Living Word Lutheran
        Weekly Service "Menu" and Lord's Supper

Pre- Worship Songs
    The "appetizer" for today's meal.

Invocation
    Inviting God, our Host, to join us for the feast.  Followed by another helping of Song.

Confession & Forgiveness
    Our Host provides what we need to "wash up" before the feast.

Scripture Reading
    The "ingredients" that go into today's entree.

Children's Message
    A Child-sized portion of today's entree.

Sermon
    The main entree.  The house special! Followed by another helping of Song.

Offering & Prayers
    Giving thanks to our Host and sharing after-dinner conversation with Him.

Benediction
    Our Host sends us out with His blessing as we bring today's feast to a close.

Closing Songs
    The dessert for today's meal.

What is the LORD'S SUPPER?

  This meal of bread and wine was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ when he ate the Passover meal with his disciples the night before he was betrayed into the hands of those who would put him to death.

It is a meal with past, present and future significance:

  Past:   We remember that Jesus body was broken and his blood shed on the cross to forgive our sins and put us right with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  Present: We are comforted knowing that in the bread and wine, Jesus is truly coming to us in the most personal way with that forgiveness. (Mt. 26:28)

  Future: We anticipate sharing in the banquet of heaven with Jesus.  (Matthew 26:29)

What do the Scriptures say?

1. We receive in the bread & wine the true body and blood of Christ.
            "This is my body.." (Mk 14:22-24)

2. Christ personally comes with forgiveness to each believer who takes his body & blood.        
            "Poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt. 26:28)

3. Along with this forgiveness we receive the gifts of eternal life and salvation. 
            "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life..." (John 6:54)

4. In this meal we are united by faith with Christ and our brothers & sisters in Christ.  
            "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ. Because there is one loaf, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."  (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

Thus it's not just a memorial meal. But, in it God comes to us in a very powerful way.

Because the meal is no less than the body & blood or our Lord, the Apostle Paul gives this caution regarding it's use:

  "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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup."   (1 Corinthians 11:27_28) 

So, who is "worthy" to  partake of the meal?

All who believe:
        1) they are sinful   (Romans 3:23)     and can't save themselves  (Ephesians 2:8-9)
        2) that Jesus gave himself on the cross to save all mankind from their sins (Rom. 5:8-9)
        3) that apart from faith in Jesus there is no salvation and eternal life.  (Acts 4:12)
        4) that his body and blood are truly given in this meal. (Mk 14:22)
        5) through this body and blood we personally receive forgiveness of sin.  (Mt. 26:28)

And who sincerely seek God's forgiveness for sinning against God and our neighbor. (Lk. 11:4)

What is our proper response to this forgiveness?

The ancient title of the Lord's Supper is "Eucharist" meaning "thanksgiving.

" We respond in thanksgiving by:     
        1) desiring to amend our sinful ways,    (Acts 26:20)
        2) forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us,   (Mt. 6:14-15)
        3) seeking to walk in the ways of our Savior.   (Lk 9:23-26)

This three-fold response of thanksgiving is a necessary attitude for one planning to commune.

Your participation in our Lord's Supper celebration:

All who believe the truths set out above are welcomed to participate in the celebration.

Those who feel that joining in this meal of fellowship can be viewed as a sign of full agreement with the teaching of the church in which the communion is celebrated may find it appropriate to wait to be instructed in the beliefs of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (of which Living Word Lutheran is a member) before joining in our Lord's Supper celebration.

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