1. The Lord’s Supper One way of understanding this sacrament is by looking at the various names given to it

2. Breaking of Bread Commonly used in the New Testament (Acts 2:46, 20:7,11, 1 Cor. 10:16; 11: 23ff). It was the expression used to describe the Jewish customary practice of saying the blessing, breaking and distributing bread at the beginning of a meal. With the advent of Christianity it came to be used of the informal sharing which came to be associated with the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7, 11). It emphasis social aspect of the sacrament

3. The Lord’s Supper Commonly used in the New Testament (1 Cor. 10:21; 11:20; Rev 19:9). It refers to: 1)The Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples (John 13:2-4; 21:20) 2)The term emphasizes the point that the sacrament was instituted by the Lord Himself and that He presides over the celebration of it 3)It reminds the community of faith what the Lord has done for us and continues to do for mankind (Luke 22: 19) (cf. (1 Cor. 11:24ff)

4. HOLY COMMUNION The term Holy Communion expresses the fellowship between God and His people and the symbolic partaking of the blood and body of Christ whereby believers seek to make their own, by faith, the benefits of His death. It also expresses the intimate fellowship that exists among God’s people.

5. Eucharist Eucharist which means THANKSGIVING is derived from Jesus’ act of giving thanks for the Bread and the Cup at the Last Supper (Luke 22: 19; 1 Cor. 11: 23ff and Matt. 26:27). It portrays the thanksgiving aspect of the sacrament

6. Bread and Wine 1) The matter of the sacrament are Bread and Wine following after the use of these by Lord as its institution. Some Churches insist on using unleavened bread but many generally do not make a big issue of this. In the same manner some Churches insist on the use of the juice of grape. But generally as it is the case of the bread this does not constitute a subject of controversy

7. 2) Interpretation This sacrament has been subjected to various interpretations over the ages. One of the earliest official interpretations which is still the position of the Roman Catholic Church says that the materials (i.e. the bread and wine) miraculously change into the actual fresh and blood of the Lord Jesus as soon as they are consecrated.

8. Cont. However, most Protestant Christians reject this interpretation. There have been other interpretations one of which says that the bread and wine are mere symbols; thus making the celebration of the sacrament an act whose significant is only memorials

9. The positions of the various traditions may have their own bases biblically or other; however there are certain importance facts about the Lord’s Supper which must be noted irrespective of one’s traditional interpretation:

10. That the bread and Wine assume sacred nature once they are consecrated (1 Co2. 11:29) That Christ Himself presides over and participates in the sacrament each time it is celebrated (Luke 24: 30; John 21:12, 13).

11. The significance of the Lord’s Supper Remembrance or Commemorations In the Lord’s Supper we remember God’s act of deliverance brought about by the suffering and death of Christ the Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). Nourishment Just as with the Jewish Passover meal, God strengthened and sustained the people for their pilgrimage, so in the Lord’s Supper believers are nourished and strengthened for their spiritual pilgrimage (Ex. 12:8; John 6:57)

12. Communion With God At the communion the believer enters into intimate fellowship with God and shares in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 1:7) Communion with the Church Triumphant We draw closer to the faithful departed (the dead in Christ) who are in the presence of God when we draw nearer to God in the Lord’s Supper (Heb 12:23)

13. Communion with the Church At the Lord’s Supper believers sharing in the one loaf and in the one cup give a practical expression to their corporate fellowship and oneness in Christ (1 Cor. 10: 16-21, Eph 4:4-6) Foretaste of The Heavenly Banquet (Mark 14:25; Luke 22:16, 18, 1 Cor. 11:26). In the celebration of Eucharist we taste before hand what God has prepared to be fully enjoyed in eternity

14. Proclamation In the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup the church proclaims in a pictorial form the death of Christ and His expected second coming (1 Cor. 11:26). It is a proclamation of the Lord’s death not a re- enactment of His sacrificial death (Heb 9: 26,28; 10:10)

15. Participation WHO MAY PARTAKE: 1)The first qualification is the one who believes and confessess Jesus Christ as LORD (Matt. 28: 19f; Acts 2:41ff) 1)Bapstised Christians (Matt. 28:19ff; Acts 2:41ff). 2)Those who can understand (discern) the body (1 Cor. 11:27-31). 3)Those who desire to grow in grace (EPH 4:13)

16. Who may not partake The unbeliever. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of faith and therefore unbelievers cannot partake in it Beleivers who are not living godly lives (1 Cor.5:1- 13) Believers who are not in the right frame of mind (1 Cor. 11:26-28,32) Believers who cannot do self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28; 2Cor 13:5)

17. The Scripture warns”....... Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord’’ (1Cor 11:27). It is important therefore that participants in the Lord’s Supper go through vigorous preparation. PREPARATION

18. Many Churches, in their desire to protect the sacraments from abuse and also to protect believers from incurring the judgement of God through unworthy participation, have laid down arrangements to help their members prepare well for the sacrament. The Presbyterian Church has arrangements for individual and cooperate preparation.

19. INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION A week before celebration of the Lord Super, congregants are notified and admonished to prepare themselves so that they will be worthy participants. From this time onwards the individual is suppose to be going through a period of personal spiritual preparation. Included in this preparation are: 1. shunning evil (Col. 3:5-11, Thess. 5:22; Eph 4:25ff)

20. Rededicating self to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2; Col 2:6-7) Normalizing all relationships (Matt 5:23-24; 6:14-15) Going for ‘Speaking’ – This is the period when Pastor as a shepherd of God’s people, meets his people on person basis.

21. This gives the individual believer the opportunity to share his or her personal problems with the Pastor It gives the believer the opportunity to receive guidance and counseling from the Pastor. If need be the distressed believer may also seek help of the Pastor in confession of sins which are perceived to be the cause of one’s problems (James 5:16). It also gives the Pastor the chance to play his role as a responsible shepherd

22. Corporate Preparation: Preparatory Service At the preparatory service believers are brought together to confess their individual and collective sins as the body of Christ. Being brought together this way, the Church as one body, sanctified by the blood of Jesus and anointed by the Holy Spirit affirms her faith in, and dependence on her Lord.

23. Continuous Preparatory Although times for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper occasion the need for special preparation, the believer is required to live in a state of perpetual sanctification. (this means the Christian does not have the license to live any how in between times for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:27; Eph 4:1-3; 1Jn 3:3-6)

24. Benefits and Dangers The Lord’s Supper is one sacrament in which there are not only benefits but also dangers. In this section we will look at some of those benefits and dangers.

25. Benefits Renewal of life (Jn 6:50-54) Healing (1 Peter 2:21, 23-24) Spiritual Nourishments (Jn. 6:35) Renewal of the bond of love (1 Cor. 10:16-18) Comfort for our distress (Ps. 23:5; Matt 11:28) Reminder of the forgiveness of our sins (1 Cor. 5:7-8; 15:3; 2Cor. 5:21) It keeps us in constant remembrance that we are pilgrims waiting for the appearance of our Lord (Mk. 14:22-25)

26. Dangers Might result in curse rather than blessing if not properly partaken of (1 Cor. 11:29). Careless participation in it can cause the sickness or even the death of the believer (1 Cor. 11:30)