What is communion all about?

Do you ever feel a bit mentally and emotionally disconnected during communion at your church? Many of us struggle with that sense of detachment during communion; we know something important is happening, but we’re not quite sure what it is. 

Beginning with the Last Supper, this booklet traces the significance of both bread and cup. The bread speaks of Christ giving Himself for us and of the peace we now have with God; sharing one loaf also expresses our belonging to one another as the body of Christ. The cup reaches back to Passover, where the blood of the lamb marked God’s rescue from slavery and judgement, and forwards to Jesus, whose blood secures forgiveness and freedom for those who trust Him. 

It takes seriously Paul’s warning to examine ourselves before receiving communion. That does not mean arriving with a flawless spiritual record. It means remembering what Christ has done, depending on His grace, and considering whether our relationships with God and with other Christians reflect the unity we are publicly celebrating.

This resource includes:

• the biblical origins of communion
• the significance of the bread and the cup
• connections between Passover and the death of Jesus
• teaching on self-examination, forgiveness and Christian unity
• practical help for approaching communion with greater attentiveness

A shared invitation 

Our Daily Bread Ministries wants to help you inhabit familiar parts of Christian life with a deeper grasp of Scripture. We make resources like this freely available so that cost never becomes a barrier to growth. If you would like to support that work, your donation helps us continue producing Bible resources that serve individuals, churches and small groups.