Essential Bible Verses for a Communion Service

The Communion service is a sacred time of fellowship and remembrance that connects the believer to the sacrifice of Christ and the hope of His soon return. Below is a structured Bible study listing the essential scriptures that govern this solemn ordinance. 🍞🍷

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

The Lord Jesus personally established this service on the night He was betrayed, replacing the Old Testament Passover with a new memorial of His own sacrifice.

• ** Matthew 26:26-28**: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

• ** Mark 14:22-24**: "And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said to them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."

• ** Luke 22:19-20**: "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

The Meaning and Practice of the Ordinance

Through the inspired words of the Apostle Paul, we understand the spiritual depth of this service as a "communion" or sharing in the life of Christ.

• ** 1 Corinthians 10:16-17**: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

• ** 1 Corinthians 11:23-26**: "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come."

The Preparatory Service: Humility and Examination

Before partaking of the bread and the cup, the Lord designed a service of self-examination and humility through the washing of feet, ensuring hearts are cleansed of pride and strife.

• ** John 13:4-5, 14-17**: "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet... If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you... If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

• ** 1 Corinthians 11:27-29**: "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

The Forward Look to the Kingdom

The Communion service is not only a memorial of the past but a joyful pledge of the future marriage supper of the Lamb. 🎺

• ** Matthew 26:29**: "But I say to you, I will not drink from now on of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

• ** Luke 22:16, 18**: "For I say to you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God... For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."

• ** Revelation 19:9**: "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."

The Vital Necessity of Partaking by Faith

To receive the spiritual benefit of the Communion, the soul must assimilate the life of Christ, as symbolized by eating His flesh and drinking His blood.

• ** John 6:54-56**: "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day... He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him."

• ** 1 Corinthians 10:21**: "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

I hope these verses provide a clear and beautiful foundation for your understanding of this holy service! ✨