Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper) is a practice Jesus commanded at the Last Supper the night before his crucifixion. Believers eat a small piece of bread and drink from a cup to remember his body broken and his blood shed for them. It’s an act of remembrance, a declaration of shared faith, and a look forward to Christ’s return. It does not save you. It points to the One who does.
If you’ve ever sat in a church service and watched people pass around bread and a small cup, you may have wondered what it all means.
Maybe you grew up in church and did it for years without anyone really explaining it.
Or maybe you’re brand new to the faith and trying to figure out whether you’re even supposed to participate.
Either way, you’re asking exactly the right question.
Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper) is one of the most meaningful practices in the Christian life, and the Bible has a lot to say about it.
Here’s what it is, where it comes from, what the elements mean, and what you need to know before you take part.
What Is Communion, Exactly?
Communion is a Christian practice in which believers eat a small piece of bread and drink from a cup (usually wine or grape juice) to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself started it and commanded his followers to continue it as an act of remembrance and worship.
The word “communion” comes from the Greek word koinonia, which means fellowship, participation, or sharing in common.
It points to the idea that when believers gather at the Lord’s table, they’re doing something together, not just individually.
You’ll also hear it called the Lord’s Supper (the term most commonly used in the New Testament), or in some traditions, the breaking of bread.
Whatever name your church uses, the practice itself comes directly from Jesus.
Where Does Communion Come From in the Bible?
Communion was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, the Passover meal he shared with his disciples the night before his crucifixion. He took bread, broke it, and said “This is my body, given for you.” He then took a cup of wine and said “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” He told them to do this in remembrance of him.
This is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.
The apostle Paul also recounts it in detail in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, which is actually one of the earliest written accounts we have.
In that passage, Paul writes:
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
That last line is crucial.
Taking communion isn’t just a quiet personal reflection. It’s a public declaration. Every time a believer takes the bread and the cup, they’re announcing to the room: Jesus died for sinners, and I’m one of them.
What Do the Bread and the Cup Represent?
In Luke 22:19-20, Jesus explains the elements directly. The bread represents his body. The cup represents his blood and the new covenant.
Here’s what each one means.
The Bread
When Jesus held up the bread and said “This is my body, given for you,” he was pointing to the physical suffering he was about to endure.
His body would be beaten, pierced, and broken on the cross.
The bread is a tangible reminder of that sacrifice.
It’s also worth noting that Jesus had earlier described himself as “the bread of life” in John 6:35, saying that anyone who comes to him will never go hungry.
The bread of communion connects directly to that identity. He gave his body so that we could have true life.
The Cup
The cup represents the blood Jesus shed on the cross and the new covenant it established.
In the Old Testament, covenants between God and his people were sealed with blood, like at Mount Sinai in Exodus 24.
Jesus’s death on the cross established a new and better covenant, one where forgiveness of sin is available to everyone through faith, not through repeated animal sacrifices.
When believers drink from the cup, they’re remembering that Jesus’s blood paid the price for their sin.
It’s a reminder of what the gospel actually cost.
Why Do Christians Take Communion?
Christians take communion for three reasons: to remember Jesus’s sacrifice, to declare their faith publicly, and to look forward to his return. Paul wrote that “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). It’s backward-looking (remembrance), present-tense (declaration), and forward-looking (anticipation) all at once.
Let’s break those three purposes down.
First, it’s an act of remembrance. Jesus said “do this in remembrance of me.” Every element of communion is designed to bring Jesus’s death and resurrection back to the front of our minds. We forget easily. God knows that. Communion is a built-in practice that keeps the cross central.
Second, it’s a corporate declaration. Paul says believers “proclaim” the Lord’s death when they take communion. Taking the bread and cup is a form of worship and witness, even when no words are spoken.
Third, it’s a forward-looking act. The phrase “until he comes” points to the coming kingdom of God. Communion is a practice for this age, not the next. Every time we take it, we’re reminded that history is moving toward something: the return of Christ.
Who Should Take Communion?
Communion is for followers of Jesus who have placed their trust in him for salvation. It’s not a ritual that makes you a Christian, and it’s not meant for people who haven’t yet made that decision. It’s a practice for those who already belong to Christ, as a regular reminder of what he did for them.
If you’re still exploring the faith, that’s completely okay.
Many churches will invite you to watch or pass the elements along without taking them, and there’s no shame in that.
But if you’re wondering whether you’re “good enough” to take communion, that question actually misunderstands the point.
Communion isn’t for people who have it all together. It’s for people who know they don’t, and who are trusting Jesus because of it.
If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, if you understand what it means to be born again, then the Lord’s table is for you.
If you haven’t yet, communion can serve as a powerful invitation to consider your relationship with Jesus before you take the next step.
How Often Should You Take Communion?
The Bible gives no specific command about how often to take communion. Jesus said “do this” but didn’t say “do this every Sunday” or “do this once a month.” The early church appears to have taken it frequently, possibly daily, but modern churches range from weekly to quarterly. The heart posture matters more than the calendar.
Acts 2:42 describes the first Christians as regularly “breaking bread” together as a core part of their communal life.
Acts 20:7 records Paul meeting with a church on the first day of the week specifically to break bread, suggesting a Sunday rhythm for some early congregations.
As one biblical resource notes, there is no set biblical command on the frequency of communion, only that it be done with reverence and intention.
Whatever your church’s practice, the goal is the same: don’t let it become rote. Whether it’s weekly or monthly, approach the table with genuine reflection on what Jesus did.
How to Prepare Your Heart Before Taking Communion
Paul gives a serious warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 about taking communion “in an unworthy manner.”
He’s not saying only perfect people can participate.
He’s saying don’t take it flippantly, without any thought for what it represents.
Here’s how to prepare:
Examine yourself. Before you take the bread and the cup, take a moment to honestly consider your heart. Are there sins you haven’t confessed? Is there someone you’ve wronged? Bring those things before God.
Confess and receive forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive them. Communion is a good moment to do that.
Come with gratitude. Remember what Jesus actually did. The cross wasn’t a small thing. Let the weight of it settle in before you take the elements.
Come expectantly. Communion isn’t just a ritual. It’s a moment of genuine encounter with the living God. Come ready to meet him there.
Keep Exploring Your Faith at Seeker of Christ
Seeker of Christ exists for exactly the kind of person who asks questions like this one.
Whether you’re a longtime believer working through the details of your faith, or someone who just started attending church and is trying to understand what’s happening, this site is here to help.
Here are a few places to keep going from here:
If you want to understand the message that communion points to, start with what the gospel actually is and why it’s the center of everything.
If you’re wondering about what what Protestant Christians believe about communion and the faith more broadly, that article breaks it down clearly.
And if you’re comparing notes on how Catholics and Protestants differ in their view of communion and other practices, that’s covered there too.
You can also start each day in the Word with the Daily Bible Verse page.
Questions drive growth. Keep asking them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Communion
What is communion in Christianity?
Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper) is a practice in which believers eat bread and drink from a cup to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was instituted by Jesus himself at the Last Supper and is practiced by Christians across nearly every tradition worldwide.
Do you have to be baptized to take communion?
The Bible doesn’t require baptism before taking communion. Most Protestant churches ask only that a person be a genuine follever of Jesus before participating. That said, baptism and communion are both important responses to the gospel, and many churches encourage baptism first as a public declaration of faith.
What do the bread and cup symbolize in communion?
The bread represents the body of Jesus, broken for our sins. The cup represents his blood, which sealed the new covenant between God and humanity. Together they point to the complete sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
Can you take communion at home?
Yes. While communion is usually practiced in a gathered church community, there’s nothing in Scripture that limits it to a church building. Many families and small groups practice communion at home. The key is approaching it with the same reverence and intentionality you would bring to a church setting.
How often should communion be taken?
Scripture doesn’t set a required frequency. The early church appears to have taken it regularly, possibly weekly. Today’s churches range from weekly to monthly to quarterly. What matters most is the attitude of the heart, not the number on the calendar.
What does the Bible say about taking communion unworthily?
In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, Paul warns against taking communion “in an unworthy manner.” He’s not saying only sinless people can participate (that would exclude everyone). He’s warning against approaching it carelessly or without self-examination. The solution is to come with honest confession and a genuine awareness of what the elements represent.
Is communion a sacrament or an ordinance?
This depends on your theological tradition. Catholics and some Protestant traditions view it as a sacrament, meaning God conveys grace through the physical act itself. Most evangelical and Baptist traditions view it as an ordinance, a symbolic act commanded by Christ that declares and celebrates a spiritual reality. Either way, the practice itself comes directly from Jesus’s command and is grounded in Scripture.