Bible Studies

Baptism and the Lord's Supper were the only ordinances associated with New Testament churches. Both were introduced by the Lord Jesus in the Gospels, both were carried out by early believers in the Book of Acts, and both were explained by Paul in the Epistles.

THE PURPOSE: WHY THE LORD'S SUPPER?

Read 1 Corinthians 11.23-25.

1. The Lord Jesus used a loaf as a symbol of His body, and a cup as a symbol of His blood. Eating the broken bread and drinking from the cup is done "in remembrance" of Him. It is appropriate, then, that the hymns sung on these occasions have Him as their theme, and that the prayers are expressions of appreciation of Him rather than the requests that feature in prayer meetings.
2. Another purpose for eating and drinking is to show (proclaim) "the Lord's death" (v.26). To whom do we proclaim His death? Unbelievers and unlearned people can be present (1 Cor 14.24). Angels also survey the scene (1 Cor 11.10). To all who observe, the happenings are a vivid declaration of His sacrificial death, a visual reminder of the work He accomplished on the cross.
3. Referring earlier to the Breaking of Bread (another name in the Bible for the Lord's Supper), Paul indicated that our participation in it is an expression of our fellowship with each other (1 Cor 10.16-17).

THE PEOPLE: WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

Read Acts 2.41-42.

1. These verses present a pattern regarding who should be involved in the Lord's Supper. The participants had believed Peter's preaching, that is, they were saved. Unsaved religious people see the Breaking of Bread as what they call "a means of grace", something that will contribute towards their salvation. It is never viewed like that in the Bible. People were saved first and then partook of the Lord's Supper. These saved people were also baptised. They then wholeheartedly accepted all that the apostles taught, teaching that is now written down in the New Testament. That teaching formed the basis of their fellowship, and fellowship was expressed in the Breaking of Bread. So, to answer the question, "Who?", it is people who have been saved and baptised, who accept the teaching of the New Testament in its entirety, and fellowship with others who do the same.
2. Refer again to 1 Corinthians 11. Focus now on vv.27-34. Bad behaviour had placed some believers in danger of judgment (not eternal judgment, but illness or possibly death). Thus there is need for self-examination before partaking of the Lord's Supper (v.28). You must meet the requirements of the previous paragraph and be confident that misbehaviour has not disqualified you. Self-examination is with a view to eating and drinking.

THE PLACE: WHERE AND WHEN?

1. The Lord's Supper was always celebrated by the local church and never in isolation. Note the phrases in 1 Corinthians 11 - "when ye come together in the church" (v.18), and, "when ye come together therefore into one place" (v.20). In Acts 20, Paul was hurrying to Jerusalem (v.16), and yet he deliberately waited at Troas to break bread (vv.6-7). There was no suggestion of him breaking bread with his travelling companions on the ship.
2. The question of when the Lord's Supper should be celebrated is answered in Acts 20.7: "upon the first day of the week". The word week is really plural, the suggestion being that it happened on every first day of the week. The words "oft" and "often" in 1 Corinthians 11.25-26 imply a frequent remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

As with baptism, the Breaking of Bread is compulsory. "This do…", said the Saviour (1 Cor 11.24). If you are not obeying His command, think about being baptised and joining an assembly, sharing its responsibilities and privileges, including the Breaking of Bread.

PASSAGES TO STUDY AND QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Read the relevant verses of 1 Corinthians 11

1. Verse 23. "Received of the Lord", i.e. the Lord had revealed this to Paul. Elsewhere in Corinthians he "delivered" to them "that which I also received". Find the reference and examine it. (The margin of your Bible may assist, or use a concordance, and get advice if you need it about how to get help from it.)
2. What else was happening when the Lord was taking the bread (v.23)?
3. Note that the Lord Jesus did not partake of the cup as could be inferred from the KJV (v.25). Read "when he had supped" as "after supper". Refer to Luke 22.17-18. Make sure that you understand that the cup in those verses was connected to the Passover Feast. The cup of the Lord's Supper is introduced at v.20.
4. Back to 1 Corinthians 11. Verse 24 - "My body". Find the verse in Hebrews 10 which speaks of His body being "prepared", and, while you are there, the verse referring to "the body of Jesus Christ". Locate the verse in 1 Peter 2 which speaks of "his own body". Find the verse in Luke 24 which refers to "the body of the Lord Jesus".
5. Verse 25 - "My blood". Read the following verses, and supply the missing words, blessings which have been procured by the blood of Christ.

6. Romans 5.9. JU - - - - - - ATION.

7. Ephesians 1.7. FO - - - - - NESS.

8. Colossians 1.20. P - - - E.

9. Hebrews 13.12. SANC - - - - - - TION.

10. 1 Peter 1.18-19. RE - - - - TION.

11. 1 John 1.7. CL - - - SING.

12. 
    
13. When will the need for the Lord's Supper cease (1 Cor 11.26)?
14. What does the word "sleep" mean in v.30? In 1 Thessalonians 4 read the passage dealing with the second coming which explains what will happen then to those who are "asleep".
15. Sometimes when reference is made to breaking bread, the context makes it clear that the subject is an ordinary meal rather than the Lord's Supper. What phrase in Acts 2.46 indicates that it should be interpreted in that way in the verse?
16. Which Jewish Feast was in progress when the Lord instituted the Lord's Supper - Luke 22.14-20? It, too, was a remembrance. See Exodus 12.1-14.
17. After the feeding of the 5,000, the Lord Jesus gave a lengthy discourse about Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6). He speaks there about eating His flesh and drinking His blood (vv.51-58). Please understand that this has no reference to the Lord's Supper. It is figure of speech indicating the need to believe on Him to benefit from His sacrifice at the cross. Compare vv.47 & 54 to see that eating His flesh means believing on Him.