A Few Teaching Points About The Lord's Supper

This Friday, April 2, beginning at 9:00am, NP is going to begin reading the New Testament in the Worship Center. This event will last until 4:00pm or so. The amazing thing about this is the fact that the day in which we remember the death of our Savior, we will read the entire New Testament in His honor. Friday night, April 2, at 7:00pm, we will be experiencing "The Weeping Tree" presented by NP's Worship Arts Team. It is going to be an incredible time of worship and remembrance of the death of our Lord Jesus. As a part of the service, we are going to be observing the Lord's Supper. Let me give you a few reminders of WHY we observe this ordinance and WHO should participate in it.

The Lord's Supper, as called by Paul (1 Corinthians 11:20), bears other names as well. Such as, "Communion," which has implications to a Christian's right relationship with the Father and their right relationship with other believers, especially their local church. In 1 Corinthians 11:24, Paul used the term "Eucharist" (Greek="eucharistia"), which means, "giving thanks" to describe the event. Paul also called the Lord's Supper, "the Lord's Table" (1 Corinthians 10:21).

The Lord's Supper carries great theological significance in that it symbolizes the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The bread and juice symbolize the very body and blood of Jesus Christ. Some denominations would see it as a sacrament which carries and gives salvation to the participants as it is taken. At North Park, we believe that the Lord's Supper is symbolic only. Though the Lord is greatly honored when we celebrate and partake of this ordinance, His presence is no more prevalent than at any other moment when we meet as a church body. We observe this ordinance "because" we are Christians and not to "become" a Christian. We simply observe and remember. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 22:19, ..."do this in remembrance of me." The Apostle Paul, when giving instructions to the church in Corinth repeated the words of Christ and said, "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,'This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'"(1 Corinthians 11:24-25). So, it seems pretty obvious that the Lord's Supper is a memorial event. Nonetheless, it is not to be taken lightly nor observed half-heartily, nor observed when one's heart is not right with the Lord or His church.

A few often asked questions about the Lord's Supper:

• How often should a church take it? There is no commandment on how often, other than the statement of Jesus and Paul that as often as you do it, do it is remembrance of the Savior. At NP, we typically observe the Lord's Supper once a quarter. However, there are those special times such as Easter, Christmas, or maybe some other significant event in our church life that we deem it very necessary to remember and be thankful. Nothing prohibits the number of times in which we partake.
  
• Who should take the Lord's Supper? This, my friend, is a great question. The Lord's Supper is for those who have been accepted by Christ (in other words "saved"), Scripturally baptized (by immersion following salvation), one whose heart is pure before their Lord, and a person who is in right fellowship with their local church. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Paul said, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly." There you have it...it is a matter of the heart. If you have unconfessed sin, confess it and allow God to make you pure. If you are not in right standing with your church, get there or don't take it. This is not a North Park issue but rather a Bible issue.
• My heart's right, but I don't feel worthy to take the Lord's Supper? My answer to this question is "who does?" It's not my worthiness that God accepts, it is the worthiness of His Son, Jesus. God the Father accepts me on the merit of His Son. I will never be worthy, but Jesus always is, therefore because He lives in me, I am worthy. Now I know that 1 Corinthians 11:27 has the phrase, "unworthy manner." Here's what we all need to understand about that phrase: "Unworthy" is a word that implies taking the supper in a way that is not God-honoring and Jesus-remembering, such as, ritualistically, with an unrepentant heart, holding an ungodly attitude, or not in right standing with the church. Paul issues a grave warning to folks taking the ordinance in an "unworthy manner." The penalty could equal sickness or even death (see 1 Corinthians11:30).
• Can children who have not yet been saved take the Lord's Supper? To me this one is simple, NO! Go back to the second point I made. If your child has not yet received Christ as Lord and Savior, what a great teaching point about Jesus and His saving grace. Instead of trying to explain away why they can't take it or even make allowances for them to take it, teach them what it all means. The conversation with your child may go something like this, "The bread symbolizes Jesus' body which was given for us and the juice symbolizes Jesus' blood that was shed for us. So child, when I eat the bread and drink the juice, as your parent, I am remembering the day He changed my life and I am also praying that one day soon He will change yours."

See ya Friday as NP's Easter weekend begins