What is Communion?

Depending on the church you attend, you probably participate in something called “communion” or “The Lord’s Supper” at least once a month (sometimes more). You know, the time when you eat some bread and drink some grape juice. This is one of two of the most recognized sacraments – in other words, ritualistic activities that the church has historically done to affirm internal realities. But, what is communion all about? Why do we eat some bread and drink some juice? We know it has something to do with Jesus on the cross, but what does it mean? This standalone episode features a recent message Dr. John Neufeld prepared for his series called Celebrating Our Freedom in Christ. Listen as He explains the purpose and aim of communion.

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Dr. John Neufeld is the Bible Teacher at Back to the Bible Canada.

Read It

*Below is an edited transcription of the audio.

 

One writer has said that the passage we are about to read is like a precious diamond dropped on a muddy road.  Let me explain.  Up till now, we have seen that the Corinthian church is aptly described as a muddy road.  There were divisions in the church in Corinth, both divisions around leadership and divisions between the rich and the poor.  Some of the people in that church were more fascinated with Greek philosophical speculation than with the truth of Christ.  Some were sexually immoral.  Some believers, because of their greed, were suing other believers, and had disgraced the message of Christ before their watching city.  Some through cavalier attitudes about Christian freedom, were hindering weaker believers in their progress in faith.  The love feasts in the church had degenerated into drunkenness.  The corporate life of the church in Corinth was indeed a muddy road, and in the middle of this Paul drops a diamond.  There is an invitation. Christ has invited this muddy, dirty, bruised ragged, fractious, misguided people to come to his table of peace and love and reconciliation.

Isn’t that how it is with us?  Whether you attend a church which celebrates communion only occasionally or whether you attend a church that never enters into worship without the Lord’s Table, in any case, this passage of scripture is for all of us.

How often have you felt muddy, dirty and sin soaked – unacceptable to be either at church or invited to the Lord’s Table.  But then, isn’t that what the Lord’s Table actually intended?  It is God’s diamond, his rich grace dropped right into our lives.  It is an ancient tradition that began 2000 years ago that finally brings peace and love where it is needed most.  Into messy lives.  You with God’s people over 2000 years are invited to the same table the table of our Lord.

I am reading one of the truly beautiful passages from the Bible.  1 Corinthians 11:23-26.  “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 he also 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.”

Today, I want us to see that how The Lord’s Table, when rightly understood brings unity, set’s our hearts on fire, and opens our eyes to see what Christian faith truly means.  I want to explain that.  From this passage I want us to see how the Lord’s Table first invites us to look back and then to look forward.  Let’s start with looking back.

We need to remember,