Extra Advanced Preaching Class - #7

Extra Advanced Preaching Class - #7

“The Lord’s Supper”

Introduction: Today we want to take some time to consider the doctrine of “The Lord’s Supper”. There are many views on this topic that need to be considered. We want to look at its Biblical origin, its purpose/symbolism, and its Biblical frequency of being observed. We will try to incorporate a few Greek words in this study that we can look up in our Vine’s Expository Dictionary

Hint for the week: In teaching a Bible class/preaching, remember that not all of those in the audience are going to be interested in the same things that you are. This is why you must vary your approach to the class or sermon materials from time to time. The best way to keep the interest of your hearers is to be telling them of things in which they have an interest. Remember to vary your topic from week to week. Also, change from topical to textual formats, occasionally. Give your sermon like you would tell a story, maybe once or twice a year. Do a “character sermon” once a quarter on a famous Bible Character. Variety is the spice of life in the pulpit, too! Be careful of the “touchy/feely/give your neighbor in the pew a big hug” things. Some people are very uncomfortable with that.

Back to the lesson at hand.

1. As to the BIBLICAL ORIGIN to the Lord’s Supper. Let us look at Matthew 26:26-30.

1. What is the context of this event?
2. What were the elements present at this Supper?
3. The Lord’s Supper is actually derived from the common elements of which holy Jewish meal?
4. Who was the one who actually instituted it?
5. Let us look up the meaning of some Greek words in Vines. Lord willing, in class we hope to translate these words into English and try to find more detail on the original meaning of these words.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)s

6)

7)

8)

rying to find the symbolism or original purpose to the Lord’s Supper, we want to go to I Corinthians 11:23-26.

1. From this passage of Scripture we find that is was whom, that gave these instructions to Paul?
2. This was to be done in ______of Jesus.
3. When He took the bread, He said, “This is my ______….”
4. When He took the cup, after supper, He said, This cup is the new ______in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it in ______of me.”
5. He ends that section by saying that when we eat the bread and drink the cup we proclaim what?
6. We proclaim that until when?
7. Do you see not only a reference to the past, but also a promise for the future? What is it?
8. Since Jesus was sitting there in the flesh, how do we know that He is not saying that the cup and bread are not His literal physical body and blood? (transubstantiation is a false doctrine that would be equivalent to cannibalism)

1. Last, but by no means least in this study, is the frequency with which the Lord’s Supper is to be taken. There is much debate among various religious groups as to whether it should be taken monthly, weekly, quarterly, twice a year, yearly, or whenever. Again, let us turn to the inspired Word of God and see what the pattern is that has been left for us to follow. What did the Christians of the first century do? Look at Acts 20:7. What example is given to us there? (a direct translation from the Greek into English of the first part of that verse says, “And on the first day of the week as we were assembled us to break bread……”; why were they there?

1. In fact, according to the sentence structure in that verse, if the Lord’s Supper is not offered on the Lord’s Day when the saints gather, then there is no real reason for the assembly. Those religious groups who do not offer the Lord’s Supper each and every Lord’s Day have no scriptural grounds for their assembly.
2. Also note that as to frequency of observance that the Greek there says on “the” first day of the week; it does not say on “a” (one of many) first day of the week. Each week has one first day and that is when we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper. That is the inspired pattern that has been left for us to follow.

1. If we have enough time in class, I would like for the class to put together some sort of a rough outline for a future sermon that could be further developed.

CONCLUSION: Thank-you for your continued interest in the Extra Advanced Preaching Class. As you get a better understanding of some of the original words in the Greek language, it will give you new insights that will be helpful as you prepare to preach. It will help as you continue to search for the real meaning behind what is written in our Bibles.