by Mark A. Horne
As a good reformed Presbyterian church, one of the things we do is have our leadership remind us to prepare our hearts for the observation of the Lord’s Supper. In fact, our Book of Church Order states it this way, “It is proper that public notice should be given to the congregation, at least the Sabbath before the administration of this ordinance, and that, either then, or on some day of the week, the people be instructed in its nature, and a due preparation for it, that all may come in a suitable manner to this holy feast.” (BCO 58-3) So, you have heard me in behalf of the Session of APC instruct you as a member of our church to do this.
Now, the question I often get asked is, “Pastor, how do I prepare for the Lord’s Supper”? What does this preparation entail? Here are some suggestions from 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 as how to we can prepare our hearts for this blessed Sacrament.[1] I hope they help you.
- First, we need to understand ourselves. Paul says, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (v. 28). This means taking an honest look at our hearts and lives and confessing any failures and sins to God. We do this by measuring ourselves against God’s holy law. This command also has a corporate element to it. We need our spiritual shepherds (like elders and deacons) to be speaking into our lives and helping us see our own blind spots so we can confess sins and keep coming back to the paths of righteousness.
- Second, we need to understand Jesus and the cross. When we look honestly at ourselves, our sin should so disturb us that it drives us immediately to the cross of Christ where we find forgiveness. When we partake of the bread and wine, it should move us to tears of overwhelming sorrow and inexpressible joy. Our hearts should break because our sins nailed Him to the cross. But our hearts should also well up in sheer delight because that same crucifixion also paid our debts to God and brought forgiveness and life. That’s why the Lord’s Supper is a “remembrance” of Jesus (v. 24), and a “proclamation of the death of Christ” (v. 26).
- Third, before partaking, we need to reconcile with one another. The Lord’s Supper doesn’t just deal with our relationship to God, but also our relationship with one another. If we’ve sinned against someone and we’re not willing to repent of that sin, then we’re not to partake of the Lord’s Supper until we repent and reconcile (as far as it depends on us). Paul makes it clear that disunity destroys the purpose and value of the Lord’s Supper (vs. 17-19).
- Fourth, we need to care for the poor. This one may surprise you, but it is clearly a theme in Paul’s exhortation to us about how to conduct the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner (v.20-22). Every time we conduct the Lord’s Supper, I would encourage you to give an extra “mercy gift,” which is a love-offering for the poor, both in our church and in our surrounding community that is above your normal tithe. Some of our sister churches even have this collected after Lord’s Supper is administered. I am not necessarily advocating doing this. I think one can place their extra offering in the plate and designate it as “mercy gift” during the normal collection of tithes and offerings on the days we observe the Lord’s Supper. The point is that this is more than bringing a financial offering. This is a basic heart-attitude toward those who are less fortunate. After all, didn’t Jesus die for the spiritually poor and destitute (you and me)? Should that not move us to care for people in need?
Practical Questions
Here are some practical questions to ask yourself the week before partaking in
the Lord’s Supper. If you have a spouse and kids, do this together as a
family throughout the week before we observe the sacrament.
- In what areas of my life am I sinning? In other words, what bad things am I doing, and what good things am I failing to do?
- Do I really understand why Jesus had to be crucified for my salvation? Do I really appreciate the Gospel of grace that forgives me of my sin?
- Is there anybody I’ve offended and need to ask forgiveness from?
- Is there anybody who has offended me and I haven’t forgiven?
- Am I failing to promote the peace and unity of the church fellowship in any way?
- Am I engaged in true fellowship with a few other brothers or sisters in the church (like Sunday School, WIC, MOC groups)?
- Am I neglecting the poor in any way?
I hope this helps you in your observance of the sacrament. More than that, I pray that it helps you grow in your walk with the Lord through this means of grace.
[1] These are adapted from several sources over the years, but primarily from a bulletin handout at Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC.
Andrews PCA 