The Lord’s Supper protects the doctrine of the church. Almost every denomination observes the Lord’s Supper. Some once a month, some once a quarter, but however often they observe this feast the elements on the table preach a sermon that upholds the doctrine of the word of God.
The sermon that is preached by the table tells all those present in whatever denomination that Jesus died on the cross, He was buried, and that He arose from the dead. If the preacher in the pulpit preaches that Jesus was only a good man who lived a good life and whose example we need to follow, the sermon from the table contradicts the preacher and tells the congregation that their preacher is a false prophet. Jesus did arise from the dead, because He promised to partake of the fruit of the vine again in His Father’s Kingdom after He died on the cross.
If the preacher in the pulpit preaches that Jesus is not coming again, the sermon from the table contradicts the preacher and tells the congregation that their preacher has lied again and that Jesus is coming again, because at the observance of the feast, Paul says, “We proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
If the preacher in the pulpit tells the congregation the church of the New Testament did not observe the Communion on a weekly basis on the first day of the week, the sermon from the table contradicts the preacher and says it did. “And upon the first day of the week when we were gathered together to break bread…”
If the preacher in the pulpit says that baptism has nothing to do with salvation, the sermon from the table contradicts the preacher again and refers the congregation to the identical words of Jesus at the Lord’s Supper and the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost. Jesus said, “This is my blood of the New Testament that is poured out for many unto remission of sins.” Peter told the people the day the New Testament gospel was preached, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Remission of sins by the shedding of Jesus’ blood and by repentance and baptism are both one and the same message, and that is the message of the sermon on the table.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Lord’s Table protects the doctrines of the Church. So if the message of the pulpit is not the same as the message from the table, either throw out the table or fire the preacher.