Four Cups

Holy Week begins this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday. Many churches celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month. Here is a novel script you can use for your At-Home Communion. It can also be used on Maundy Thursday.

If Jesus followed the order of the Jewish Seder, there are four cups of “the fruit of the vine” used at that service. Two of the four cups are mentioned in the Gospels. Chris Hodges, author of Four Cups, designed his church’s strategic plan around the four cups.        

SUPPLIES: SUPPLIES: wine or grape juice in a wine glass or chalice, you may use 4 cups, a cracker, (small pitcher with water, bowl to catch water, napkin) or a disinfectant hand wipe, an extra cup called the Elijah cup.

“Examine” your conscience (1 Cor 11:27,28)

I examine myself, my sins, mistakes, faults, shortcomings, and character flaws, and bring them under the cleansing fountain, provided by Jesus, to be washed away. Through confession. I come under the cleansing from sin, provided through Jesus’ death on the cross.

• Foot/Hand Washing (John 3:5)

Cleansing: On that day a fountain will be opened to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (Zechariah 13:1) Wash hands as a symbol of cleansing. Servanthood: Wash each other’s hands.

• Begin service.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6) I now begin this Sacramental or Sacred Meal. I draw near with reverence, faith, and thanksgiving, to take this supper of the Lord for comfort and strength.I come to this Holy Table, not because I must, but because I may. I come to testify, not that I am righteous, but that I have received God’s mercy. I come, not to express an opinion, but to seek a presence and to pray for a new filling of the Holy Spirit. And now that this supper of the Lord is spread before me, I lift up my mind and heart above all fears, worries, anxieties, and cares. This bread and this cup are for me the outward and visible sign of God’s inward and invisible grace and love.

Paul wrote, For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. On the night the Lord Jesus was going to be delivered up… (1 Cor 11:25)

• CUP OF BLESSING (CHALICE) Begin by blessing God.

Jesus took the first cup (LIFT THE CUP UP), the Cup of Blessing to begin the sacred Passover meal. Jesus gave thanks: (Hebrew Blessing) “Blessed are You, Our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.” Add prayer of blessing to Jesus. “I bless You, Jesus, for giving Your life for us.” I drink the First Cup, the Cup of Blessing to bless God and this sacred meal. Ps 134:2 (Lift drink and say) Bless the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me praise God’s holy Name. DRINK

• CUP OF SALVATION DELIVERANCE, REDEMPTION: Spiritual transformation to wholeness

This is the Cup of Salvation. Rescue from sin, Satan, selfishness, addictions… Jesus said, “This is my blood, poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins.” Thank you, Jesus, for shedding your blood to rescue me from sin, Satan, and selfishness. I celebrate my salvation. Thank you for redeeming me, and giving me eternal life. I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:13) DRINK

• BREAD Jesus’ body at the cross

Jesus took bread (TAKE BREAD) and gave thanks (HOLD BREAD UP), probably lifting his eyes toward heaven, and saying the Hebrew blessing that goes like this: Blessed are You, our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who brings forth grain from the earth. I add my own prayer of thanks to Jesus: Thank you, Jesus, for giving Your body to die on the cross for us. Having given thanks, Jesus broke the loaf BREAK CRACKER and said, “This is my body, which is being broken for you. Take Eat in memory of me.” “the body of Christ” EAT

• CUP OF THE NEW COVENANT

A covenant is like a contract: marriage is a covenant. We call the Old Testament the Old Covenant, and the New Testament, the New Covenant: New life in Christ. In the same way, after supper Jesus took the cup, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. The New Covenant is a commitment to a loving relationship with Jesus. This is the blood of the covenant poured out for many. 1 Cor 11:24-26I drink the Cup of the New Covenant as a sign of my relationship with You, Jesus, My commitment to new life in You. DRINK

• CUP OF THANKSGIVING Remembrance, Memorial Service

Jesus said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 Cor 11:25 Jesus said, Remember me.” I lift my cup as a sign that I will not forget my Lord and Savior. I remember You. DRINK

• CUP OF PRAISE: Christ’s Return

Then in the same way, after supper Jesus presented the Fourth and final Cup of Thanksgiving/Praise, Thanks be to God for the unspeakable gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I tell you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom. Mark 14:28; Matthew 14:28; Luke 22:16,18, 29, 30; 1 Cor 11:26 (Done like a toast) UNTIL HE COMES or NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM: DRINK

Before Closing hymn, the cup of Elijah is lifted up with future promise of Christ’s return. I now hold up the Cup of Elijah. The Cup of Elijah is not drunk today because it represents that future when we will “drink with Jesus in his Father’s kingdom.”

HYMN: Sing a hymn and end