Feasting with Christ: Meditations on the Lord's Supper (Beeke & Smalley)

The Lord's Supper is more than a ritual. It is an invitation to exercise our faith in Christ crucified for our sins. Behind the simplicity of the bread and the cup we discover the riches of the gospel. Sadly, Christians too often rush into this sacred act with little reflection. But spiritual writers of former centuries left us a rich devotional legacy that unveils the glory of Christ in the Supper.

In this book, over sixty short devotional readings and prayers from over forty authors carry the reader from preparation to celebration to reflection. You might jump in to sample a few selections by people like Richard Sibbes, John Flavel, or Wilhelmus a Brakel, or read it straight through in the days before and after partaking. By the time you reach the end, you will discover that this book isn't just about the Lord's Supper. It's about drawing near to a covenant God through Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents: 

Part 1: Preparing Beforehand 

1. Informing your mind 

2. Focusing your faith 

3. Examining your life 

4. Preparing your heart 

5. Prayers of preparation 

Part 2: Feasting at the Table 

6. Remembering Christ crucified

7. Laying your sins at the foot of the cross 

8. Renewing your covenant with God 

9. Feeding on Christ by faith 

10. Prayers of Communion 

Part 3: Giving Thanks and Going on With Christ

11. Gratitude for the sign, the Son, and the Spirit 

12. Self-examination and watchfulness 

13. Holy resolutions to walk with God 

14. Prayers of thanksgiving 

Authors  

Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Seminary) is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan; editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth; editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books; and a prolific author. 

Paul M. Smalley is a teaching assistant to Dr. Beeke at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and a bivocational pastor at Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Endorsements

 "Many words have been written about who should take the Lord's Supper, how often we should take it, and other technical questions. Here, at last, we have a book on the Lord of the Supper and how to feast upon him." - Dr. David P. Murray, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"These devotionals are soul-refreshing aids to ensure true spiritual communion with Christ as Christians put their feet under the Lord's Table and feast. Why have we not had such a book before now? One, of the most helpful books I have read in recent times." - Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas, Minister of Preaching and Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C.

"This delightful book helps inform our minds and warm our hearts so that we may come to the Lord's Supper with an eager readiness to see Christ Himself and His saving work. it helps us come with prayer to the Holy Spirit that He may use these humble means, bread and wine, which Christ has chosen, over which He is Lord, for our soul's good. We come in a spirit of humble devotion expecting and receiving the grace God gives so willingly to obedient, longing hearts. We prepare by reading these high devotional comments on the Supper. What a help they are, and yet our experience of the grace of the Supper always our best attempts at understanding the blessed ordinance, because our Savior deals with us more graciously in this word and sacrament than we can ever deserve or even desire." - Dr. Geoff Thomas, Pastor of Alfred Place Baptist Church, Aberystwyth, Wales