Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Corinthians 10:16
The Meal at the Centre of Worship
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and wine with His disciples and gave them new meaning:
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 22:19-20
The Lord's Supper — also called communion, the Eucharist, or breaking of bread — is one of the two ordinances Jesus gave the church, and it stands at the centre of Christian worship.
What the Lord's Supper Is
Christians have debated the precise nature of what happens in the Lord's Supper for centuries. Three main views exist:
Roman Catholic (transubstantiation) — the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ through the words of consecration. The sacrifice of Christ is re-presented in each Mass.
Lutheran (real presence) — Christ is truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine, though the elements remain bread and wine.
Reformed/Baptist (memorial) — the bread and wine are symbols that represent Christ's body and blood. The Supper is a memorial and a proclamation, not a re-sacrifice. Christ is present spiritually by faith.
What the Lord's Supper Does
Regardless of one's view on the precise nature of Christ's presence, the Lord's Supper accomplishes several things in the life of the church:
Remembrance. "Do this in remembrance of me." The Supper keeps the cross central in the church's worship. It is the regular, embodied reminder of what salvation cost.
Proclamation. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Supper is a sermon in physical form — preaching the gospel through participation.
Anticipation. "Until he comes" — the Supper looks forward as well as back. It is an eschatological act, a foretaste of the great marriage supper of the Lamb.
Communion. Participation in the Supper is participation in the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16) — an expression of our union with Him and with one another.
Worthy Participation
Paul warns that those who eat and drink without "discerning the body" eat and drink judgment on themselves (1 Corinthians 11:29). Worthy participation requires self-examination, genuine faith, and right relationships — coming to the table with a clear conscience before God and fellow believers.