The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper, the eucharist, communion– whatever you call it, this meal is at the core of the Way of Jesus and at the center of the early church’s worship. For the first followers of the risen Messiah the highlight of the church gathering was not a song or a sermon, but a meal.

Jesus initiated this common meal at the feast of Passover on the night he was betrayed.

And [Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had 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.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” –Luke 22:17-19

The bread and the cup were given to us by the Lord Jesus in order to proclaim his death (1 Corinthians 11:26), receive his new covenant (John 6:54-57), and to anticipate the feast he is preparing (Revelation 19:6-9). The Lord’s Supper was the centerpiece of the early church’s worship (Acts 2:42-47) and will be the center of our gatherings as well.

To prepare our hearts to receive the bread and the cup we pray the Confession of Sins, and have the words spoken over us;

Christ’s body broken for us.
Christ’s blood shed for us.