Page 67 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

• Jesus commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and the wine, giving His reasons for their
participation and indicated that the act was to be repeated until His return.
• Following the supper they sang a hymn.

Preaching on the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper provides the pastor with a number of themes for preaching. Pastors have used Communion
services as opportunities to preach on aspects of the Christian faith such as freedom through forgiveness,
reflection upon the great sacrifice of Christ, or a renewal of the believer’s joy in salvation. By preaching on the
Supper, the pastor can focus on every facet of the saving work of Christ, including His birth, life, passion, death,
resurrection, ascension, and present reign. It has been said that the Supper is not a funeral, memorial service for
a dear friend; but a joyous celebration of victory for a resurrected and reigning Lord.

There are two methods for preaching the Supper. One method is to preach on the biblical passages that
describe the final meal Jesus had with his disciples. Using this method the pastor would present an expository
sermon drawn from the following texts: Matthew 16:17-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-23, 1 Cor. 11:17-34.
Exposition of one of these passages would emphasize the institution of the Supper by Christ, its theological
significance, the meaning of the elements, and the implications of the Supper for believers. A second method is
to focus on the different names used for the ordinance of the Supper. The pastor can focus on the name:

The Lord’s Supper
Focusing on this name calls for sermons that emphasize the presence of Jesus as His church partakes of the
Supper. Here the pastor can remind the congregation that Christ is present and that He sits at the head of
the table. Appropriate texts are
1 Cor. 10:14-22, 11:17-22.

Communion
Paul uses this term to refer to the Supper in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. The New Testament concept of koinonia
emphasizes the life and service that Christians share together in the church. Here the pastor reminds the
congregation that the Supper is a corporate act. Appropriate texts are 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, 2 Corinthians
6:11-18, 13:14, Philippians 2:1-4, Philemon 4-7, 1 John 1:1-10.

Eucharist
This word is often associated with more liturgical churches but is a thoroughly biblical term taken from the
Greek word meaning, “thanksgiving.” Preaching on thanksgiving at the Lord ’s Supper should focus on the
believer’s thankfulness for Christ’s redemptive work. Appropriate texts include Colossians 1:12-14, 1 Thess.
2:13-16, 2 Thess. 2:13-17, and Revelation 4:1-11.

Passover
The supper that Jesus shared with His disciples on the night before He was crucified was a Passover meal.
Passover commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Appropriate texts include Luke 2:25-32, 1
Corinthians 5:7-8, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 among others. Because the traditional Passover meal began with the
singing of Psalms 113 and 114 and concluded with the singing of Psalms 115 and 118, these hallel or praise
songs, could also be used for preaching.

Love Feast
The love (agape) feasts were communal meals in which the early church ate together and observed the
Supper. This terminology is used explicitly only once in Scripture (Jude 12). Although it would be difficult to
preach a communion message on Jude 12, the appealing them of love among the body of believers is
prevalent throughout the New Testament and is fitting.
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