Is It Enough Just To Take Communion At Church?

 

Communion is such an important element in the Christian faith, but is it enough to partake just at church?

Unfortunately, communion has become a symbol of religious tradition; as opposed to a constant reminder of the foundation of our faith.

Communion

Think about it, our faith as a believer is based on the history and truth of the resurrection. Christ’s body being beaten and torn to shreds for our; well-being. For our healing in our spirit, soul, and body.

His blood was shed so that we may have the forgiveness of sin and the FREE gift of eternal life!

WOW just thinking about that makes the hair stand up on our arms. Yet, so many of us take that lightly and can barely make it to church to take communion.

Our Revelation

This became real to us when we were seeking God’s face for the sake of our survival literally! We needed God spiritually, mentally, financially and physically. And waiting to take communion at church was too long of a wait!

One day in our quiet time with God we read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (The Message).

“Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.”

At that moment we saw this scripture differently. We realized that it’s not enough to acknowledge what Christ did for us at the cross just on Easter, or once a month at church. No!

We must purpose to remember what Christ did for us on a regular basis.

Bringing Communion To Life

Not too long after we had that revelation, we came across this book at a local Christian bookstore; The Table That Speaks-Bringing Communion To Life.

The Table That Speaks

Talk about God confirming what was resonating in our Spirit! As we read this book, our heart was more convicted to remind ourselves of what Christ did for us regularly.

So we went to a pottery store and painted a plate and cup, specifically for our family to take communion at home.

We placed this set on our table, so we could pray together, confess our sins, and take in communion as a family.

And when we started to do this more often, we became aware of God’s grace and our hopelessness without Him.

God’s Grace

When we took communion, we were training our minds to become more consciously aware of what Christ did for us. Recognizing the grace, He extended to us even when we didn’t feel worthy.

This awareness made us more sensitive to extend that same grace to others.

Hopelessness Without Christ

With all that’s happening in the world today, one can feel quite hopeless. But because of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection, we have hope! Despite all that happens to us, we know that we are never without hope.

Our hope is in the One who conquered death! And this is embedded in our hearts and minds, every time we take communion.

Taking Communion At Home

Don’t let the thought of not knowing how to take communion at home stop you from doing it. We will walk you through it. 

Taking communion at home is simple. All you need is juice or water, and a piece of bread, cracker, a chip, or even a cookie will do. What you use is not as important as to why you’re taking communion. 

Jesus modeled the way we should take communion. So we will take our instructions from Him. 

*We have also provide a copy of these communion prayers that can be downloaded from our community library or by filling out the form below. 

Download Communion Prayers From Library

Examine Your Heart 

Jesus tells us to examine our hearts before we take communion.

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (NLT) 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

This does not mean we can’t take communion if we have sinned. We can take communion in a manner that’s worthy by honoring the significance of communion and examining ourselves. This includes confessing and repenting for our sins, and receiving Christ’s forgiveness. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you in the name of Jesus, and I ask you to search my heart and make it pure. Remove anything in me that isn’t pleasing to you. I repent for anything I’ve done knowingly or unknowingly that doesn’t please your sight or ears. I release any anger, hurt, resentment, pride, or unforgiveness that I may be holding in my heart. And help me Father to extend the same love, grace, and forgiveness to others as you have extended it to me. 

Pray Over the Elements

Now that our heart is prepared to receive communion, we will pray over the elements. 

Prayer Over The Bread 

1 Corinthians 11: 23-24 (NLT) For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

Instructions: Break the bread or cracker and hold it up.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father we thank you for this (bread or cracker) as a representation of Jesus’ body that was broken for us. As we eat this (bread or cracker) we not only remember what you’ve done for us but we receive your healing, wholeness, and peace. Instructions: Eat the bread or cracker. 

Prayer Over The Juice 

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT) In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 

Instructions: Hold the juice. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for the precious blood of Jesus that is represented in this juice. We are reminded of the blood that was shed so that we may have eternal life and the forgiveness of sin. We receive your forgiveness, and thank you for our salvation, so that we can spend eternity with you. In Jesus Name. Amen. 

Instructions: Drink the juice

Closing Prayer & Reflection

After taking communion meditate on God’s goodness and end with a closing prayer of thanksgiving, song, or whatever God places on your heart. Remember this is a time of reflection, so surrender your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to direct your steps. 

In The End

Our mentors used to tell us we have to renew our mind as often as we comb our hair. Because the enemy is out daily trying to steal our joy, our hope and our peace!

If this is something that resonates with your heart, then we would encourage you to seek God as to how your family can take communion more often.

When we take the time to remind ourselves of what Christ has done, it allows us to remain in a place of gratitude for our salvation; instead of taking God’s grace for granted.

 

~ André and Timberley Gray