Proper Observance of the Lord’s Supper

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Corinthians 11; Lord's Day 30
Psalters: 391, 338, 281, 187
  1. Proper presentation.
    1. The Biblical and Reformed understanding of Christ’s presence in the Supper is that He is present only in a spiritual sense.
      1. First, Jesus is locally in heaven, no longer on the earth.
      2. Thus Christ can be only represented in the Supper in a spiritual sense.
    2. Thus we reject any concept of Christ's presence being physical.
      1. The church of Rome believes Jesus is physically present in the elements – transubstantiation.
      2. Also Rome’s mass is a repeated sacrificing of Jesus every time the bread is broken and the wine poured.
  2. The proper administration of the sacrament.
    1. Spiritual administration means: Jesus is seen as the Host is represented in the elders.
    2. Second, spiritual administration requires the preaching which displays the Jesus and the death He died.
    3. Third, spiritual administration requires that the Lord's Table be guarded.
      1. We practice "close," not "open communion" (the historic Reformed practice).
      2. And the elders determine which non-members may partake, judging closeness in doctrine and practice.
      3. And the elders supervise who partakes by discipline: silent censure prevents those no believing or living rightly (I Cor. 5:11).
  3. Proper partaking requires the exercise of active faith.
    1. Proper receiving and eating of the elements requires a soul seeking and finding forgiveness in Jesus.
    2. Three kinds of improper partakers, who ought to keep themselves from the Table, lest they eat to their condemnation.
    3. When we sincerely partake by faith, then blessings result for the believers and for the church.