A Summary of Christian Doctrine
An Adult Bible Study on the Basics of the Christian Faith

Lesson 10 — The Lord’s Supper

What is the Lord’s Supper?

Matthew 26: 26-29 (See also Mark 14: 22-24, Luke 22: 19-20, and I Corinthians 11: 23-25)
“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.’ 27. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.’”*

What do we call the Scriptural teaching concerning the presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper?

Real Presence

Luke 22: 19-20
“ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 20. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”

I Corinthians 10: 16-17
“ 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? 17. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”

I Corinthians 11: 23-29
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself.”

Mark 14: 22-24
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ 23. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them.”

Galatians 3: 15
“Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.”

How many different things are we eating and drinking in the Lord’s Supper?

4. Bread, Wine, Body, Blood. We eat the bread and wine naturally; the body and blood supernaturally, and call the entire meal sacramental eating.

How does the teaching of Real Presence differ from the teachings of other Christians?

The Roman Catholic Church teaches transubstantiation, or that the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ by the act of the priest in the consecration of the elements. They believe that only the body and blood of Christ are present in the Sacrament.

Most Reformed churches teach representation, or that the bread and wine are merely signs or symbols which represent the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood of Christ cannot be present at altars on earth since Christ is located in heaven. Rather we should remember what Christ has done for us and eat the bread and wine in a spiritual manner, thinking of Him. They believe that only the bread and wine are present in the Lord’s Supper.

How should we examine ourselves before receiving the Lord’s Supper?

Am I truly sorry for my sins?

Do I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?

Do I believe that the body and blood of Christ is really present in, with, and under the bread and wine?

Do I intend, with the help of God to amend my sinful life?

What is close or closed Communion?

Communing only those who have the same confession of faith since the Lord’s Supper is a testimony of the unity of faith.

*Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations are taken from the New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.