Lesson #97: Worthily Receive the Lord’s Supper

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #97

Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?

A. It is required of them that that would worthily 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.

Memorize Q&A—Exposition

To come to the table of our Lord worthily rests upon Christ and his Word. By faith we look to Christ in his death and resurrection, hungering and thirsting after his Word, experiencing a true reformation of life in repentance and obedience, unless we are judged unworthy by our own self-righteousness. (Hosea 12:6)

What does it mean?

Discuss how we can be worthy partakers of the Lord’s Supper:

• Of our knowledge to discern (making a distinction between what is of God and of the world) the Lord’s body—1 Corinthians 11:28-29
• Of our faith to feed upon Christ—John 6:53-56
• Of our repentance—Zechariah 12:10
• Of our love—1 John 4:19
• Of our new obedience—Romans 6:4

Discuss how we bring judgment upon ourselves—1 Cor. 11:27, 29-30.

What is our practice?

In what ways can we make preparation to come to the Lord’s Supper? What truths will we be able to teach our children, and how will we reveal them in our daily works in the home and business, etc.?

Quotes for thought and discussion:

What must be our behaviour at the table of the Lord, that we may be worthy receivers?

“That we may be worthy receivers, our behaviour at the table of the Lord must be humble and reverent, as to the outward gestures of our bodies and inward frame of our hearts. We must seriously mind the outward elements and actions, looking chiefly to the things signified, represented, and exhibited in the ordinance. We must meditate upon Christ’s death, so disgraceful and painful, for us—grieving for our sins, the cause of it—hungering and thirsting after him, and the benefits purchased by his death—applying the promises of the covenant and New Testament, which is of full force through the death of the Testator—drawing nourishment and all needful spiritual supplies from him, in whom all fullness doth dwell—rejoicing in his love—giving thanks for his grace—renewing our covenant—and mingling all especially with faith and most endeared love to the Lord, and with love in him one to another.” (Thomas Vincent)

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