The Lord’s Supper

Celebrate Our Lord’s Supper

Also called Breaking Bread, Communion, or our Lord’s Table

1. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper

2. The Old Covenant Passover help us understand our Lord’s Supper

3. Jesus’ body and blood are (spiritually or physically) present

4. The blessings we receive when we Break Bread

5. Why we should come to our Lord’s Table

6. Who should eat and drink at our Lord’s Table

7. How often should we come to Communion

8. Where we should Break Bread

9. Who should lead us in Communion

10. How to prepare our Lord’s Supper

11. A simple service for our Lord’s Supper

1. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper

Jesus instituted His Supper, our Lord’s Supper, on the night before He was crucified on Nissan 14, 30 A.D. Our Lord wanted to have an intimate fellowship supper with those who believed in Him, before He would physically leave them on earth; after His physical death, after His resurrection. His Supper consists of a simple meal of unleavened bread, and the fruit of the vine (wine or grape juice). When the words of Jesus in the verse below are spoken over them; His body becomes present (spiritually or physically) in and with the bread, His blood becomes present (spiritually or physically) in and with the fruit of the vine.

*Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the [Some manuscripts insert New] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matt 26:26-29 ESV+

When believers come to our Lord’s Supper we have an intimate fellowship with our Savior. When we eat and drink of our Lord’s Supper in which His body and blood are (spiritually or physically) present, we participate in our Savior’s body and blood. By faith in the grace Jesus’ body and blood has given us, we receive spiritual blessings.

*The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1Co 10:16 ESV+

*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Eph 1:3 ESV+

2. The Old Covenant Passover help us understand our Lord’s Supper

See Specifics Death-Resurrection of Jesus for details Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread celebration

Our Heavenly Father required Israel in His Old Covenant ceremonial laws to celebrate the Passover (Nisan 14) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15-21) at His Temple in Jerusalem each year; to come and be with their God in the place where He dwelled.

*So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner. 2Chr 30:5 NKJV+

*"You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which the Lord your God is giving you; but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name, Dt 16:5 NASB+

Each family in Israel was to select a Passover lamb (Nisan 10) without any defects, and on Passover afternoon (Nisan 14) bring it to the Temple in Jerusalem. Passover initiated Ex. chap 12

Lamb’s blood forgave their sins: There the Levites would sacrifice the Passover lamb, by killing it and pouring its blood into a container. Then the priests threw, poured, or sprinkled the Passover lamb’s blood upon the altar of the Temple; to forgive the sins of the family who brought the Passover lamb.

Lamb’s body was the Passover meal uniting believers with their God, with all believers in Jerusalem: That night all the believers would be annually united in Jerusalem with their Heavenly Father, with each other; as they ate the Passover Supper of the lamb which had been sacrificed.

* you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. Dt 16:6 NASB+

*They slaughtered the Passover animals, and while the priests sprinkled the blood received from their hand, the Levites skinned them. 2Chr 35:11 NASB+

*"You shall cook and eat it in the place which the Lord your God chooses. Dt 16:7 NASB+

The Passover lamb was symbolically showing Israel how our Messiah, Jesus would come and save us. How Jesus would become our Passover Lamb, who would shed His blood upon the cross, as the only sacrificial means by which our Father would forgive all of our sins. And how we would spiritually be united together in the body of Christ, become spiritually one with Jesus; through Jesus, become spiritually one with all other believers on earth and in Heaven above.

*Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1Co 5:7 ESV+

*knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1Pe 1:18-19 ESV+

*so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Ro 12:5 NKJV+

Jesus the night before He became our Passover Lamb, the night before He offered His body and blood for us, instituted His own Supper for us to eat and drink; replacing the Passover meal. A Supper our Savior would have us continue to celebrate, until He returns and takes us to Heaven, where we will eat His Supper with Him once again. The next day Jesus’ atoning death on the cross brought in the New Covenant of His grace, which replaced the Old Covenant ceremonial laws.

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1Co 11:26 ESV+

*In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Heb 8:13 ESV+

Truth learned: Jesus established His New Covenant of grace, instituted His Supper; which we are to celebrate until He returns to take us home to Heaven.

3. Jesus’ body and blood are (spiritually or physically) present

3a. Spiritually meaning the spiritual holiness our Savior’s blood gives us, the spiritual unity His body gives us. Like how Jesus’ spiritual body and blood fed Israel; so they would believe that a Messiah, Christ, would come and save them. This foreshadowed the spiritual food and spiritual drink Jesus would provide us in the New Covenant of His grace. This could also refer to Jesus in the same spiritual way He was transfigured.

*and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ 1Co 10:3-4 NASB+

*and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Matt 17:2-3 NKJV+

3b. There has long been an ongoing debate among believers whether Jesus’ body is spiritually or physically present in and within the unleavened bread; whether His blood is spiritually or physically present in and with the wine or grape juice, after His words are read over them. Physically meaning; the holy human physical body and blood of Jesus while He lived on earth;

*Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil—Heb 2:14 NIV+

*And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 1Jn 3:5 NKJV+

We do not want to get into this debate now. For as long as believers know Jesus is present in and with His meal, we will reverently want to come to our Lord’s Table. We will want to have an intimate fellowship with Him; and through faith in what our Savior’s body and blood have done to save us; we will receive spiritual blessings. Whether we believe our Savior’s body and blood are (spiritually or physically) present.

From here on we will only refer to our Savior’s body and blood being present.

3c. Jesus at Capernaum introduced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, foreshadowed His Supper with the following words. “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” And “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,”. We know this is referring to the indwelling baptism of the Holy Spirit, being born again. For only when the Spirit lives in our hearts, are we one with Christ; and when the Spirit dwells in our hearts we belong to Christ and have eternal life.

*Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. Jn 6:56 ESV+

*Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. Jn 6:54 ESV+

*You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Ro 8:9 ESV+

3d. Jesus later explained this to His disciples that His words were spirit (spiritual). That the Spirit gives believers eternal life, by allowing us to spiritually feed and drink off of Jesus’ body and blood; and receive all the blessings His grace gave us. Christ’s grace is the means by which we are saved; the indwelling of the Spirit, so we can spiritually eat, drink, and participate in Christ’s grace, is the way we are saved.

*It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. Jn 6:63 NKJV+

3e. The Spirit, when He lives in our hearts, enables us to spiritually feed and drink off the grace Jesus’ body and blood has given us. The Spirit in the same manner also enables us to spiritually eat and drink of Christ’s grace at His Supper. By making Jesus’ body present in and with the unleavened bread, His blood present in and with the wine or grape juice; after Jesus’ words of institution are read over them (called consecrating the bread and wine). As believers come to our Lord’s Table, we have an intimate fellowship meal with our Savior.

*For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Jn 6:55 ESV+

*We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1Co 2:12 NIV+

3f. We spiritually feed and drink on our Savior’s grace, when out of love, by faith, we remember that God’s only Son came down from Heaven and became a man, became Jesus. That He shed His blood on the cross for our sins; so He could unite us together in His body as spiritually one with Him, and through Him spiritually one with all of God’s children. And we are able to receive every spiritual blessing in Heaven which our Father gives us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

*I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Co 1:4-7 ESV+

*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Eph 1:3 ESV+

3g. Three writers in the New Testament (Matt 26:26-28, Mk 14 22:24, Lk 22:19-20) all give the same account. Jesus took bread and said, “this is my body.” He took the cup with wine or grape juice in it and said, “This is my blood.” Or “the new covenant in my blood.” Jesus later told Paul; He took bread and said, “this is my body.” He took the cup which had wine or grape juice in it and said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Nowhere does Jesus use the word represents. Jesus’ words should be read over the bread and wine or grape juice to consecrate them, without any words being added. We should believe in Jesus’ words as we come to our His Supper.

*While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the [Some manuscripts insert New] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:26-28 NIV+

*For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1Co 11:23-25 ESV+

3h. Paul tells us Jesus’ body is in and with the bread and His blood is in and with the wine or grape juice. For we eat the bread, and drink the wine or grape juice at our Lord’s Supper. This shows us the physical elements of bread and wine/grape juice are present in our Lord’s Supper.

It also shows Christ’s body and blood must also be present, for we specifically sin against Christ’s body and blood if we eat or drink the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.

*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. 1Co 11:27 NASB+

3i. Paul also tells us that if we do not recognize that our Lord’s body is present before we eat and drink His meal, we will bring judgment on ourselves. Jesus body is present.

*A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1Cor 11:28-29 NIV

Note: Some believe this is referring to the church as the body of the Lord. Yet we do not come to the Lord’s Supper to recognize the church, we come to recognize Jesus, what His body has done for us.

3j. We also know Jesus is not continually sacrificed (without blood), and offered up for our sins each time we come to His Supper. For Hebrews tells us He died once to forgive all of our sins forever.

*And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:10 ESV+

Truth learned: The Holy Spirit allows Christ’s body to be present in and with the bread, His blood to be present in and with the wine or grape juice; after our Savior’s words of institution have been said over them. Jesus is present at His Supper; we participate in our Savior’s body when we eat the bread, and we participate in His blood as we drink the fruit of the vine. And by faith we spiritually feed on Christ’s grace, and receive every spiritual blessing in Heaven which is available through our Savior.

4. The blessings we receive when we Break Bread (words used by the disciples for Lord’s Supper)

In our Lord’s Supper we are intimately united with Jesus in fellowship, and there is no greater blessing than this. We can praise and thank Jesus for all He has done for us. Quietly talk with our Savior, and bring all of our questions, needs, and troubles to him; and know He will help us with them, according to His Father’s will.

[Communion (In KJV, NKJV+) means intimate relationship or fellowship]

*The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1Co 10:16 NKJV+

*God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1Co 1:9 NKJV+

*For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2Co 1:20 ESV+

Jesus would have us come to His Supper and remember Him; remember how much He loved us. Jesus’ love was so great for us that He was willing to give His life upon a cross to save us from our sins. Our Savior’s love is so strong for His spiritual brothers and sisters, that we can never be separated from Him, no matter what happens to us. What a great thought, what a great spiritual blessing to know.

*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." 1Co 11:24-25 NASB+

*No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ro 8:37-39 ESV+

As we eat the bread, we receive the spiritual blessings of participating (In ESV+, NIV+) in the body of Christ, His one Holy Spiritual Church. Our faith is strengthened knowing we are one with Christ, our eldest brother who is not ashamed of us. And the closer we are spiritually united to Jesus, the closer we are spiritually united to all believers; those on earth and those whose souls are in Heaven.

*While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Matt 26:26 NIV+

*Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 1Cor 10:16 NIV+

*For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 1Co 10:17 NKJV+

*Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Heb 2:11 NIV+

All of our sins are forgiven immediately, we are continually sanctified by the Spirit, when He lives in our hearts. 4 Things Save Us 3.

*that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Ro 15:16 NKJV+

Yet as we drink the consecrated wine or grape juice, we share (In NASB+) in the blood of Jesus; the only means by which our sins can be forgiven. Believers receive the blessed assurance that all of our sins have been forgiven, have been forgotten forever. Even those sins which we are unaware of committing; the sins we forget we have committed.

We are given spiritual strength to help us (quickly or over time) forgive others, as our Father forgives us. To ask forgiveness of those who we have wronged, and try to amend for what we have done. To find peace when something we have done, or something others have done; haunts our conscience.

*Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the [Some manuscripts insert New] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:27-28 NIV+

* Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 1Cor 10:16 NASB+

*In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph 1:7 ASV).

We also receive the blessing of knowing that we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper with our Savior, when Jesus returns for us in the clouds. He will give all believers, on earth and in Heaven; a glorious, holy, eternal body like His. And will take us home to Heaven to be with Him forever; to celebrate His new Supper; the wedding Supper of the Lamb.

*I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 8:11 NIV+

*Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God." Rev 19:9 NIV+

5. Why we should come to our Lord’s Table

We come because we love Jesus; because we desire to have an intimate fellowship with Him. There are no ordinances in the New Covenant of our Savior’s grace, which command us to come to our Lord’s Supper. And anything which is not done out of our love for our Savior is futile, gives us no blessings.

*And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1Co 13:2-3 ESV+

*having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, Eph 2:15 NKJV+

We come because Jesus asked us to remember Him, and come to His Table.

*And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Lk 22:19 NASB+

*For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1Co 11:23-25 ESV+

We want to receive the many blessings our Savior will give us. See 4. above.

Paul also told us we should come to our Lord’s Supper, to proclaim our Savior’s death until He comes.

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Co 11:26 NKJV+

6. Who should eat and drink at our Lord’s Table

There is not a simple answer to this. Although all may attend our Lord’s Supper, remember what our Savior has done for us, and be prayed over. Jesus only invites those who believe that His body and blood are present in His meal, to eat and drink His Supper. Believers who have faith like 11 of Jesus’ disciples at Capernaum had. They did not understand this was a spiritual message, they did not how they could feed on our Savior’s flesh, drink His blood; the idea was reprehensible to them. Yet Peter speaking for the 11 disciples, accepted Jesus’ teaching by faith, for they believed in Jesus, believed in His words. While there were many other followers who could not accept this teaching, and no longer believed in Jesus.

*For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. Jn 6:55 NKJV+

*As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. Jn 6:66-68 NASB+

Jesus would not have unbelievers come to His Table. He sent Judas away, before He offered His Supper to His disciples on the night before He was crucified; because Judas did not believe in Him. And then Jesus gave His Supper to the 11 disciples, who believed in Him.

*Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. Jn 6:70-71 NKJV+

*Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." Jn 13:26-27 NKJV+

The trouble is we are not Jesus, we do not know what is in the heart of others, even those we worship with may not believe in Jesus; be worthy to come to His Table. We think it is appropriate that we should receive water baptism, letting other believers know that we have received the Spirit into our hearts; before coming to our Lord’s Supper. Though this does not mean it has happened.

There are also different situations which we must pray about, and ask Jesus to help us know who should eat and drink His Supper. There are those who are reaching out for our Savior, who would reverently come to His Table looking for blessings from Jesus. It is possible they may even be given the indwelling of the Spirit when they eat and drink our Savior’s meal.

Yet we do know that before giving the Lord’s Supper, we should tell all that if they do not believe in Jesus, or if they do not believe the body of Jesus is present in and with the bread. His blood is present in and with the wine or grape juice; they should not come to our Lord’s Supper. Read the verses below to show this is in accordance with the Word of God.

*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. 1Co 11:27 NASB+

7. How often should we come to Communion

We should regularly break bread, out of love for our Savior, because He asked us to remember Him. Each believer in prayer should ask Jesus to guide us in how often we should come to His table; for we all will have different needs. Yet one might want to consider having regular communion at least once a month, for Jesus asked us to remember Him; and then more often if you desire.

*Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Ac 20:7 NKJV+

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Co 11:26 NKJV+

We should also come to the Lord’s Table any time we desire to have intimate fellowship with Jesus for any reason. Whether to thank and praise Him for good things we have received; to be closer with Jesus, closer to other believers, those in Heaven. And when we have questions, problems, or troubles we would like to bring to His Table.

*And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ac 2:42-43 NKJV+

*Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, Ac 2:46 NIV+

How often we receive communion can be determined by congregational leaders, if we only celebrate the Lord’s Supper with our congregation. Yet most can talk with their leaders about how often they would like to receive communion, sometimes be given private communion if they ask to receive it.

We have more control over how often we can receive communion, if we regularly receive it within a small group, with our family, with one or two, or by ourselves.

We believe that we should not participate in the Lord’s Supper, when the intent, the words used to consecrate the bread and wine or grape juice, or how it is distributed; are not in accordance with our Lord’s words, or how the Word of God teaches us to celebrate our Lord’s Supper. We should also question a congregation if they do not offer the Lord’s Supper.

This does not mean these congregations are not fellow Christians, though depending on what else they believe, they may or may not be our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should quietly talk with them about their beliefs. Then decide if we should look for another place to worship; or remain with them, and celebrate communion with another small group, or our family, or by ourselves where we use our Savior’s words to celebrate His Supper.

Note:

+We should not eat or drink our Lord’s Supper; if the word “represents” which Jesus does not say, is said, or implied by any leader while consecrating it. We do not receive blessings from anything which represents Jesus; we receive blessings because Jesus is present. See 3.3 – 3.9 (Many protestant congregations use represent)

+We should not eat or drink our Lord’s Supper if any leader consecrating it; says or implies that only the physical body and blood of Jesus are present in His Supper. See 3.8 (Catholic belief)

+We should not eat or drink our Lord’s Supper if any leader consecrating it; says or implies Jesus must be sacrificed (without blood), offered up to our Father at each Communion. See 3.10 [Catholic belief of unbloody sacrifice in Communion (Eucharist) - Catholic Encyclopedia 3^rd paragraph from end]

+We do not believe we are really receiving communion by sticking the consecrated bread into consecrated wine or grape juice; and then eating the bread. Jesus words clearly told believers that we are to eat the bread in which His body is present; then we are to drink the wine or grape juice in which His blood is present. Lk 22:19-20

It is not true that how you believe, your intent in receiving the bread and wine or grape juice, overrides how they were consecrated. If this were so all one would have to do is distribute bread and wine or grape juice, and our intent would make Jesus body and blood present in the bread and wine or grape juice. It is not our intent which makes Jesus body and blood present; it is the Holy Spirit who does. And only when we obey Jesus, use His words over the bread and wine or grape juice. So we can have an intimate fellowship with our Savior, as we spiritual feed and drink of His grace, and our given spiritual blessings. See 3.5

8. Where we should Break Bread

We should break bread, anywhere we can have a reverent, intimate supper with our Lord. It does not have to be in any specific physical place, or at a church. It does not have to be with any specific believers, except one qualified believer who can lead us in our Lord’s Supper.

*So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, Ac 2:46 NKJV+

9. Who should lead us in Communion

Jesus atoning death upon the cross tore the curtain in the Temple in half; tore any barrier down between us and our God. We do not have to go through any earthly congregation, church, or their leaders to come to our God, to receive blessings from Him, including celebrating our Lord’s Supper. Christian men who are leaders, who correctly use God’s Word, should organize the Lord’s Supper for believers who take communion with their congregations. They should teach believers the correct way to celebrate and lead the Lord’s Supper, if we want to do it in small groups, with our families, or by ourselves.

*Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, Heb 10:19 ESV+

*Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16 NKJV+

Qualified means: a believer who knows how to lead those present in the Lord’s Supper according to the Word of God.

Lead means: In charge of everything needed to celebrate communion including: reading Jesus’ words over the unleavened bread and the wine or grape juice, to consecrate it. And then distributing the consecrated unleavened bread, wine or grape juice to believers.

Qualified Christian men should lead us in the Lord’s Supper.

*But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1Ti 2:12-14 NASB+

Congregational communion: The elders or the senior Christian men leaders; should lead or appoint a qualified man to lead the believers in celebrating our Lord’s Supper. If he is unable to lead it, the next senior qualified man should lead it. If there are no qualified men present, the senior qualified woman can lead it, or appoint a woman who is qualified to lead the Lord’s Supper.

Non-congregational communion: Is usually held in small groups, with Christian friends, with families, or by ourselves. The qualified senior Christian man should lead communion, or appoint another qualified man to lead it. If there are no qualified men present, or if they all agree, the senior qualified woman can lead it, or appoint a woman who is qualified to lead the Lord’s Supper.

10. How to prepare our Lord’s Supper

The physical ingredients needed:

Unleavened bread (No Yeast) is preferable for the bread. Unleavened bread is a flat bread: can be broken off from a large piece, also comes in individual wafers or small pieces.

Yeast was symbolic of sins; yeast had to be removed before the Passover Feast was eaten, Jesus probably used unleavened bread at His Supper (See Specifics). Paul likewise tells we should get rid of the yeast, become a new batch without yeast.

*Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1Co 5:7 NIV+

Fruit of the vine may have been a new wine that was still fermenting without yeast. Either wine or grape juice can be used.

Drink the wine or grape juice in a common cup, where each person takes a small drink (often a silver cup because silver kills bacteria).

Drink the wine or grape juice in small individual cups, giving each believer a small drink.

Note: One must let our Lord guide them on whether to:

Use regular bread (with yeast).

Whether to use other ingredients to celebrate our Lord’s Supper in real emergencies; when unleavened bread, wine or grape juice are not available.

In large groups the Lord’s Supper can more intimately be served by having people come up to the front or railing in small groups.

Otherwise it can be brought to the people where they are located.

In small groups or when one is alone the Lord’s Supper can be served however the group wants, as long as it is done in a loving, reverent way.

The words Jesus used to institute His Supper must be said over the bread and the wine or grape juice, for His body and blood to be present in and with them. There are 4 accounts of Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper and any of them can be used: Matt 26:26-30, Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:19-20, 1Cor 11:27-29. It is a good idea to combine these different accounts together to get all the different things Jesus said when instituting His Supper. We combined the follow verses; and they are read over the bread and fruit of the vine in our simple service below.

Read over unleavened bread, then break a piece of bread and distribute the rest of the bread. Biblical words may be said or songs played while it is distributed.

*And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." LK 22:19 NASB+

Read over wine or grape juice and then distribute it in cups or a common cup - Biblical words may be said or songs played while it is being distributed.

***2-5-23: Matt 26:28: We believe that the NKJV+ and the King James Bible (KJV) give us the best meaning of this this verse, with the least amount of confusion. Jesus was telling us about the New Covenant He would establish by the blood He would shed on the cross for our sins. It was to be a reminder of the Supper we will celebrate when Jesus returns in the clouds over earth for us and the Holy Spirit gives us glorified bodies like Jesus. And Believers are taken to Heaven to celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Heaven with Jesus. It has nothing to do with the Ceremonial Covenant of Passover which only foreshadowed these events. See H. 57-62

In all other translations we use you have to add New from manuscripts hyperlinks, notes or footnotes; and the NASB+ translation we use does not even use New in its footnotes. We are sorry for using it inadvertently above and in our Simple service for the Lord’s Supper, and have removed them; so please cpy again this service if you are using it. The newer editions of the NASB+ have a footnote with, and you can find them in 20.a on our index page.

*Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Matt 26:27-29 NKJV+

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Co 11:26 NKJV+

11. A simple service for our Lord’s Supper

You may change this service to fit your needs; yet always use Jesus’ exact words of institution from the Word

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Simple service for the Lord’s Supper

Opening prayer: Dear Jesus, we thank you for inviting us to Your supper. We humbly repent of all the sins that we have committed; even those we are not aware of doing. Help us to forgive others, as You have forgiven us. Unite and hold us together with all believers in Your one Holy, Spiritual, Church. Give us the confidence to know the prayers we offer up in Your name, will be answered by our Heavenly Father, according to His will. And continually supply us with strength to love You above all things; and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen

Moment to quietly pray and allow the Holy Spirit to open out hearts to Jesus, as we come to receive His Supper

Prayer before the Lord’s Supper: We thank you Heavenly Father for creating us, for loving us, for making us Your own children, heirs to Your Heavenly Kingdom. Holy Spirit we thank You for introducing us to Jesus, for guiding us in the Word, for sanctifying and keeping us holy. Dear Jesus we thank You for loving us, for suffering and dying on the cross to forgive our sins, for offering us spiritual blessings as we come to Your Supper. As we eat the bread in which Your body is present, You give us the spiritual assurance that we are one with You; one with all the believers on earth; and one with all those who have preceded us to Heaven above. As we drink the fruit of the vine in which Your blood is present, You give us the spiritual assurance that all of our sins have been forgiven, have been forgotten forever. Almighty God we thank You for all You have done for us, for all the love You continue to pour out on us. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Play “Above All” or another Song

We should remember Jesus atoning grace on the cross enables our spiritual being to become holy, spiritually unite together with Jesus in His One Holy Spiritual Church. Through Jesus we are spiritually united with all saints in Heaven and on the earth, as we physically eat this bread. All the Believers who we know who have proceeded us to Heaven, and the billions from the beginning of world we will meet; who are all waiting for us.

*And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Matt 26:26 NKJV

Pause to reflect on the great gift Jesus gave us in making Believers His brothers and sister. If desired and done in orderly manner; some may tell about the love they have in their hearts for all Jesus has done for us.

We should remember the greatest gift of love we have ever been given; the grace of Jesus Christ. Jesus became a physical man in the womb of Mary, to redeem us from our sins. The blood Jesus shed on the cross as He was brutally tortured and crucified; the torment He endured in Hades. Was the only sacrifice our Heavenly Father would accept to forgive the sins of believers, and remember them no more.

Believers are now spiritually holy children of God, spiritually brothers and sisters of Jesus; waiting for our Savior to return in the clouds over earth and give us glorified bodies like He has. Then After the White Throne Judgment we will be taken into our Father’s New Heaven and Earth. To live eternally with our Heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all believers from the beginning of earth.

Pause to reflect on the pain and suffering Jesus went through to atone for our sins. If desired and done in orderly manner some may thank and praise Jesus for redeeming us from our sins.

We should often come to the Lord’s Supper whether in a large formal church, a small church, a home with family, with other believers, by ourselves; if we know how Jesus would have us celebrate His Supper. For as we partake of the Lord’s Supper we proclaim Jesus grace on the cross; until He returns in the clouds over earth to give us glorified bodies like He has.

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Co 11:26 NKJV+

Prayer of thanks: We thank and praise You Jesus for giving us the blessed assurance that all of our sins have been forgiven, and forgotten forever. For making our hearts white as snow, filled with Your love. You have made us holy children of our Heavenly Father, Your brothers and sisters, of whom You are not ashamed. Grant us the strength to follow You all the days of our lives, and help us to joyfully proclaim Your name. Until we celebrate the greatest Supper of them all, with You in Paradise. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer, then more hymns about thanking Jesus, our eternal home in Heaven

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Baptism – Lord’s Supper

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+ ESV “Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,” copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Some words in the verses from these Bibles may be emphasized with bold letters.