THE LORD’S SUPPER
Please be sure to read through the entire page first so you understand all that is involved before you begin.
Throughout Scripture, Jesus Christ taught the disciples to observe the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11, starting in verse 23, tells us how to observe the Lord’s Supper and why. He tells us we are to do this in remembrance of Him until His return in verses 25 and 26. It is indeed a very special and solemn occasion of remembering Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us. As today’s disciples, we are to honor the Lord using this example He gave us. This is a very serious and solemn occasion and there is much to consider. As a result, we strongly suggest doing this on your own, or with your immediate family only, if you are all baptized and living by the truth of God’s word. Be sure to watch the first video: The Lord’s Supper; Examining Your Spiritual Walk, which talks about how to know if you are ready and what is involved in the Lord’s Supper. It also talks about, and explains, the very serious Scriptures for taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.* Examine the Scriptures and all the videos below, and if necessary, take time out to pray before proceeding.
Learn more about what is involved in living the truth of God’s word here.
Learn more about baptism here.
Note: If you have a family member not baptized, they can most certainly participate in the dinner and foot-washing portion, without taking the bread and wine, and simply observe for the purpose of learning what it is all about.
The first video below is to help you examine your spiritual walk in preparation for the Lord’s Supper:
Having a Lord’s Supper According to Scripture
Items you will need:
Your Bible
Red Wine
A loaf of bread
Optional: Grape Juice (for baptized children under age)
Preparation
1. Take a small portion of the wine you have purchased and place it in a separate container, setting it aside. Once you're ready to set up for the Lord’s Supper, pour a tiny amount, a sip’s worth or say a teaspoon, in a small cup for each person. If it is just for you, then pour a teaspoon, or a sip, in a single cup. It is only proper that whatever wine is left over, in the separate container, should be disposed of.
2. Set aside some bread beforehand, as you would the wine. Break off a portion of the bread roughly as much as you think you will need. Place it in a basket, or on a tray or plate, that you will use to pass around. Tear the bread in small bite size portions. If you are doing this on your own then simply tear a single bite-size piece and set it aside on a plate. Again, if your doing this with your immediate family and there is leftover bread from the portion you broke off, after you have enough pieces for everyone, then it should be disposed of.
Note: The bread and wine do not have to be prayed over at this time.
The Supper
3. Now, time for a nice dinner first. In Scripture, they sat down and had dinner together first. This is a special occasion as you come before the Lord, so dress nicely and bring out the good dishes. Keep the meal simple and no alcohol should be served, except for the wine used for the Lord’s Supper, served with the bread. This is a solemn occasion and the focus should be on the Lord and the Scriptures you are participating in.
Note: It’s also a good idea to save cleaning up until after everything is finished so things can move along in succession, and it won’t be a distraction or diversion.
The Bread and Wine
Before taking the bread and wine, listen to the video explanation of the bread and wine Scriptures and/or go through the Scriptures below the video, if you like, on your own. Have your Bible open and follow along with the video as they are being explained. If you are doing this with anyone in your immediate family then be sure they are following along as well.
The Scriptures below are on the bread and wine, please notice the general explanation that follows each Scripture reference:
4. Read 1 Cor. 11:23-30 – Paul’s directions on the Lord’s Supper that he received from Christ.
A. Read 1 Cor. 15:8; Acts 18:9,10; 22:14, Gal 1:11,12. Paul received training from the Lord who appeared to him and taught him directly.
B. Read 1 Cor. 11:23; Paul received his instructions on the Lord’s Supper directly from the Lord after he was resurrected.
C. Read 1 Cor. 11:30; Many people were weak, sick and asleep (dead) after taking the Lord’s Supper. Many people today do not think that God would make people sick. See Rev. 2:23 and see what God does.
D. Read 1 Cor. 11:27; These people were sick because they were taking the cup in an unworthy manner. An unworthy manner would be if you were not overcoming, studying your Bible or living the life as Jesus Christ told you to, if you were not interested in making all your ways God’s Ways. These would be examples of taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.
Note: If anyone in your family, that is baptized, feels that they should not partake of the bread and the wine, because they feel that they would be taking it in an unworthy manner, they can simply pass on the bread and wine when it comes around. Also, the person does not need to explain to anyone, nor should anyone ask, or pass judgment, on the person. This person most certainly can participate in the dinner and the foot-washing portion, as can anyone in your family that is not baptized yet, for the purposes of learning what it is all about.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
A. Pass the bread around. Ask your family to wait to partake until you have prayed.
B. This is an example of what could be said before taking the bread:
We will be partaking of the bread, which represents the body of Jesus Christ. He suffered and gave His life that we might live by the example He gave us, living a new life and getting rid of our old life, with inwardness and selfishness. We are to come out of that way of life, to a new glorious way of life by being decent and upright people, charitable, loving and giving. That is why we take the bread, in remembrance of what He did and how He showed us to live. These are the words that He received from the Father to give to us.
D. Say a short prayer over the bread thanking God, and then partake of the bread.
E. Now, pass the wine around. Again, ask your family members to hold on to their wine until you have prayed.
F. Read 1 Cor. 11:25,26. (The Scripture instructs us to do this until He comes at the end of the age.)
F. Pray over the wine and then partake of the wine.
The Scriptural Example of Foot-Washing
Items you will need:
Your Bible
Water basin(s)
Paper Towels
Liquid soap
Listen to the video below and/or go through the Scriptures that follow the video before beginning the foot-washing, so you understand the purpose of washing one another’s feet according to Scripture. If you don’t have a family member to wash feet with, you can simply go through the Scriptures and read about the example in the Bible on your own.
The Scriptures below are on foot-washing, please notice the general explanation that follows each Scripture reference:
5. Read John 13:4-17; Jesus taught that washing one another’s feet is an act of humility and servant hood.
A. Verse 8 – Peter was self-righteous and haughty. He was saying, “Never will you wash my feet, I’m too good for that.” If you are self-righteous it will come out in the foot washing. This Scripture was to show how humble we must become to be God’s servant.
B. Jesus said to Peter, “If I do not wash your feet then I will have nothing to do with you.” This means that Peter would lose his salvation. He was headed for the Lake of Fire.
C. Verse 9 – Peter was thinking, “If that is the case then wash my whole body.”
D. Verse 10 – Jesus explained it was only necessary to wash the feet.
E. Verse 12-16 – Jesus said, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet."
F. Verse 17 – You will be blessed if you do these things. God wants us to live a holy way of life (1 Peter 1:15-16). Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). When you live a righteous and holy way of life, God considers you holy (1 John 2:29).
7. Now for the foot washing. Have chairs and water basins in accordance with the number of people in your family. Fill the basins with lukewarm water. Have one of the two partners sit on a chair, while the other partner is kneeling before the basin where their partner will put their feet to be washed. Wash the foot gently with water, no soap and pat dry with paper towels. Empty the used basin and wash with soap and water, then refill with clean water for the second person. Do not allow water to go from person to person for reasons of hygiene and be sure to wash your hands after you have finished.
Note: Again, save clean up until after you have finished the last step below.
They sang a hymn after dinner...
8. Read Mark 14:26 - They sang a hymn to close out the dinner. Below is a full version of our original gospel song Thank You Lord. The words will grace the screen so you can sing along:
You have completed the Lords Supper according to God’s Word.
* Please understand, this Lord’s Supper page is simply a guide to the Scriptural examples in the Bible and the example that Jesus Christ gave us to follow. It is only provided as a resource for you and your family. Whatever you and your family choose to do, or not do, and how you do it is your responsibility and between you and the Lord. If you haven’t already, please be sure to read our Terms of Service as well.