The Message of the Lord's Supper

Messengers...of all that Christians are called to do and be, delivering a message is central to who we are. After all, the word gospel itself means good news. And what do you do with good news? You pass it on to others; in other words, you become a messenger. Christ, Himself, told the disciples: "you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). What do witnesses do? They communicate what they have seen and heard--they are messengers of the truth. Of course, the moment that they depart from the truth of what they have seen and heard, they cease to be witnesses and rather become author's of their own message.

Given the centrality within the Christian life of being a messenger, it should come as no surprise to us that Paul teaches the church at Corinth that the celebration of the Lord's Supper is not only a time to remember the Lord's death, but a way to proclaim the message of the Lord's death. Paul writes: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Cor 11:26).

How important it is then, for us to invite unbelievers to join our service as we partake in the Lord's Supper. While, as believers, we all rejoice at hearing the message proclaimed again and again of how Christ died for us, it is crucial that those who have never believed be presented with the good news that Christ died for them. No, unbelievers should not participate in taking the Lord's Supper, but they should see and hear the message that believers proclaim as they eat the bread and drink the cup.

So the next time your church celebrates the Lord's Supper, why not invite an unbelieving friend. Just maybe they will ask you: "what is the Lord's Supper?" And then you will have an open door and a receptive ear to listen to what Christ did for you and for them.