Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church

The Lord's Supper nourishes us with the work and person of Christ

·25 min·2 clips

How does eating bread and drinking wine assure you that Christ's body was broken for you on the cross?

The episode is a sermon from the Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church, focusing on the Lord's Supper as interpreted through the Heidelberg Catechism. It begins by reading Lord's Day 28, question and answer 75, which asks how the Lord's Supper signifies sharing in Christ's sacrifice. The preacher explains that Christ commanded believers to eat the bread and drink the cup, attaching two promises: one objective about His death and one subjective about spiritual nourishment. The sermon grounds the Lord's Supper in Scripture, citing 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and 10:16-17. It emphasizes that the sacrament is the Lord's, instituted and administered by God, not a human activity. The first point is that the Lord's Supper assures believers of salvation by connecting the physical signs to Christ's atoning work. The preacher clarifies that the bread and wine are symbolic, not literal, pointing to Christ's broken body and shed blood. The second point is that the Lord's Supper unites believers with Christ, as explained in question 76 of the Catechism. This involves accepting Christ with faith and being spiritually united through the Holy Spirit. The sermon references John 6, where Jesus calls Himself the bread of life, and John 15's vine-and-branches imagery to illustrate this union. It distinguishes the Reformed view from Roman Catholic transubstantiation and mere symbolism, affirming a real spiritual presence. The preacher notes that the sacrament is only effective for believers, with warnings from 1 Corinthians 11 about unworthy participation. The conclusion highlights the mystery of union with Christ, where believers become 'flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone,' strengthened for eternal life. The sermon ends with an amen, reinforcing the Lord's Supper as a gift from God for faith.

As heard by us

A catechism sermon on the Lord's Supper as sign, seal, warning, and nourishment.

The episode treats the Lord's Supper with catechism precision, moving through Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 28 and Question and Answer 75 to frame the meal as sign and seal.

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You are here for Heidelberg Catechism teaching on the Lord's Supper.

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