Everything You Need to Know About Communion and Why

10 Things You Should Know about the Lord's Supper and Communion

“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” "A PATH TO HEALING"

Why is it Called the Lord's Supper or Communion?

The Lord's Supper is also called "the Lord's table" (1 Corinthians 10:21), "communion," "cup of blessing" (1 Corinthians 10:16), and "breaking of bread" ( Acts 2:42 ). In the early Church it was called also "eucharist," or giving of thanks

(Matthew 26:27), and generally by the Latin Church "mass," a name derived from the formula of dismission, Ite, missa est, i.e., "Go, it is discharged."

The account of when Jesus instituted this ordinance of communion is given in

Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, and

1 Corinthians 11:24-26.

What is the Purpose of Communion?

To commemorate the death of Christ: "This do this in remembrance of me."To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the new covenant. In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service.To be a badge of the Christian profession.To indicate and to promote the communion of believers with Christ. To represent the mutual communion of believers with each other.

The elements used to represent Christ's body and blood are bread and wine. The kind of bread, whether leavened or unleavened, is not specified. Christ used unleavened bread simply because it was at that moment on the paschal table. Wine, (preferred) or any fruit of the vine can be used, Grape Juice, is commonly used (Matthew 26:26-29). Wine is a permanent ordinance in the Church of Christ, and is to be observed "till he come" again. Adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary

The primary biblical text on the nature and meaning of the Lord’s Supper/Table and Communion, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

Here are ten brief observations on what we see in this text.

1) The Lord's Supper is primarily (but not exclusively) designed to elicit or to stimulate in our hearts remembrance of the person and work of Jesus: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25).

2) This remembrance is commanded. Participation at the Lord's Table is not an option. Prolonged absence from it is spiritually unhealthy and willful neglect of it may be grounds for church discipline.

3) This remembrance entails the use of tangible elements: bread and wine. It isn't enough simply to say, “Remember!” The elements of bread and wine are given to stir our minds and hearts. The physical action of eating and drinking is designed to remind us that we spiritually “ingest” and depend upon Jesus and the saving benefits of his life, death, and resurrection. Just as food and drink are essential to sustain physical existence, so also the blessings and benefits that come to us through the body and blood of Christ ar\paramount to our spiritual flourishing.

4) It is a personal remembrance. We are to remember Jesus. The focus isn't on Abraham or Moses or Isaiah. The focus is no longer on the Jewish Passover or the night of his betrayal or anything else. The focus is Jesus. “Do this in remembrance of ME”

(1 Cor. 11:25).

5) In this remembering there is also confession. In partaking of the elements we declare: “Christ gave his body and blood for me. He died for me.” This is one among many reasons why I reject the practice of paedocommunion (the giving of the elements of the Table to infants). If one cannot and does not personally and consciously confess that the bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Jesus sacrificed for sinners, he/she should not, indeed must not, partake of them.

6) In this remembering we also proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. This, then, is not merely an ordinance that looks to the past. It is an ordinance of hope that points to the future.

7) To partake of the Lord's Table in an unworthy manner (v. 27) is to take it without regard to its true worth, not yours. To partake unworthily is to come complacently, light-heartedly, giving no thought to that which the elements signify. I. H. Marshall explains:

"In some Christian circles today the fear of partaking unworthily in the Supper leads to believers of otherwise excellent character refraining from coming to the table of the Lord. When this happens, Paul's warning is being misunderstood. The Lord's Supper is the place where the forgiveness of sin is proclaimed and offered to all who would receive it. Paul's warning was not to those who were leading unworthy lives and longed for forgiveness but to those who were making a mockery of that which should have been most sacred and solemn by their behavior at the meal” (116).

To partake in an "unworthy manner" thus entails at least three things: (a) calloused disregard for others in the body of Christ (see vv. 20-22); (b) an attempt to combine participation at pagan (demonic) feasts with participation at the Lord's table (see 1 Cor. 10:14-22); and (c) flippant disregard for what the elements represent (vv. 23-26).

8) To be “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (v. 27) is to treat as common or profane something which is sacred. The Lord's Supper is not just another meal.

9) Hence, we are to “examine ourselves” (v. 28). We are to test our motives and attitudes as we approach the table to be certain we are partaking for the right reasons and with the right understanding of what the elements represent. This is yet another argument against paedocommunion. If one cannot obey this Pauline command one is not prepared or qualified to partake of the elements.

10) Finally, failure to do so may lead to divine discipline (1 Cor. 11:29-34). Such chastisement from the Father is in order that believers may be spared the condemnation that comes to the unbelieving world. Some in Corinth had already suffered the discipline of God (“weak and sick”); some had even died physically (“sleep”). And this was an expression of God’s gracious commitment to preserve his people “so that we may not be condemned along with the world” (1 Cor. 11:32b).

A Communion Prayer, There is also another prayer at the end with instruction’s

On how to partake the bread and wine.

Lord Jesus, I bow before you in humility and ask You to examine my heart today. Show me anything that is not pleasing to You. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or unforgiveness that may be hindering my relationship with You. I know that I am Your beloved child, having received You into my heart and life and having accepted Your death as penalty for my sinfulness. The price You paid covered me for all time, and my desire is to live for You.

As I take the bread representing Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to me and to all who will receive You. I can't begin to fathom the agonizing suffering of Your crucifixion. Yet You took that pain for me. You died for me! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave me life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, I, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.

And in the same way, as I take this cup representing Your blood poured out from a splintered cross, I realize that You were the supreme sacrifice for all my sin: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for me, and Your body broken for me, I can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that I deserved. You took my punishment. Your pain was indeed my gain. And today I remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave me through Your blood that you spilled. Each time I take communion, Lord, I want to recommit my life, my heart, my thoughts, my everything to You. Fill me today with Your powerful Spirit. As I leave this place, help me to hold this fresh remembrance and the story that never grows old close to my heart. Help me to share its message faithfully as You give opportunity. In Your Precious name, amen.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

“3” Things You may not Know Communion Does for Your Spiritual Life.

There was a man named Durkin who was working one day when his tooth fell out of his mouth. After a few days of badgering him, his wife convinced him to see a dentist. The dentist promptly warned him to visit a doctor since he perceived the issue to be much more serious. Durkin refused because, to quote his wife, “he was stubborn like that.” Eventually, he developed serious issues to the point where he was even screaming out in pain. He died in his sleep only a few days later.

There is a sense in all of us that wants to avoid confrontation. Especially when it has to do with us being confronted. We tend to neglect our physical health, and want to always assume the best of ourselves; we tend to give ourselves a pass and think that our problems are less severe than they truly are. This is sometimes true for our body, but it is exponentially more so when it comes to our spiritual life. We always assume we are doing better than we are, and we have a tendency to minimize our sin while maximizing others’. The fact of the matter is that we need continual checkups on our spiritual health

How to Check Our Spiritual Health

Sitting under faithful expository preaching is one way we accomplish this. Surrounding ourselves with godly friends and mentors is another. Regular Bible reading and prayer are other ways, as well. But perhaps one of the main regular spiritual doctor visits that we so desperately need is the Lord’s Supper. On the night before our Savior died, He instituted this meal. He expects us to regularly take this supper. He believes that it will make a difference in our lives. The Lord’s Supper has many effects for the believer, and I’d like to highlight three of them in this post.

1. The Lord's Supper Challenges Your Desires

I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15

Jesus gave up His life. No one took it from Him (John 10:18). Not only did He know He was born to die (Mark 8:34), but He knew the way He would die (John 3:14). But He also knew about a last supper He would eat with His disciples. And Luke 22 tells us that He earnestly desired to eat this meal with His disciples. He had looked forward to this very meal for a long time, perhaps since He could even remember. Why? Why was He so eager? Partly because this meal was a transition meal. This meal would be the final God-ordained Passover that this world would ever see, but it would also prove to be the first God-ordained Lord’s Supper. The disciples and their followers would go on to eat thousands in their lifetimes, but Jesus Christ would not. This would be the first and last Lord’s Supper that Jesus would partake of before the millennial kingdom

A Future Meal

The Bible tells us that He was eager to have this meal. Another reason is because he was looking to a meal in the future, a meal He’ll partake in with us–all His children in the kingdom. He eagerly awaits that day. Are you eagerly awaiting this day?

He Isn't Here

Every Lord’s Supper we take part in there is someone missing. Like the mother who lost her son at war and every Thanksgiving sets up a place in his honor at the dinner table, we too remember Jesus, and should acknowledge the fact that He isn’t here. He is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:3). Part of the deal in the Lord’s Supper is checking our desires and asking ourselves if we are truly longing for the day we get to see Christ face to face and get to eat with Him. The Lord’s Supper challenges our desires.

2. The Lord's Supper Confirms Your Dependence

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 Jesus doesn’t think highly about our memory.

Seriously. He institutes the Lord’s supper to remind us about how we are constantly in need of remembering Him and what He was about to do. This exposes our dependence on Him. We depend on Christ in our salvation. Entirely. There isn’t one ounce of spirituality that we bring to the table, we are utterly bankrupt (Matthew 5:3) and Jesus on the cross, by giving up His body and by shedding His blood completely satisfied God’s requirement (Hebrews 10:12-14) and opened up the gates of Heaven for anyone that would believe in Him (John 3:16). Each time we come to the Lord’s Table we are reminded about our dependence on Him in our salvation.

For Our Sanctification

But we are also reminded of our dependence on Him for our sanctification. The very fact that He would make it an ordinance proves the fact that He believes that it would be beneficial for our Christian walk to do so on a regular basis. We understand that this ordinance is an essential component of our walk with Him and so we regularly expose ourselves to the sanctifying action of reflecting on our walk every time we take the Lord’s Supper.

3. The Lord's Supper Checks Your Devotion

“But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table… And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.” Luke 22:21, 23

The Lord’s Supper’s is an opportunity to examine our hearts. As a young pastor, I’m already overwhelmed with the responsibility of shepherding souls. It is more than any human being can handle. In fact, it is impossible for human beings to handle. We are bad judges (James 2:4). We have a hard time discerning why people do what they do. The reason is because we simply cannot see people’s hearts. It will never cease to fascinate me that the disciples had no idea who would betray Jesus! They lived beside Judas for three years, and yet they had no idea that he wasn’t truly saved, even after Jesus made it explicit!

What Do We Do?

First, we are to take a serious look at our own hearts. We are to examine it to see whether or not we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Second, we are to encourage those around us to do the same. Ultimately, people are responsible for their own walk with Christ. We must teach those around us to do self-checks, and the Lord’s Supper is the best place that Jesus has given us to do that.

You Are Missing Out

If you are not regularly exposing yourself to the Lord’s Supper, your Christian walk will suffer. First of all, it means that you either go to a church that is neglecting a clear ordinance of God and should leave immediately, or it means that you are not attending a church, which also means that your Christian walk is suffering. Secondly, you are missing out on so many important blessings. The blessing of remembering eternity as we get challenged on our desires, the blessing of remembering our dependence on Christ in every area of life, and the regular examination of whether we are truly devoted to the Savior.

The Lord's Supper as Medicine

Do not neglect the Lord’s Supper, because it is a medicine prescribed to you by Jesus Himself in order to help you grow in His likeness.

1 Corinthians 11:24 – 27

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Communion not just a ritual

Communion is not simply a ritual—something that adults just “do”. It is not a cracker, a glass of juice, or a sip of wine. It is tremendously significant. Any believer who takes it should understand why they do so, for we are told by Christ that when we eat and drink from the cup, we proclaim Jesus’ death on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:26). These are weighty words.

Communion is not a snack for toddlers either—it is a time set aside for believers to come before Christ in unity, together remembering and proclaiming His death, His sacrifice, and each examining their own hearts.

To proclaim Christ’s death. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says that when we take communion, we proclaim Christ’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26)—His horribly cruel death, which saves us from an eternity separated from God. We are told that the bread symbolizes His body, which “broke” for us so that we may have eternal life and the juice represents His blood, spilled out.

When we participate in this sobering and glorious moment of worship, we declare that Jesus did indeed die as depicted in Scripture. We proclaim that we have surrendered ourselves to Him and are prepared to participate in His death as we live the Christian life. When we take communion, we declare this to ourselves, to our brothers and sisters around us, and to unbelievers. In other words, we proclaim the Gospel.

To remember His sacrifice. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” When we take communion, we must pause to remember what our Savior did for us on Calvary—the brutal death He died to make amends for our sins. Every time I take communion, I reflect on the sins in my life that brought Christ to the cross and I seek God’s forgiveness for them and I repent. Every time I take communion, I reflect on the sins in my life that brought Christ to the cross and I seek God’s forgiveness for them and I repent.

As I reflect upon His death, I often remember scenes from the movie The Passion of the Christ. Even though these scenes cannot capture the brutality of what Jesus actually went through, they help my human mind comprehend a small fraction of the meaning of the bread and the cup, His broken body, and His spilt blood. This leads me to thankfulness and awe at the price of my relationship with God.

To examine ourselves. There is one other very important thing about communion that must be mentioned. Believers are called in Scripture to not drink the cup of communion in an unworthy manner, so as not to drink judgment upon ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:29). This may sound harsh, but what this goes to show is that we, as Christians, are to approach communion with proper repentance and humility. Personally, I often pray David’s prayer in Psalm 19:12, “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.”

If we are unable to confess sins we know we need to, if we know others in church take issue with us and we haven’t sought to reconcile, or if we are harboring bitterness against a brother or sister—Scripture says we should let communion pass (1 Corinthians 11:28, Matthew 5:23-24). Communion represents Christ’s death for us. If we are unable to repent of our own sin, then how are we to honorably proclaim His death? It is better to wait, reconcile with our fellow Christians and with the Lord, then participate in communion another time.

There have been a few times when I’ve struggled with letting go of a sin, or I know that I have yet to forgive someone, and so I do not take communion. Of course, I find it somewhat embarrassing since other people might wonder about my actions. But this embarrassment is small compared to the severity of sinning against “the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

My encouragement to all of us is to approach the communion table soberly, yet joyfully, reflecting upon the tragedy of Calvary as well as the promise of Christ’s return. Where else do we experience such sorrow and joy at the same time?

Ultimately, may we celebrate, worldwide, as we take communion, that we all serve a Savior who laid Himself down for us, so that there may be eternal life. Praise be to His glorious name.

How do I Partake

Before you partake, remember that the Holy Communion is not a ritual to be observed, but a blessing to be received. Because it is not a ritual, there is no prescribed bread or drink required. In the Last Supper, Jesus used whatever He had at the table, bread commonly eaten at supper, and whatever they were drinking.

To partake, first hold the bread in your hand and say:

Thank you, Father, for the gift of Your Son. By the stripes that fell on His back, my body is healed from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet. Every cell, every organ, every function of my body is healed, restored, and renewed. In Jesus name, I believe and I receive. [Eat the bread.]

Next take the cup in your hand and say:

Lord Jesus, thank You for your precious blood. Your sin free, disease free, poverty free life is in Your blood. And Your shed blood has removed every sin from my life. Through Your blood, I am forgiven of all my sins, past, present, and future and made completely righteous. Today, I celebrate and partake of the inheritance of the righteous, which is preservation, healing, clear mind, wholeness and provision.

Thank You Lord Jesus, for loving me. Amen [Drink the wine.]

Presented By: Pastor Ric & Brenda Bottorf Provided By: Bottorf Prison Ministries

Brooksville, FL. Brooksville, FL.