What is the Lord's Supper and how often should we take it?

The Lord's Supper — also called Communion or the Eucharist — is one of the two ordinances (or sacraments) instituted by Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. It is one of the most meaningful practices in the Christian life, and one of the most debated.

Jesus took bread and cup at the Passover meal and gave them new meaning: "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me... This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." (Luke 22:19-20). He commanded His disciples to do this — to keep doing it — as a memorial of His death.

Paul's extended treatment in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 adds the forward-looking dimension: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." The Supper looks back to the cross, inward to self-examination, and forward to the return of Christ. It is not merely a sentimental ritual — it is a proclamation.

The four main views on what happens at the table:

Roman Catholic transubstantiation — the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ, though they retain the appearance of bread and wine. Lutheran consubstantiation (or "real presence") — Christ's body and blood are truly present "in, with, and under" the bread and wine. Reformed/Calvinist — Christ is spiritually present at the table; believers truly receive Christ by faith, though the elements remain bread and wine. Memorial (Baptist/Zwinglian) — the bread and wine are symbols that represent and remind us of Christ's body and blood; no change in the elements occurs.

I hold the memorial view as most consistent with the New Testament, though I have deep respect for the real presence tradition.

How often? The New Testament says "as often as you do this" without specifying frequency. The early church appears to have celebrated it weekly (Acts 2:42, 20:7). Many churches do it monthly or quarterly. The more important question than frequency is whether it is done with genuine faith, self-examination, and gratitude.