Sermon Reconstruction - The Lord's Supper

Whose Supper/Table?

The Lord's Supper is God's ordinance. It does not belong to any individual, group, or denomination; it doesn't even belong to the Church! The Lord's Supper is just that... The Lord's.

The Lord's disciples are to take part of the Lord's Supper. We are called to be believers, yes... Christians, yes... Salt & light, yes, but most importantly, we're called to be Christ's disciples. The things He told the disciples in the upper room were directed as much toward us as they were to the twelve.

The Lord's Supper is:

Worship. It is an act of obedience, which is worship. "...I desire [good deeds, mercy, obedience, goodness] more than sacrifice..." Hosea 6:6

It's a time of self-examination.

Paul talks about coming to the Lord's Table in an unworthy manner in 1 Corinthians 10. How can we remember what Christ want through to pay for our sins, and still cling to them.

It's a time of thanksgiving.

We are thankful for God's Sacrifice.

We would have NO HOPE without Jesus.

Since we have Jesus, how thankful should we be?!

It's a time of re-dedication.

It's invigorating, and it should be invigorating to be in such fellowship with our Maker. It's like it renews a fire for God in us.

It's Redemption pictured.

"This is My body, broken for you... This is the blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for the remission of sins..." Matthew 26:26-28

It's our anticipation of and our faith & hope in His return expressed.

Paul tells us "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes." 1 Corinthians 10:26

This passage isn't normally considered a "Lord's Supper passage," but let's take a look at Psalm 23.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and You're staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

Let's take an analytical look at this:

Verses 1-4 Verses 5-6

The Lord is a Shepherd The Lord is a host (like of a party or something)

If the Lord is my shepherd, then I'm a sheep. That means I need a lot of care, I'm not too bright, and I'm vulnerable. If the Lord is my shepherd, then as His sheep, God gives me care, He meets my needs, He leads me so that I don't have to be bright, and He protects me.

He restores my soul. Paraphrase "He restores [cleanness to] my soul."

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil... This is God's strength, not mine.

You prepare a table before me- what? A table? Like the Lord's Table? The Lord's Supper? Hmmm.

-In the presence of my enemies. Who are my enemies? Everyone has two common enemies: our own sin, and death. Christ defeated sin - my sin - your sin - all sin - once and for all on the Cross; and He defeated death when he rose from the dead. The power is not in the table or the elements, the power is in the person of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, and the Savior of all who call on His name.