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The Lord’s Supper is the primary theme for Sunday’s sermon from the 2nd half of 1 Corinthians 11. Instead of our usual three days of devotions, we encourage you to consider these historical Baptist documents. Discuss the content, the Scripture passages, and how Baptist beliefs about the Lord Supper are distinct from other theological traditions.
1. Benjamin Keach’s Catechism (based on the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, 1689 – One of the earliest Baptist confessions)
Q. 107. What is the Lord’s Supper? A. The Lord’s Supper is a holy ordinance, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, His death is showed forth, and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. (1 Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16)
Q. 108. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper? A. It is required of them that would worthily (that is, suitably) partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body; of their faith to feed upon Him; of their repentance, love, and new obedience: lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.
2. Abstract of Principles (1858 – The earliest Southern Baptist confession)
XVI. THE LORD’S SUPPER – The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be Observed by his churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with him, and of their church fellowship.
3. The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 – The official Southern Baptist confession of faith)
VII. Baptist and the Lord’s Supper – [Paragraph 2] The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 21; 11:23-29)
For further study, we invite you to consider the statement from the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.
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