God's Expectations · 3.4
Take Communion
The Lord's Supper is a sacred act of remembrance and proclamation — a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and renew your commitment to follow Him.
What Communion Means
Communion — also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist — is a practice Jesus instituted on the night before His crucifixion. He took bread and wine and told His disciples to eat and drink in remembrance of Him.
The bread represents His body, broken for us. The cup represents His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Together they proclaim the gospel: Christ died, Christ rose, and Christ will come again.
Why It Matters
Communion is not merely a ritual — it is a proclamation. Every time believers gather at the Lord's table, they are declaring the death and resurrection of Jesus until He returns.
It is also a moment of self-examination. Paul instructs believers to examine themselves before taking Communion — to confess sin, to reconcile with others, and to approach the table with a sincere heart.
Sharing Communion together as a church body is a powerful expression of unity. We are all equally dependent on the grace of Christ, and the table reminds us of that shared foundation.
Key Scriptures
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Paul's account of the institution of the Lord's Supper — a practice passed down from Jesus Himself.
Luke 22:19–20
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jesus' own words at the Last Supper — the foundation of the Communion practice.
1 Corinthians 11:28
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
Communion calls for honest self-reflection and a sincere heart before approaching the table.
Explore More Passages
These passages give deeper context to the meaning and practice of Communion:
- Matthew 26:26–29The Last Supper account in Matthew — Jesus institutes Communion with His disciples.
- Acts 2:42The early church devoted themselves to the breaking of bread as a regular practice.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16–17The cup and bread are a participation in the body and blood of Christ, uniting believers together.
Read in Context
Read the full passages on Bible Gateway to understand the surrounding story:
Questions for Reflection
What does it mean to you personally that Jesus said 'do this in remembrance of me'?
Is there anything you need to confess or reconcile before approaching the Lord's table?
How does sharing Communion with other believers strengthen your sense of belonging to the body of Christ?