Communion Service
What is a Communion Service ?
It is the Christian ordinance (ceremony) where believers partake of emblems of Christ’s body, in the form of bread and wine (unfermented). The word Communion relates to the sharing of thoughts and feelings.
It is the Christian ordinance (ceremony) where believers partake of emblems of Christ’s body, in the form of bread and wine (unfermented). The word Communion relates to the sharing of thoughts and feelings.
1 Corinthians 10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Why do they do this?
Christians do this because Jesus asked them to do it in remembrance of Him.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26. The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
What is this ordinance symbolizing?
It is a symbol of the death of Christ on Calvary. The bread is a symbol of Christ’s broken body, and the wine (un-fermented) is a symbol of His shed blood.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Why do they do this?
Christians do this because Jesus asked them to do it in remembrance of Him.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26. The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
What is this ordinance symbolizing?
It is a symbol of the death of Christ on Calvary. The bread is a symbol of Christ’s broken body, and the wine (un-fermented) is a symbol of His shed blood.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Matthew 26:26-28. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Why do we need to eat His body?
Eating the bread or the body is figurative of feeding on His word. When we read His word, we are fed spiritually: likewise, drinking the wine or the blood, is figurative of drinking from the fountain of life, this will quench our spiritual thirst. John 6:63.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:53-56 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Note: Jesus broken body and shed blood ensure us of eternal life, as His blood cleanses us from all sin. It is good to keep this uppermost in our hearts and mind.
John 6:51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
Why do we need to eat His body?
Eating the bread or the body is figurative of feeding on His word. When we read His word, we are fed spiritually: likewise, drinking the wine or the blood, is figurative of drinking from the fountain of life, this will quench our spiritual thirst. John 6:63.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:53-56 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Note: Jesus broken body and shed blood ensure us of eternal life, as His blood cleanses us from all sin. It is good to keep this uppermost in our hearts and mind.
John 6:51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
John 6:57. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
Some communion services include foot washing, why is that?
That is because Jesus gave us this example by washing His disciples feet. This ordinance took place before the sharing of the bread and wine.
John 13:3-17 He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean....”
Note: the ordinance of foot washing has been likened to a mini baptism. When a person is baptized they are immersed. This method of baptism signifies a complete washing and a complete cleansing indicating forgiveness of sin, and a death to the old former ways of life. It seems foot washing is a mini cleansing. When we are baptized we still have the propensity to stumble at times and fall short with the little irritations of life; making sure we keep our feet clean is symbolic of continuing to walk (live) in a Christ like manner.
Has Jesus really asked us to do this?
Yes. And He even said if He did not wash Peter’s feet then Peter could have no part with Him. That’s a fairly serious thought.
Some communion services include foot washing, why is that?
That is because Jesus gave us this example by washing His disciples feet. This ordinance took place before the sharing of the bread and wine.
John 13:3-17 He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean....”
Note: the ordinance of foot washing has been likened to a mini baptism. When a person is baptized they are immersed. This method of baptism signifies a complete washing and a complete cleansing indicating forgiveness of sin, and a death to the old former ways of life. It seems foot washing is a mini cleansing. When we are baptized we still have the propensity to stumble at times and fall short with the little irritations of life; making sure we keep our feet clean is symbolic of continuing to walk (live) in a Christ like manner.
Has Jesus really asked us to do this?
Yes. And He even said if He did not wash Peter’s feet then Peter could have no part with Him. That’s a fairly serious thought.
John13:14, 15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Can anyone take part in a communion service?
Yes but we must examine our-self first. Our motives for doing so should be right.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Note: The partaking of bread and wine during a communion service is not a literal eating of Christ’s body and a drinking of His blood. It is highly spiritual in purpose and symbolic in nature. The Jews of old did not understand this, as John 6:52, informs us that “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
Our purpose in life is to be one in Christ, to be like Him and to be obedient to His word.
He says, John 14:15. “If you love Me keep my commandments”…. And that means all of them. Obedience is an act of worship for whom you obey, he it is that you serve.
Can anyone take part in a communion service?
Yes but we must examine our-self first. Our motives for doing so should be right.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
Note: The partaking of bread and wine during a communion service is not a literal eating of Christ’s body and a drinking of His blood. It is highly spiritual in purpose and symbolic in nature. The Jews of old did not understand this, as John 6:52, informs us that “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
Our purpose in life is to be one in Christ, to be like Him and to be obedient to His word.
He says, John 14:15. “If you love Me keep my commandments”…. And that means all of them. Obedience is an act of worship for whom you obey, he it is that you serve.
Romans 6:16. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are ….
