How Can I Benefit from the Lord's Supper?

By Joel R. Beeke and Ray B. Lanning

Our Reformed and Puritan forebears were fond of viewing the Lord’s Supper as a feast given by the Lord of Hosts—the faithful, covenant-keeping God who, in Christ Jesus, is the author, founder, master, and divine host of this feast. Christ Himself, the feast’s provider, is the feast’s provision; He is the feast itself. In this booklet, Joel R. Beeke and Ray B. Lanning consider the benefits true Christians have as the Lord’s Supper, by the Spirit, reconnects us with Christ crucified, renews our covenant with God, and refreshes our inner life.

Contents:
The Words of Institution
The All-Important Adverb: “Unworthily”
First Benefit: Reconnection with Christ Crucified
Second Benefit: Renewal of Your Covenant with God
Third Benefit: Refreshment of Your Inner Life
Summary of Benefits
Series Description

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most all is “to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’” As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit’s grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
• Release date: Apr 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781601786470

Joel R. Beeke

Dr. Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a pastor of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Mich., and editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books. He is author of numerous books, including Parenting by God’s Promises, Knowing and Growing in Assurance of Faith, and Reformed Preaching.

Book preview

HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM THE

LORD’S SUPPER?

JOEL R. BEEKE AND

RAY B. LANNING

REFORMATION HERITAGE BOOKS

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

How Can I Benefit from the Lord’s Supper?

© 2019 by Joel R. Beeke and Ray B. Lanning

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Direct your requests to the publisher at the following address:

Reformation Heritage Books

2965 Leonard St. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525

616-977-0889

[e-mail]

www.heritagebooks.org

Printed in the United States of America

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ISBN 978-1-60178-646-3

ISBN 978-1-60178-647-0 (e-pub)

For additional Reformed literature, request a free book list from Reformation Heritage Books at the above regular or e-mail address.

CULTIVATING BIBLICAL GODLINESS

Series Editors

Joel R. Beeke and Ryan M. McGraw

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most of all is to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’ As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit’s grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM THE

LORD’S SUPPER?

In Presbyterian and Reformed churches, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is administered in utmost simplicity. There is great concern that the minister who dispenses the sacrament will say and do only what is necessary, according to the holy institution, command, and example of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.1

Before the Reformation, long centuries of man-made alterations and additions to the sacrament had perverted its meaning and place in the Christian life.2 Reformed pastors are therefore charged to administer the sacrament strictly, according to the words spoken by our Lord and the actions that accompanied those words.

There is also great concern as to the manner in which the sacrament is received. Church members are given notice of the forthcoming administration of the sacrament and urged to