For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.” In the same way also he took the cup, 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. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:23–32)After moving many times and taking communion in many churches, it has become a great blessing to be involved in this special event. Various churches do it in a variety of ways: every Sunday, one Sunday a month, ushers passing out the elements, members coming forward to take the bread and wine from the pastor, or from a table. Most give the instructions from this passage.
While at least one congregation hurried through and seemed to treat it as a nuisance ritual, most congregations treat it as seriously special. In our church it is serious, but so much a coming together of God's family that watching a few hundred people remembering what Christ has done always blesses my heart.
The warning is important. It isn’t just for those who do not believe in Jesus but for anyone who is in conflict with others, or who has other unconfessed sin in their lives. I remember a mother upset with her adult son for not participating although he usually did. He told her he had a bad attitude that day and needed to get right with God first. Rather than taking the bread and juice and hiding a sin issue is to be admired.
Our rules are not otherwise strict. If people are watching at home on YouTube, they are encouraged to participate when it is okay for them to do so. This stresses that the Lord’s supper is a time to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation, no matter where we are.
The church at Corinth had other problems. Some were weak, ill, or had died because they had not dealt with their sin. Communion is a good reminder that Jesus died for that sin and I must therefore die to it — and live for Him.
Lord God, how I am blessed to participate with several hundred people in this most precious ordinance. While thinking about the Body of Your Son who died for me and who lives for me is not limited to one Sunday a month, in the busyness of life, the reality of all that You have done can easily slip out of my mind. Thank Your for keeping me me close with such an important and special ritual.