What is the Lord's Supper?

One of the things I truly enjoy as a pastor is teaching our young people.  I’ve been meeting on Sunday nights with a small group of 5th and 6th graders to teach them the words we use to confess what the Lord’s Supper is.  From the Small Catechism: “The Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ for us Christians to eat and drink.” It is the Lord’s because the words spoken are Christ’s own. It is His Supper because Christ's promise is given in bread and wine for you to eat and drink, just as He established it.  

Since the words are Christ’s, we don’t mess around with them.  His words always do what they say.  When Christ takes bread and says, “This is my body, given for you,” and then takes wine and says, “This is my blood, shed for you,” we don’t argue with Him.  Because Jesus is the one giving the promise, we can be certain He really is present there–His own body and blood.  That means the Lord’s Supper is not something we do for Jesus, like a memorial service.  Instead, the Lord’s Supper is what He is doing for you, right now.  Jesus Christ joins His words with bread and wine for a purpose: so that you eat and drink His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sin.

On Holy Thursday, April 17, our little group of 5th and 6th graders will receive the Lord’s Supper for the first time.  I hope you can join us for worship that night at 7:00 PM.   

Grace and peace,

Pastor Raleigh