The Lord’s Supper: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20,
1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 10:16-17; 11:23-32
The Lord’s Supper, that memorial, public sharing of bread and wine/juice in remembering Jesus in His death, burial, resurrection and future return, is the duty and privilege of those in God’s household through faith in Christ. Ideally, those who participate in the Lord’s Supper have previously demonstrated their inclusion in the body of Christ through baptism.
In taking the elements Jesus left us we remember Him as He wished to be remembered: giving His body and blood, His life, for us. Like viewing a photograph of a loved one, participating in the Lord’s Supper should draw our hearts to renewed appreciation for Jesus and His self-sacrificing love for us.
The Lord’s supper is a special act of worship and something the Lord takes very seriously. Of no other element of New Testament worship is it said that God disciplined those participating in it unworthily with sickness and death, as He does of this act, 1 Corinthians 11:30.
Related to children’s participation, there’s a temptation for children to take the Lord’s supper because it’s expected of them, or because other children are, or because it represents something fun to do, but all of these types of motivations are inadequate for participation in this act of worship. Children should be mature enough
to: examine themselves, judge themselves rightly, and judge the body rightly, in order to participate in the Lord’s Supper, according to Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:17-32. If children have not actively participated in worship during singing and prayer before the Lord’s Supper they should probably not participate in the Lord’s Supper, which is itself another act of worship. It’s incumbent on parents to make sure their participating children are doing so with the appropriate reflection and spiritual intelligence it calls for. Parents should accomany any young children who are participating in the Lord’s Supper.
Participation in the Lord’s Supper requires thoughtful consideration from every participant. Jesus told those who would fellowship with the Lord by presenting offerings at the Temple to do so only after they had restored any broken relationships which they had power to restore (Matt 5:23-24). Paul pointed out that the Lord was disciplining in sickness and death those who took the Lord’s Supper while simultaneously disrespecting and disregarding their needy brothers in Christ in their midst (1 Corinthians11: 27-32). Both thoughtful circumspection, and joyful thankfulness are part of participation in the Lord’s Supper.
We welcome brothers and sisters in Christ at the Lord’s Supper who are themselves free before the Lord to partake in this remembrance and celebration.
Our aim is to “celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7.
