OUTLINE ONE

THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE LORD

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Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 11:20, 23-25; 10:16-17, 21; Matt. 26:26-29

1. The Lord's table meeting is the bread breaking meeting (Acts 20:7), in which the believers come together to eat the Lord's supper (1 Cor. 11:20) and attend the Lord's table (1 Cor. 10:21).
   1. The Lord's table meeting is the most important meeting of a local church; it is for remembering the Lord with the remembrance of the Lord as its center for the Lord's enjoyment.
      1. Everything done in the meeting—whether the singing and speaking of the hymns, prayer and praise, Bible reading, or words of inspiration—should take the Lord as the center.
      2. The attendants in the meeting should speak concerning the Lord's person and work, His love and virtues, His living and suffering on the earth, or His glory and honor in heaven, that others may consider or realize these things in order to remember the Lord Himself.
   2. The Lord's table meeting of a local church must be proper and adequate.
      1. A poor meeting exposes the weakness of the saints in a local church.
         1. An improper meeting shows that the church has not received the necessary training.
         2. An inadequate meeting shows that the church is immature.
      2. A strong meeting indicates that a local church bears a prevailing testimony of the Lord.
2. First Corinthians 11 deals with the Lord's supper (v. 20); the Lord's table is dealt with in 1 Corinthians 10 (v. 21).
   1. When we eat the Lord's supper, the emphasis is on the remembrance of the Lord.
   2. Attending the Lord's table is for the fellowship of Christ and for the members of His Body to fellowship together in the Lord, the stress being on the fellowship among the saints.
   3. The Lord's supper does not include the Lord's table, but the Lord's table includes the Lord's supper.
      1. When we eat the Lord's supper, we remember Christ.
      2. When we gather for the Lord's table, both aspects are included—we remember the Lord and we fellowship with Christ and His members.
   4. The Lord's supper is for the Lord's enjoyment and satisfaction; the Lord's table is for our participation, enjoyment, fellowship.