by Jonathan Culley and Paxson Jeancake
Covenant always announces the Lord’s Supper one week in advance to encourage us to “prepare our hearts.” But why is this important? And how, practically, should we prepare ourselves to receive this holy sacrament?
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul makes it abundantly clear that it is possible to partake of the Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner” (v. 27). In fact, he goes on to say that if we don’t get this right, we “eat and drink judgment on ourselves” (v. 29). What does it mean to eat and drink in an unworthy manner? The context of this verse provides the answer. The Corinthian believers were misunderstanding, even abusing, the Lord’s Supper in two key ways:
- They tolerated disunity among themselves. Paul notes, “When you come together as a church, there are divisions among you” (v. 18). In the context of the Corinthian church, that disunity was put on display during the meal itself when the wealthy members arrived early to feast on the choice food, leaving only scraps and leftovers for the working-poor who couldn’t get there until later (vv. 20-22, 33).
- They forgot the spiritual significance of the meal. Paul had to remind them that the Lord’s Supper is done “in remembrance of [Jesus]” (v. 24), that it marks the “new covenant in [Jesus’] blood” (v. 25), and that it is an act where we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (v. 26) as we “recognize the body of the Lord” (v. 29).
To avoid these same errors and honor God, how should we prepare ourselves in the week leading up to the Lord’s Supper?
Four Ways to Prepare Our Hearts
- Examine ourselves. Paul writes, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (v. 28). This means we should take an honest look at our hearts and lives, confessing our failures and sins to God. We do this by measuring ourselves against God’s holy law. This command also has a communal element. We need our spiritual shepherds (like elders and small group leaders) and our fellow believers speaking into our lives and helping us see our blind spots, so we can confess sins and return to the paths of righteousness.
- Look to Jesus and the cross. When we look at ourselves honestly, our sin should drive us straight to the cross of Christ where we find complete forgiveness. Partaking of the bread and juice should move us with a mixture of overwhelming sorrow and inexpressible joy: Our hearts break because our sins nailed Him to the cross, yet our hearts well up with sheer delight because that same crucifixion paid the penalty for our sins, bringing us forgiveness and life. In this way, the Lord’s Supper is a “remembrance” of Jesus (v. 24) and a “proclamation of the death of Christ” (v. 26).
- Reconcile with one another. The Lord’s Supper doesn’t just deal with our relationship with God, but also our relationships with one another. If we have sinned against someone and refuse to repent, we should refrain from partaking until we have done our part to reconcile (Matthew 5:23-24). Paul makes it clear that harboring disunity destroys the very purpose of the sacrament. “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).
- Care for the vulnerable. This one may surprise you, but it is a central theme in Paul’s instructions for the Lord’s Supper (vv. 20-22). When we gather, we do so as a single, unified body—regardless of our background, ethnicity, social status, or income. Recognizing that we are all equally needy sinners helps us appreciate the beautiful, unifying grace that Jesus draws us into together. On a practical level, this is why we invite our church family to consider giving a “mercy gift” at the end of our meal together. This is an extra financial offering stewarded by our Deacons to support those facing hardships in our church and local community. Consider bringing this financial gift with you to church on Lord’s Supper Sundays.
Practical Questions
Consider walking through these questions during the week leading up to the Lord’s Supper. If you have a family, this is a wonderful discussion to have around the dinner table.
- In what areas of my life am I refusing to let go of my sin?
- In what ways am I failing to actively love God and others?
- Do I truly understand why Jesus had to be crucified for my salvation? Do I deeply appreciate the sheer grace that forgives me?
- Is there anyone I have offended and to whom I am refusing to repent and seek peace? Conversely, is there anyone who has offended me whom I am refusing to forgive? Am I harboring a grudge or a resentment towards anyone?
- Am I doing anything that actively disrupts the peace and unity of our church fellowship? Am I engaging in meaningful community with other believers?
- Am I neglecting the needs of others or closing my heart to the poor?
Food for the Journey
As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we not only remember Christ’s death on the cross, but we receive spiritual nourishment for the present. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace, food for the journey, as we participate in Christ’s body and blood and enjoy union with him (John 6:35–39; 1 Corinthians 10:16). Moreover, as we eat and drink, we anticipate the greater banquet still to come, the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9; 1 Corinthians 11:26). Thus, the Lord’s Supper has past, present, and future references.
“Come to Me”
Preparing for the Lord’s Supper is not about perfectionism or legalism. The goal is not to become sinless before we partake—if that were the standard, the table would be empty! Instead, it is about approaching the table with a heart-attitude of humility, repentance, and a sense of our desperate need for God and his grace. Even if our faith feels weak, Jesus welcomes us. He promised: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Let us feast on Him, confident that He has paid for our sins and given us new life.