Holy Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, is a celebration Jesus instituted with his disciples on the night before he died. By sharing the bread and the cup, the church remembers his body given and his blood shed for us (Luke 22:14-20).
We do not repeat Jesus’ sacrifice: we proclaim the work he completed on the cross. Paul therefore writes that whenever we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he returns (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
The bread represents Christ’s body given for us, and the cup represents the new covenant established by his blood. In the Baptist tradition we understand them as visible signs pointing us to Jesus Christ and his sufficient sacrifice, not as elements that save us in themselves.
Taking part in faith helps us remember God’s love and grace, give thanks and renew our commitment to follow Jesus. Christ, rather than the ritual, is at the centre of the Lord’s Supper.
The word communion also expresses that we share one life in Christ. There is one bread and, though we are many, we are one body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). The Lord’s Supper is not merely an individual experience: it reminds us that we belong to a community called to love, serve and be reconciled to one another.
In Corinth, Paul rebuked a celebration marked by divisions and inequality. Discerning the body also involves recognising our brothers and sisters and refusing to turn the Lord’s table into a place of exclusion, selfishness or contempt (1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 27-29).
Before taking part, Paul calls us to examine ourselves. This does not mean arriving perfect or free from every struggle: no one would be worthy by personal merit. It means coming reverently, acknowledging sin, trusting again in Christ’s grace and being willing to repair broken relationships.
Self-examination should not drive us away from Jesus, but bring us honestly to him. The table proclaims precisely that we need the forgiveness he offers.
Specific practices vary among evangelical churches. At the UNIDA, we understand the Lord’s Supper as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ and fellowship with his people. If you have not yet trusted Jesus, do not understand the celebration or are unsure whether to participate, you are welcome to observe respectfully and speak with the pastoral team.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances Jesus entrusted to the church. Baptism publicly expresses the beginning of a life of discipleship; the Lord’s Supper regularly nourishes the community’s memory, gratitude, fellowship and hope.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we look in three directions: back to the cross, around us to the body of Christ, and forward to Jesus’ return and the banquet of God’s kingdom. It is a solemn celebration, but also one filled with gratitude and hope.