of the Celebration of Communion A Contemplation of the Celebration of Communion

Communion “a shared or common participation” The term “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word “eucharisto” meaning “to give thanks.” In 1 Corinthians 11:24, the apostle Paul calls it… “the Lord’s Supper”

The Pillars of Communion The Passover Meal (Exodus 12) Matthew 26:26-29 --- 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”

John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7 “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Pillars of Communion The Bread from Heaven (John 6:51-58) “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh” (John 6:51)

John 6:52-58 52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

The Purpose of Communion A Memorial Luke 22:17-20 --- 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

The Purpose of Communion A Fellowship 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 --- 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

The Practice of Communion Acts 20:7 --- “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…” 1 Corinthians 11:17-20 --- “17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper…”

1 Corinthians 11:21-22 “21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.”

The Participants of Communion 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 --- 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

1 Corinthians 11:30-32 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:33-34 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.

The Parts of Communion The Cup – picturing the blood of Christ The Bread – picturing the body of Christ The bread and juice do not magically or mystically become the body and the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Priority of Communion Acts 2:42 --- They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. We know it is important to devote ourselves to… The Word of God (Ps. 119:97; Col. 3:16; Heb. 4:12). To fellowship with one another (Heb. 10:25), and; Prayer (Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18, Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Pet. 4:7). We must also be equally committed, devoted, sold out to right participation in Communion.

of the Celebration of Communion A Contemplation of the Celebration of Communion