What is communion, and why do Christians take it?
The plate with the bread comes by, then the little cups. You’ve seen people close their eyes and pray. But what is communion actually for, and are you supposed to take it?
Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, is how believers remember Jesus’ death until He comes back. Jesus started it the night before He died: He took bread and said, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me,” and then the cup: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19–20). The bread stands for His body, broken for you. The cup stands for His blood, poured out for your sins. In plain words: communion is a meal of remembering. Every time you take it, you are saying, “Jesus died for me, and He is coming back.”
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The night before the cross
Jesus gathered His disciples in an upper room to eat the Passover, the meal that remembered how God rescued Israel from Egypt by the blood of a lamb. That night, He gave the old meal a new meaning. The bread was His body. The cup was His blood, the blood of a new covenant. Hours later, He was arrested. The next day, the true Lamb of God was sacrificed (Luke 22:7–20). Every time we take communion, we go back to that room.
What it means
Remembering: “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Proclaiming: “you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Belonging: we eat together as one body (1 Corinthians 10:17). Hoping: Jesus said He would drink it new with us in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29).
Who should take it
Communion is for believers who belong to Jesus. Before you take it, examine your heart: “Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Confess any sin, and make things right with anyone you’ve wronged if you can (Matthew 5:23–24).
You don’t have to be perfect
Examining yourself doesn’t mean you have to be sinless. It means you come honestly, turning from sin and trusting what Jesus did. Communion is for forgiven sinners, not perfect people.
What the Bible says
- 01
The bread and the cup.
“And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:19–20 - 02
Examine yourself.
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, 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 this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore, 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. Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
1 Corinthians 11:23–29 - 03
One body.
“Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.”
1 Corinthians 10:16–17 - 04
The bread of life.
“Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.”
John 6:35 - 05
Until that day.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.””
Matthew 26:26–29 - 06
When I see the blood.
“The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Before your next communion, take five minutes to read 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 and ask God to search your heart.
Common questions
How often should we take communion?
The Bible doesn’t set a schedule. The early church did it often (Acts 2:42). Paul says, “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Can I take communion at home?
Yes, as a believer remembering Jesus, ideally with other believers or family.
Can someone who isn’t saved take communion?
Communion is for those who belong to Jesus. If you haven’t trusted Him yet, today can be the day.
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