What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper?

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 97. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

1. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

   ²⁸A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. (NET)

2. 2 Corinthians 13:5

   Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test! (NET)

3. 1 Corinthians 11:31

   But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. (NET)

4. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

   ¹⁶Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. (NET)

5. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

   ⁷Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

Those who would come to the Lord's Supper are to examine themselves: their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, their faith to feed on him, and their repentance, love and new obedience. The warning is serious: coming unworthily brings judgment. Self-examination prepares a believer to come gladly.

What can we ask our children?

1. What should a person think about before taking the Lord's Supper?
2. What does it mean to examine yourself?
3. What does our church ask of someone before they come to the table?