What is Communion? Last month I started a series on the Lord’s Supper explaining the word “communion.” We learned that the Apostle Paul uses this word in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 to mean spiritual participation with Christ Jesus. So when we take the Lord’s supper, we’re being drawn spiritually into a relationship with God.
We also learned the word for “communion” or “participation” is the Greek word “koinonia,” which also appears in Acts 2:42 and means “fellowship.”
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NIV®)
Here we actually see “communion” or “fellowship” going the hand-in-hand with “the breaking of bread” or the Lord’s Supper here. Last month we were challenged to focus on our vertical relationship with God. As you take communion, focus on the Lord. But that’s not the limit of what we’re doing here. Communion is not just a “Jesus and me” moment but a “Jesus and us” moment. Your horizontal relationships with each other—our “fellowship”—matters too.
I want you to take a moment and look around this room. As you take communion, you are communing with both Christ our head and with Christ’s body, one another. Do you love those sitting around you? Are you investing in relationships with them? Or is church just something you attend and go home? Are you praying for your church family? When you have a problem are you working it out? Are you caring for each other? Are we a fellowship, a communion?
If you have a broken relationship with someone in this room, I want to challenge you to get out of your chair and make it right before you take communion. Go sit with them as I say the prayer before the passing of the elements. We’ll all close our eyes and even if we see you no one will judge you. We will rejoice with you that you’re working to love your church family. And then once all the bread is passed out we’ll take it all at once to symbolize our unity. We’ll do the same with the juice.
Hear now the words of institution.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (ESV)
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (ESV)
This supper is for the body of Christ, for those who know Jesus. If you can’t honestly say you have a personal relationship with Jesus then please don’t take it, but we’d love for you to come to know him. If you know Jesus, please take it. But if you’re a believer who has a broken relationship with a brother or sister in Christ here at Cornerstone, go sit with them as I pray, ask for forgiveness, and affirm your love for them. Let me pray.
Pastor Jonathan Romig wrote this reflection on the Lord’s Supper.