.2
I invite you to join me in celebrating the Table, a dynamic symbol of the faith which foreshadows a future celebration when we will join Him at the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). Celebrate the Table—and all its profound meaning—with new zeal and creative effort in your church. Let the believers in your congregation hear the command and the invitation to the Lord's Table.
Come to this sacred table, not because
you must, but because you may;
Come not to testify to your righteousness,
but that you sincerely love our Lord
Jesus Christ and desire to be His
true disciple;
Come not because your goodness gives you
a right to come, but because in your
frailty and sin you stand in need of
heaven's mercy and help;
Come because you love the Lord a little
and want to love Him more;
Come because He loved you and gave
Himself for you;
Lift up your hearts, above your cares
and fears;
Let this bread and wine be a sign of
God's grace to you and a pledge of
your love to the Lord Christ;
Receive the love of God and consecrate your life afresh to Christian obedience
and service, to discover and do the
will of God in humble faith.3
CHAPTER TWO
The Preparation
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As a bride prepares for her wedding or a salesperson works out a new presentation for an important client or a coach practices his team for the big game, so a minister should prepare for the celebration of the Lord's Table. Because of the high and holy nature of this event, all planning should be approached with creativity, thorough attention to detail, and excellence that befits the One being celebrated.
Through the years, I have found that my most able assistance in the preparation of the celebration has come through one of two sources: a Lord's Supper ministry team (or committee) and the deacons of the church. Those who assist in the preparation must have servants' hearts and the willingness to work behind the scenes. They must be led by someone with leadership and organizational skills. It is also of great importance that they are dependable.
The Lord's Supper ministry team must assume the responsibility of securing the elements. Our church uses grape juice and unleavened bread. The unleavened bread is prepared, packaged in 500-count pieces, and sold at Christian bookstores.
The team comes to the church the day before the service for preparations, if the supper is to be celebrated at a morning service. If it is to be observed at an evening service, it may be helpful for them to begin preparations the day before or prior to the morning worship, if it's scheduled on a Sunday. If your church is using silver trays or other pieces, these may first need polishing. If glass communion cups are being used, these may need to be checked for cleanliness. As an alternative to using the glass cups, many churches today are opting to use disposable plastic communion cups—for convenience and hygienic purposes.
The team then fills the cups and places the bread on the trays. The table and the elements are put in place, unless there is a morning service. (In that case, this can be done immediately after the morning service.)
Presentation of the elements is important. Placing the table on the platform gives it greater visibility and prominence in the service. This facilitates its being the focal point of worship. Draping the table with beautiful paraments or white linen cloths is appropriate for the presentation of this sacred meal. The elements may or may not be covered by a cloth. Our team chooses not to conceal the trays because of the visual ministry of these powerful symbols. Along with the trays, a beautiful chalice and plate (for a loaf of bread or larger wafer of unleavened bread) complete the presentation.
After the supper is observed, the presentation team begins the cleanup. In our church, this responsibility is delegated to a group of deacons and a team of men called yokefellows (assistants to our deacons who work with them in visitation, in caring for our members, and in preparing and serving the Lord's Supper). All preparation, cleanup, and storage should be done in a designated area near the worship center (sanctuary). This room should have cabinets or closets that can be locked. It is also desirable to have a sink in this area. Here the trays can be emptied, cleaned, and stored. Table cloths or paraments should also be properly stored or cleaned. Unused juice and wafers should be stored or discarded. Used plastic cups should be picked up and thrown away.
CHAPTER THREE
The Implementation
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When talking with fellow pastors, I am often asked about the method of observance of the Lord's Supper in our church. I...
