The Communion in worship

History of Communion
The communion has its history and roots dating back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The night before they were freed, each family was to kill a lamb, have bitter herbs and unleavened bread. They were commanded to observe this feast through their generation to remember their deliverance. The feast was to start with a week called the "Week of Unleavened Bread.  Look to Exodus 12:1-4, Matthew 26:17-19, Luke 22:7-13.

The inauguration of the communion

As Jesus and the disciples were having the Passover meal, he took the opportunity to institute the communion.  He blessed bread and wine (fruit of the vine, grape juice) 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.  See Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20.

The communion in the church

The communion is also called the Lord’s Supper and "breaking of bread."  As Jesus had promised to eat with the disciples in his kingdom, immediately after the church - the Kingdom - was established, the early church had the breaking of bread as part of their weekly worship.  See Acts 2:42.  We take the communion today, so we can fellowship with our Lord. Also read Matthew 18:20.

The weekly observance of the communion

The disciples meet every Lord’s Day, Sunday to remember and proclaim the death of Jesus (Acts 20:7).  Some people do not seem to have a problem with giving, singing, praying, and preaching every Sunday, but they have a problem with taking the Lord’s Supper every Sunday.

The abuse and instruction for the communion

The church in Corinth was abusing the communion by eating and drinking. Paul had to correct them and give guidelines.  See 1 Corinthians 11:17-33:

·         The communion is made of bread and wine

·         The bread and wine are blessed

·         People should examine themselves before partaking of communion

·         The communion is to remember the Lord’s death and proclaim Him

·         Abuse of the communion has consequences

The bread and wine we partake is a memorial

The bread and wine represent the body and blood of Jesus 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.

Historical evidence

The Didache was a training manual for new churches, written around A.D. 50-70.  It says, “Every Lord’s day, gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions.”  And describing the early church’s gatherings, Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) explains how communion was done every week. “When our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying, ‘Amen!’ Then the Eucharist is distributed to each one, and each one participates in that over which thanks has been given. And a portion of it is sent by the deacons to those who are absent.” (Historical Theology, Greg Allison, p.637).