COMMUNION
WHAT IS “THE LORD’S SUPPER?”
The celebration of the Lord’s Supper by eating of the bread and drinking of the cup is a remembrance of Jesus’s broken body and spilled blood, including all He accomplished through the Cross, and all the benefits of being in this New Covenant with Him as a new creation.
This is why The Lord’s Supper has been called “the meal that heals.” Not only was the power of sin and death destroyed on the cross through Jesus’ spilled blood, but also the effects of sin (such as sickness in the body) were also destroyed with it through Jesus’ broken body given up for us. Through this continual reminder of taking the Lord’s Supper and celebration by faith of what Jesus accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection; we remember and believe, receiving of those benefits by faith.
This celebration is not a mindless act of religious duty, but it is a powerful way the Lord has provided us to receive the benefits of His redemption. We are remembering that we are now One with God—He abides in us and we abide in Him. Just as the Jews were commanded by God to celebrate the Passover as a feast or celebration—remembering when God set the Israelites free in Egypt and passed over their homes, visiting judgment on Egypt their oppressor—we Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper as instructed by Him, remembering how He set us free from slavery to sin and death.
COMMUNION IN SCRIPTURE
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever’.” John 6: 53-58 (NRSV)
“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 (NRSV)
Other Great Resources for Growing in God
Bible Gateway
Bible Reading Website or App
The Bible Project
YouTube Channel for Bible Learning
YouVersion
Bible Reading, Devotional Plan, and Verse of the Day App
Decrees
Crafted Statements & Prayers to Agree with what God Says About You
Weekly Sermons
Weekly Sermon Podcast from Giving Light
Devotional Podcast
Weekly Devotional Podcast from Giving Light
Churchhome
App for Daily Guided Prayers & Faith Community
Worship Music
Spotify Playlist with a Selection of Worship Artists to Listen to and Explore