When the Lord instituted this meal, it was in the context of a Passover supper with His disciples. We are told that at the conclusion of the meal they sang a hymn, and then went out (Matt. 26:30). It is almost certain that they followed the Jewish custom of singing the Hallel … [Read more...]

As we gather repeatedly for this meal, one of the things you may have noticed is that the portions are small. You all receive a morsel of bread, and you receive a small communion cup of wine, a bit larger than a thimble. In one respect this is simply a function of what is … [Read more...]

The neck of the Church is that which attaches her to her Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is it that brings us into union with the Lord? Is it not our faith? Living and evangelical faith is therefore the neck of the bride, without which there can be no bride at all. We … [Read more...]

When we partake of this meal we are partaking of both the Lord’s disgrace, and His promised glory. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and his … [Read more...]

In this meal we eat family style. We both receive the food and we pass the food. In addition to this, because it is a covenant meal, we consume the food that is made up for all the others, and we offer ourselves to be consumed to all the others. We are enabled to do this because … [Read more...]

We have come here to eat and drink; we have come here to be nourished. Now one of the central reasons why God nourishes us is that He wants us to bear fruit. His intention for us is fruitfulness. Nutrition is not a dead end process. He nourishes us so that we might flourish and … [Read more...]

As you know, as we come to this meal, we are coming to Christ. Moreover, if we are doing it properly, each time we come we are coming to more Christ. Although we have been given all of Christ in principle, we have not yet experienced all of Christ in time. We are temporal, finite … [Read more...]

A common name for this meal that we share together weekly is communion. This is a rendering of the Greek word koinonia, which has a range of meanings and possible translations. God gives to us in this meal, and ultimately, He has nothing to give but Himself—and so that is what … [Read more...]

The Lord Jesus is present here with us now, and He is altogether lovely. He visits us in our imperfections, but in the grace of God He does so in His perfections. God has not given us an adequate savior. He has not given us a “good enough” redeemer. The salvation that has been … [Read more...]

The reason it is possible for God to pronounce the glorious vindication of “no condemnation” over us is because the imputation of the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ to us. This is our justification, this is our exoneration, this is our judicial deliverance. The Lord is our … [Read more...]

In order for this to be a meal of true fellowship, it must be a meal of perfect fellowship. God is the God of all perfections, and He cannot look upon evil. He cannot fellowship with sin, or countenance iniquity. How then is possible for us to be here? We are fallen, sinful, … [Read more...]

When we come to commune with the Lord here, we are coming as we are. We have confessed all known sin at the beginning of the service, but as we come here to fellowship with the Lord, we still have all our difficulties, all our sorrows, all our troubles, and all our perplexities. … [Read more...]

We have a meal here that entails consecration. All of Christ is offered to you, and in natural return, you are summoned to come. But when you are summoned to come, this means that all of you is summoned to come. The cup of blessing is here, set before you. But we want always … [Read more...]

This is a meal, and physically speaking it is a very plain meal. We have simple bread and red wine set before us. At the same time, you are invited to get a great deal out of it. You are summoned to feed upon Christ here, and all that Christ contains—and He is infinite—is … [Read more...]