Day 1: Remember (Look at The Past)

In 1826 Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce produced the first known photograph. We are used to a world where we can shoot 100 photos on our phone without a thought, but prior to Niépce’s invention people had to capture memories in other ways. A few gifted artists would paint or draw. Yet many without those gifts would use methods like stories, keepsakes, rituals, memorials, etc. to “take a picture” of a person or event. The goal in all of this was to remember.

As you know, there were no first century cameras. No one had a booth in the marketplace of ancient Israel that sold Polaroid or Kodak cameras. This led into our Lord leaning into a meal to create a memory that he wanted us to live over again and again. This “photo” of the past is communion. Jesus commissioned a meal for us to look back and remember what he did for us. The scriptures today remind us to remember.

Luke 22

19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”
LUKE 22:19-20, NLT

Question 1

Question 2

1 Corinthians 11

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26, NLT

Question 3

Exodus 12

11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 
EXODUS 12:11-13, NLT

Question 4

Day 2: Rejoice (Look Forward To Heaven and the Second Coming of Christ)

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s not because of time off of work. It’s not because of gifts. And it’s definitely not because of colder temperatures. I’m a summer and warm weather guy. The thing I love the most is cooking for my family and sitting down to a nice family meal together. I love to cook and these times give me a great opportunity to serve my family. 

Today as we study communion we are going to observe that communion is linked to celebration. Communion is a celebratory feast and party to rejoice in what Christ has done (his sacrifice on the cross) and what he is going to do (call us home to eat at his banqueting table). 

Isaiah 25

A repeated theme in the Old Testament is the idea that God invites all who love him to a banqueting table for a great feast. Here Isaiah repeats this invitation from God. It is universal and it is extravagant.

In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
ISAIAH 25:6, NLT

Question 1

In reading about God’s banquet that we are invited to in Isaiah 25, what does the banquet say about the host? What does it say about us? 

1 Corinthians 11

As Paul writes to the Christians in the church of Corinth he talks a lot about communion in great detail. On multiple days we will be revisiting Paul’s theology on communion from 1 Corinthians chapters 10 and 11. In the below verse I really want you to focus on what you are proclaiming as you take communion.

26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 
1 CORINTHIANS 11:26, NLT

Question 2

When you take communion you announce “the Lord’s death until he comes again”. What does this have to do with rejoicing?

Matthew 26

In Matthew 26 we see what has famously come to be known as “The Last Supper”. Jesus has a meal with his disciples where he shares with them about his death. In the midst of this sad and somber moment, there is a ray of hope. 

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 
MATTHEW 26:27-29, NLT

Question 3

How does The Last Supper extend past this moment with Jesus 2,000 years ago into the future? How does it not only involve the disciples, but us?

Revelation 19

The author of Revelation leans into the language of feasts and banquets here within the context of a wedding. This wedding is us (the church as bride) to the lamb (Jesus as groom). This is our cosmic reunion with God! When we take communion, we live out in the present age what will come in a future age. 

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” 
REVELATION 19:9, NLT

Question 4

When you read about this word picture of the church (that includes you) being fully united with Christ with no sin, how does that make you feel? What does that invoke inside of you?

Day 3: Repent (Look At Your Sin)

There are two things I hate in my life: the app MyFitnessPal and the scale in my bathroom. Why? Both constitute reality. If you are unfamiliar with MyFitnessPal, it’s a popular smartphone app where you put in the foods you eat throughout the day and it tracks all the calories you eat. Based on your age, sex, and weight it gives you a number of calories you can consume. As you eat, it watches your numbers move from the black (you are under your calorie count) into the red (you are over your calorie count). It’s the worst!

Then there is the scale in my bathroom. Most of us have one of these. Every morning I get up and step on that scale. Some days I’m proud because I dropped a pound or two. Other days I am angry because I added a pound or two. Most days I’m depressed because I stayed the same. 

What I hate about this app and my scale is that they force me to face reality. These metrics don’t bend based on my fuzzy math. They don’t flex based on my emotions. They are a mirror that reflects back to me how fit or unfit I really am. Communion is a mirror. Communion reflects back to all of us that we are made in the “image of God'' (Genesis 1:26-28) and “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Yet communion also reflects back to us that “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “no one is righteous” (Romans 3:10-12) including us. In other words we are a mess and we made that mess ourselves.

Therefore, it’s important that we repent. Repent is just a religious term that means “sincerely apologizing for doing God wrong.” It’s as if you are going in the wrong direction so you change your mind and trajectory to head in the right direction. Repentance sets us straight with God and engages God’s forgiveness to take care of the mess that is us. 

1 Corinthians 11

Today we are going to revisit 1 Corinthians 11 again. Here the Apostle Paul says you “should examine yourself”. This term in the original language literally means “to test, examine, prove, or scrutinize”. It was often used back in Paul’s time to test metals. Not knowing much about metallurgy, I researched online what it means to test metal and why someone would do it. Here is what machinemfg.com had to say about it: “By analyzing the composition of metal materials, it becomes possible to comprehend the material makeup, thereby allowing for the monitoring of product quality, the analysis of problematic products, and the identification of potential issues to eliminate any hidden dangers.” Paul is teaching us that communion enables us to see problems and hidden dangers in ourselves and ask God’s help to fix those.  

28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 
1 CORINTHIANS 11:28-29, NLT

Question 1

How would you define the term repentance in your faith to a person who has never heard it before? How would you explain it as part of communion?

Question 2 

What does God offer us in return for our repentance? How does repentance impact our relationship with Him?

Day 4: Reunite (Look At Your Relationships)

You have probably never heard the term “expressive individualism”. It was coined by the American Sociologist Robert Bellah. It’s the idea that individual freedom, self-definition, and self-expression provides the highest happiness and meaning. In other words, “You do you and I’ll do me.” It’s rugged individualism. It’s “be true to yourself”. It’s “no one, no institution and no group of people can tell me who I should be or what I should do”. There’s just one problem with this perspective: it’s not Biblical.

If you study the New Testament you will find that the majority of its teaching and correction is about the importance of the church (a group of people) and not the individual. One of the great expressions of this focus on community over individualism is communion. As we see today in the scriptures, communion is not a solo sport. Rather it’s a public expression of unity.

1 Corinthians 10

In 1 Corinthians chapter 10 we see Paul disciplining and correcting the church because they are divided. If you read the whole book of 1 Corinthians you will see that the necessity of unity is paramount to the church functioning as Christ called it to. In this chapter Paul uses the cup and bread of communion to make an argument that we should be one.

14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 
1 CORINTHIANS 10:14-17, NLT

Question 1

How could your participation in communion do more harm than good?

Question 2

Do you have any relationships that are unhealthy in the church? What do you think Paul would say to you about communion in light of this?

1 Corinthians 11

In 1 Corinthians 11 verses 20-22 notice what Paul is frustrated with. He’s upset because communion has become a normal meal where some people are included and some have been left out. It’s become a common meal (removing the sacred) and it’s become exclusive (leaving some people out). Communion should be sacred and inclusive incorporating all the Christians of the church.

Paul concludes this discussion in verses 33-34 instructing them to wait for one another. It’s also important to point out that healthy relationships require patience. Pastor John Mark Comer once stated “Hurry is violence on the soul.” Hurry is also violence on relationships. Good relationships move slowly. Time wasted with loved ones is not time wasted at all. Communion should be taken slowly so that we may fully enjoy Christ and one another. Communion rushed is communion compromised.  

17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27So then, 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. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions. 
1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-34, NLT

Question 3

How does participating in communion slowly, communally, and thoroughly enrich the experience?

Day 5: Repeat (Look At Your Rhythms)

The leadership guru John C. Maxwell once said, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” I would argue that it’s not just daily habits that matter, but weekly, monthly, and yearly habits that play into the formation of our character and spiritual growth. Today let’s lean into an important weekly habit that’s necessary for following Christ well: gathering for worship and communion.

Communion should be a consistent weekly communal habit. It should be consistent in that it shouldn’t be rare or sporadic. It should be communal in that it shouldn’t be done frequently in private. Church historians Justo Gonzalez and Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez write in their book Worship in the Early Church about baptism and communion in the first century in the Christian community:

If baptism is seen as a grafting whereby the branches are joined to the True Vine, Communion becomes like the sap that nourishes the branch. The notion of being a Christian by oneself, with no commitment to a community of believers, early Christians would have considered absurd.
González, Justo L.; González, Catherine Gunsalus. Worship in the Early Church (p. 241). Presbyterian Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Notice how being a Christian alone or partaking in communion in private would have been “considered absurd” by the early church. Communion is not a solo sport. Therefore, we all need the rhythms of communion (weekly and in public) and repeated for spiritual health. Today’s scriptures will demonstrate that.

11 Acts 2 

In Acts 2 the author Luke writes about life in the early church. It’s a beautiful picture of the way the church can function when it’s healthy. There are repeated rhythms we see in this church. They were deeply devoted when it came to teaching, learning, community, eating together, sharing material goods, evangelism, etc. One key repeated rhythm was how they “met in homes for the Lord’s Supper”. Back then they did not have church buildings so they met in homes, synagogues, and public spaces. While they didn’t meet at a church building, they did meet for church. Clearly gathering regularly was one of their habits and when they came together communion was a part of the gathering. 

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. 
ACTS 2:42-47, NLT

Question 1

What role did communion play in the regular gathering of the early church? How should that impact our views on communion today?  

Hebrews 10 

Gathering regularly in church for communion is not just for our benefit. It is also for the benefit of others. The author of Hebrews talks about our gatherings being a powerful tool to encourage one another. When we gather weekly for worship and partake in communion together, it’s a bold statement that we take the body and blood of Christ together to signify that we are family. In the book Worship in the Early Church it states in reference to the term “body of Christ” used in communion that: 

The phrase “the body of Christ” often refers to the church. There is no doubt that early Christians were convinced that they were part of the body of Christ in this third sense, and also that they could not be members of that body without having received also the body of Christ in the second sense—that is, without participating in Communion.
González, Justo L.; González, Catherine Gunsalus. Worship in the Early Church (p. 241). Presbyterian Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

To neglect church engagement is to neglect communion. Conversely, to neglect communion is to neglect church engagement. The early church saw them tethered together.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 
HEBREWS 10:23-25

Question 2

How is church attendance linked to communion?

Please Note:
If you can’t come to church regularly or at all due to health problems (shut in, disability, high risk to COVID, etc.), you would be the exception to this teaching. We want to be committed to teaching ideal expressions of the Bible’s theology about communion and gathering. However, we do not want to be cold or legalistic. It’s better to practice communion at home or alone than not at all. Unique situations often call for unique expressions of practice. Of course God is merciful and understanding in these situations. This should also be the posture of the church. Some people simply can’t come to church or partake of communion in groups. That is ok. 

Day 6: Reflect (Look At Christ’s Work and Free Gift)

In 2018 an archaeobotanist named Amaia Arranz-Otaegui was collecting leftover food from an archeological site in modern day Jordan. What she found is rewriting history. Amaia found bread crumbs that were over 14,000 years old. Prior to this find, archeologists believed that farming and agriculture came before the production of bread. Therefore, bread did not come into human history until about 10,000 years ago. Amaia’s discovery proved that bread proceeded farming. In other words, people have been enjoying bread before the dawn of human civilization. You can read about the full story here. 

Today Jesus is going to tell his own story about old bread and how it relates back to him. This teaching then funnels back into communion and why it’s so important to us today. 

John 6

John 6 opens with the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000. Shortly there after Jesus leverages the miracle to talk about how he is the bread of life. This teaching leans into a story from the Old Testament because Jesus’ audience is Jewish so they would have known this story well.

In the book of Exodus, the Hebrews (also called the Israelites) escaped slavery in Egypt from pharaoh. After this they spent 40 years wandering in the desert. During this time God miraculously sustained their lives through giving them water, quail, and manna. Manna was a bread-like substance. 

In John 6 Jesus claims to be the new manna from heaven. Just as the Hebrews eat manna to live, Jesus’ body is the new bread that keeps God’s people alive. He also leans into his blood being a life-giving and sustaining force. In other words, Jesus is teaching that communion is life to the believer.  

48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” 
JOHN 6:48-58, NLT

Question 1

What does it mean that Jesus is the “bread of life”? How does that relate to communion?

Question 2

When you don’t eat Christ (the bread of life), what other things do you feed on? How does this “alternative diet” negatively impact your soul? 

Day 7: Respect (Look At Your Commitment to Christ)

If you look at the history that follows the New Testament, from the second century to now, theologians, pastors, and priests have burned a lot of time and energy debating the nature of communion. As with most things in life, there is a spectrum of theological positions about the nature of the body and blood of Christ in communion. On one end some theologians believe that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ in a supernatural way. This position is known as transubstantiation. Here the bread and wine only appear as bread and wine, but are in fact the body of Christ.

On the other end of the spectrum is what is called the Memorial View. Here communion is to be taken figuratively and not literally. The bread and wine are purely symbolic. Christ is not present in the elements. 

Both views have some challenges. The challenge with transubstantiation is that it may put too much of an emphasis on the elements themselves and take us away from Christ. By treating the elements in such a mystical fashion that they become magical and the practice of communion can become loaded with superstition. The challenge with the Memorial View is that it seems to think too little of communion. The bread and body become nothing more than a metaphor like any common day metaphor and it leaves out the supernatural, mystical, and personal components. In the end a healthy theology of communion recognizes that it is a sacred act and moment while not over elevating it so communion itself is worshiped. Communion is sacred while Christ alone is our focus and the object of our worship. To learn more about views on communion read The Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11 

As the Apostle Paul talks to the church Corinth, partaking of communion in a worthy manner is very important. For him communion must be approached with a certain level of respect and reverence in order to elevate it to a worthy place. It’s not something to rush through. It’s not something to cross off the todo list. It’s not something to do lightly. According to Paul communion is important, sacred and meaningful. We should not think too little of the practice of communion. In this text, Paul states that the church’s view and practice of communion is so low that it’s leading to their sickness and even death.

27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 
1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-30, NLT

Question 1

Do you think you undervalue communion? If so, in what ways?

Question 2

How could you prepare better for communion so that you can partake of it in a worthy manner? What practices, habits, or preparation would help you to better focus?

In Conclusion

In concluding this communion study we want to encourage you to go deeper with the books listed below. For centuries the act of communion was central to the practice of the church. Communion, more than the sermons and songs, was the crown jewel and centerpiece to most worship services (even in the Protestant tradition). Only in the last 150 to 100 years has it been downgraded in many churches. In some churches the practice has been removed altogether. This is sad because our Lord Jesus instituted communion and it is a very important practice. May we see its revival in the church today and may we practice it in a way that honors Christ.

Further Reading

Christ, Baptism and the Lord's Supper: Recovering the Sacraments for Evangelical Worship

The Lord's Supper as the Sign and Meal of the New Covenant

The Lord's Supper: Five Views

Understanding Four Views on the Lord's Supper