The first Sunday of the month in almost every Baptist church is the time we set aside for Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. When I was a teenager growing up in the church whenever I walked into the sanctuary and saw the communion table set up I always thought the same thing; ‘frig church is going to be like fifteen minutes longer today.’

Since then I have grown a little and I have come to really enjoy and appreciate communion. While I do have a book that outlines the official, or at least typical introduction to communion I have started to invite people to the table with my own words. Words I would like to share with you today;

‘This is not our table, this is the Lord’s Table. Everyone who has confessed Jesus as saviour and lord is welcome. For anyone who has not yet confessed Jesus as saviour and lord, this is a great time to consider doing so. Jesus right now is standing at the door of your heart knocking, wanted to be invited in to dine with you.

We celebrate communion because it reminds us of the past. It is a reminder to us that Jesus lived, and died for us. He became a willing sacrifice so we can be reconciled with God. We celebrate communion because it reaches into our future. Jesus promises us that one day he will return and eat this meal with us in person. One day the whole world will be put back right, every injustice will be corrected every tear wiped away. We celebrate communion because it challenges our present. It asks us to examine our lives as we live in the space between what Jesus did in the past, and what he promises to do in the future. Do we live like we believe that Jesus died for us? Do we live like we believe that he is returning for us?’**

I really enjoy communion. It challenges my faith, and forces me to examine the condition of my heart. Also it is one of the few hands on, experiential moments in many our church services today.Beyond that Jesus asked us to remember him in this way. If all it costs me is an extra fifteen minutes of my day once a month to gain all of that I feel like I am getting a bargain. 

So much more than bread and wine

** If this wording, or any part of it resonates with you by all means make use of it.