Church Practices: The Lord's Supper


In one sense, it was good the church in Corinth was so messed up in its celebration of the Lord's Supper.  It made the apostle Paul address the true meaning of the observance in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.  He began by saying that their worship services were doing more harm than good.  Sometimes, worship services can be like that!  They're so messed up, they take us away from Christ!

It seems early Christ followers celebrated the Supper during a larger meal.  That explains Paul's criticism that by the time the Corinthians completed the supper, some went home full and drunk, while others went home hungry!  

This situation prompted Paul to remind them about what the Lord's Supper was supposed to be about.  Most scholars believe 1 Corinthians was written before the gospels, so this is the earliest account of the Lord's Supper we have. 

On the night before he was crucified, Jesus shared a Passover meal with his followers.  But this was to be more than a Passover meal.  Jesus took two elements of the feast, the unleavened bread and the cup of wine, and established a new observance: The Lord's Supper.

Taking the bread, he gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  The unleavened bread would remind them of the sacrifice of his body for their sins.

Taking the cup of wine, Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  The cup would remind them of the shedding of his blood.  The shedding of his blood brought about fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:31-34.  There, God said he would establish a new covenant in which he would write his law on his people's hearts.  He would transform them, and they would obey him from the inside out!

In light of all this, Paul said that anyone who partakes of the Supper unworthily sins against the body and blood of Christ.  None of us is worthy of participating in it.  But we can give it due respect.  We do that by reflecting on its meaning and remembering what Christ did for us.

The Lord's Supper remains a vital church practice because it reminds us of what Jesus did for us, of our bonds to each other, and of our continual need for Christ's mercy and forgiveness.

Remember Jesus and these things whenever you take part in this church practice!

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