Feasting with Christ: Meditations on the Lord’s Supper
Overview
The Lord’s Supper is more than a ritual. It is an invitation to exercise our faith in Christ crucified for our sins. Behind the simplicity of the bread and the cup we discover the riches of the Gospel. Sadly, Christians too often rush into this sacred act with little reflection. But spiritual writers of former centuries left us a rich devotional legacy that unveils the glory of Christ in the Supper. In this volume, over 60 short devotional readings and prayers from over 40 authors carry the reader from preparation to celebration to reflection. You might jump in to sample a few selections by people like Richard Sibbes, John Flavel, or Wilhelmus a Brakel, or read it straight through in the days before and after partaking. By the time you reach the end, you will discover that this book isn’t just about the Lord’s Supper. It’s about drawing near to a covenant God through Jesus Christ.
The Logos Bible Software edition of this volume is designed to encourage and stimulate your study and understanding of Christian traditions. Scripture passages link directly to your English translations and to the original language texts, and important concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. In addition, you can perform powerful searches by topic and find what other authors, scholars, and theologians have to say about church membership, the Lord’s Supper, and evangelicalism.
- Extols the importance of the Lord’s Supper as an act of worship
- Provides devotional readings reflecting on the Lord’s Supper
- Discusses the acts of preparing for, partaking of, and reflecting on the Lord’s Supper
- Part I: Preparing Beforehand
- Informing Your Mind
- Focusing Your Faith
- Examining Your Life
- Preparing Your Heart
- Prayers of Preparation
- Part II: Feasting at the Table
- Remembering Christ Crucified
- Laying Your Sins at the Foot of the Cross
- Renewing Your Covenant with God
- Feeding on Christ by Faith
- Prayers of Communion
- Part III: Giving Thanks and Going on with Christ
- Gratitude for the Sign, the Son, and the Spirit
- Self-Examination and Watchfulness
- Holy Resolutions to Walk with God
- Prayers of Thanksgiving
Top Highlights
“None of us are worthy of fellowship with Christ, but the Lord Jesus is worthy of our very best. The twofold call to worship Christ is, ‘Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling’ (Ps. 2:11), and ‘Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing’ (Ps. 100:2). Fear mingles with our gladness; trembling, with our singing. Even beggars may come bowing to the king. The goal is not to become worthy partakers in ourselves, but to partake in a worthy manner.” (Page 10)
“Dead souls can have no communion with the living God.” (Page 13)
“The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, His death is shown forth, and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal or carnal manner but by faith, made partakers of His body and blood, with all His benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. The end of this is to confirm their union and communion with Christ, renewing their covenant with God, their thankfulness to Him, and their mutual love for and fellowship one with another as members of the same mystical body (Matt. 26:26–28; 1 Cor. 11:23–26; 10:6–17).” (Pages 17–18)
“From all which you may see that all Christians are certainly obliged to come to the Lord’s Table; and that no one should exempt himself from obeying this command, whom Christ hath not exempted. Let them therefore look well to it, who seldom or never partake of the Lord’s Supper.” (Page 24)
“Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is one of the Christian’s most solemn and sweet acts of worship. Christ commands His disciples: ‘This do in remembrance of me’ (Luke 22:19).” (Page 9)
Many words have been written about who should take the Lord’s Supper, how often we should take it, and other technical questions. Here, at last, we have a book on the Lord of the Supper and how to feast upon him.
—David P. Murray, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
These devotionals are soul-refreshing aids to ensure true spiritual communion with Christ as Christians put their feet under the Lord’s table and feast. Why have we not had such a book before now? One, of the most helpful books I have read in recent times.
—Derek W. H. Thomas, professor of systematic and historical theology, Reformed Theological Seminary
This delightful book helps inform our minds and warm our hearts so that we may come to the Lord’s Supper with an eager readiness to see Christ himself and his saving work. It helps us come with prayer to the Holy Spirit that he may use these humble means, bread and wine, which Christ has chosen, over which he is Lord, for our soul’s good. We come in a spirit of humble devotion expecting and receiving the grace God gives so willingly to obedient, longing hearts. We prepare by reading these high devotional comments on the Supper. What a help they are, and yet our experience of the grace of the Supper always our best attempts at understanding the blessed ordinance, because our Savior deals with us more graciously in this word and sacrament than we can ever deserve or even desire.
—Geoff Thomas, pastor, Alfred Place Baptist Church, Aberystwyth, Wales
- Title: Feasting with Christ: Meditations on the Lord’s Supper
- Editors: Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley
- Publisher: Evangelical Press
- Publication Date: 2012
- Pages: 176
Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth. He has written, coauthored, or edited 70 books.
About Paul M. Smalley
Paul M. Smalley (ThM, Puritan Reformed Seminary) is a teacher’s assistant for Dr. Beeke at the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.