We’re excited you’re interested in communion! Below are guidelines to help you take this step.

What is communion?

On the night He was betrayed and arrested, Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover with his

disciples. The Passover commemorates how God delivered his people from Egypt. He did this by

sending an angel to destroy the firstborn throughout Egypt.  But the angel “passed over” every

house where the people of God slaughtered a lamb and put its blood on the doorpost.

(See Exodus 11-12.)

When Jesus celebrated this Passover meal with His disciples, He did something interesting. He

took the bread and wine and said: “This is my body,” and “This is my blood.” Jesus reinterpreted

the Passover into Himself. He identified Himself as the new Passover Lamb through which God

would deliver His people by His death — the sacrifice of His body and shedding of His blood.

Communion, then, is a way we remember that Christ died as a “Passover lamb” for us. It’s a way

we proclaim that we are his people. But it is far more than simply a remembrance. Similar to how God came to Israel at that first Passover, communion is a powerful way in which Christ comes to us in His real presence. As 1 Corinthians 11:26-30 puts it, “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

How does the Bible describe communion?

Life. Death. Resurrection. Community. Oneness. Unity. A foretaste of the feast to come. These

are just some of the ways the Bible describes communion.

Where does the Bible talk about communion?

Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, and Luke 22:7-38 describe communion in detail. John 13-17

describes the entire night in more detail, focusing more on the conversations and teaching

throughout the night.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 gives instructions surrounding it. (See 1 Corinthians 10, too). Acts 2:42-47

describes the spirit with which the early church practiced it. Jude 12 refers to it as a “love feast.”

Is communion for everyone?

Communion is for believers in Jesus who approach him with a repentant heart.

We believe God comes to us in communion. Coming into the presence of God is a powerful, but

dangerous thing. The Bible says taking communion with the wrong frame of heart does harm.

  • “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

Because of this it’s important to take communion only if you’re in a right relationship with God.

Who can take communion?

Anyone who can answer yes to the following four questions—

  1. Do I believe I am a sinner?
  2. Do I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of my sins?
  3. Do I believe Christ is coming to me in His body and His blood in this community of believers and meal?
  4. Do I repent of any sins that stand before God?
 

Living and believing these things puts you in a right relationship with God.

How old do I have to be?

As soon as you’re old enough to understand the questions above, have personally come to a place where you believe them for yourself, and have a basic understanding of what the Lord’s Supper is (usually through Confirmation or First Communion instruction class), you can start taking communion.

How do I get started?

If you’ve never taken communion before, we ask you to first talk with our pastor.

Confirmation and/or special communion classes are also held for students during the school year. Contact our pastor or an Elder for details.

When do I take communion for the first time?

You may begin any time after speaking with a pastor or taking part in Confirmation and/or a special communion class.

Should I be baptized first?

Yes. While it doesn’t matter where you were baptized or how old you were, baptism is an

important first faith-step in identifying yourself with Christ.

How do I know if I’m ready?

Do you love Jesus? Can you answer “yes” to the four questions? That’s a good indication you’re ready.  Talk with our pastor. He will help you navigate any concerns and determine a good time to start.