What is the Lord’s Supper?

The communion has its history dating back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The night before they were freed each family ate the Passover meal. They were commanded to observe this feast through their generation to remember their deliverance. The Passover feast was to start with a week called, the Week of Unleavened Bread.  See Exodus 12:1-17, Matthew 26:17-19, Luke 22:7-13.
 
As Jesus and the disciples were having the Passover meal, he took the opportunity to institute the communion, Lord’s Supper. He blessed the bread and wine and gave them to the disciples to share among themselves. He made a promise to eat with them in His kingdom, the church. The Passover meal and the communion were eaten the night before Jesus was crucified Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20.

How do we participate today?

The communion is also called the Lord’s Supper and breaking of bread. Immediately after the church was established, the early church had the breaking of bread as part of their weekly worship. This was in keeping with the words of Jesus to eat with the disciples in His kingdom, the church Acts 2:42.

The disciples met every Lord’s Day, Sunday, to remember and proclaim the death of Jesus. And so do we. This observance of the communion will continue until Jesus returns.  See Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:26.

The body of believers partake of the Lord's Supper every Sunday the guidelines of which are found in the next question.

What are the guidelines to partaking of the Communion or Lord's Supper?

The disciples met every Lord’s Day, Sunday, to remember and proclaim the death of Jesus. This observance of the communion will continue until Jesus returns.  See Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:26.
 
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and gave some guidelines concerning the communion and its observance in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-33.

• The communion is made of bread and wine (fruit of the vine).

• The bread and wine are blessed.

• People should examine themselves before eating and drinking.

• The communion is to remember the Lord’s death until he comes.

• Abuse of the communion has consequences.