Sermon Notes

Until That Day

One day you will come to the Lord’s Supper for the last time. When Christ calls you home your faith will be turned to sight, as you are translated from the worship on earth to the worship in heaven.

Until that day…

Luke 22:14-20

¹⁴ And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ And he took bread, and when he had 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.” ²⁰ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

• Historical Significance
• Redemptive Significance
• Personal Significance

1 Corinthians 11:23-28

²³ 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, ²⁴ 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.” ²⁵ 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.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

1. We need to look back at what Jesus did.

Since Jesus and Paul gave distinct significance to both the bread and the wine, it is worth thinking about the significance of each.

 The Bread

• The body of Jesus speaks of His perfect life that was given for us. He laid down that life of perfect obedience so that we, who are so far from the righteousness of God, may find in Him what we do not have in ourselves.
• When we come to the Lord’s table, we often feel unworthy. God reminds us in the picture of the bread that our salvation does not rest on the progress of the work of the Holy Spirit in us, but on the completion of the work of Christ for us.

 The Wine

•  The wine speaks about the blood of Jesus poured out.
• Having no sin of His own, Jesus chose to bear ours. He became our sacrifice, absorbing the judgement of God. Through the shedding of His blood, He released forgiveness for us.
• God wants to seal what Christ has done for us into our minds and our hearts, so He tells us to partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of Him.

2. We need to look inward and examine ourselves

• ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
• When you come to the Lord’s table, Christ calls you to ask yourself some honest questions. This is important because Paul says that “whoever… eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27).
• What does it mean to drink in an unworthy manner?
• How do I know if I should take the Lord’s Supper? Here are two simple questions that will help you to examine yourself:
  • Am I believing?
  • Am I repenting?

Observance The Lord’s Supper

3. In this observance we also need to look up to the One that sustains us.

• Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. We share fellowship with Jesus as we draw near to Him by faith. The bread and the wine remind us that Jesus will sustain your soul as food sustains your body.
• It’s ok to ask for a fresh touch of His love and peace.
• Tell Him your soul is dry and thirsty and that you need to be renewed by His Holy Spirit.
• On this day we can draw near to Him in faith and be nourished by Him.
• Be sure to look up to your risen Savior - ask and receive from Him.

4. We also need to look around for anyone you might encourage.

• “This is my body, which is for you” (v24)
• The “you” here is plural, and that is significant. You cannot have communion on your own. The Lord’s Supper is for the Lord’s family. 
• Jesus said to His disciples “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you” (Lk 22:15).
• As we come to the Lord’s Supper, we give thanks for the family of God. Look around and pray for other members of the body of Christ.
• Look for an opportunity to encourage someone who is sitting near you before you go home. 

5. We need to look forward to our eternal hope.

• For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1 Cor. 11:26).
• Some folks have the idea that people who come to church think they are better than everybody else. The opposite is the case.
• In taking the bread and the cup we are stating openly that our hope of everlasting life is not found in anything we have done for Jesus, but rests entirely on what Jesus has done for us.
• We proclaim Christ’s death “until he comes.” After instructing His disciples to drink the wine, Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 26:29).
• As you have participated in the remembrance, think about the glorious day when all who believe will dine with Jesus in His perfect kingdom, rejoicing in His presence for all of eternity. Looking forward to that day will strengthen you in hope. 

Acts 20:7-12

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. ⁹ And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” ¹¹ And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. ¹² And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

• The Lord’s Supper is a Reminder: He’s Alive
• The Lord’s Supper is an Opportunity: Be Comforted
• The Lords Supper is an Invitation: Get Started