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Think Spot: Reflecting on Communion

The celebration of Communion is a key historical component of the weekend services of Churches of Christ congregations, and yet it is not always practised weekly today. It often is, so as to promote the centrality of Christ’s death and resurrection, but some churches revert to a monthly commemoration to accommodate a crowded program.

People do often question why a priority is placed on weekly Communion, though, if it exchanges a clear focus on the Cross for the random thoughts of rostered congregation members. The priesthood of believers participating in ministry is an important concept, but Communion is often explained minimally and becomes little more than a devotional reflection appended with the request to eat and drink together. Perhaps a helpful guide for leaders might be: one verse, one story, and one point, all centred on one unchanging theme – the Cross.

Of course, the first Communion meal of Jesus included bread, symbolising his body, and a cup, symbolising his blood. Jesus’ sharing of a meal with his disciples naturally included the aspect of community which is sometimes sadly lost in the interests of providing a manageable and expedient process. Nevertheless, the use of some form of bread recognises that Jesus (who described himself as the bread of life) gave himself as a substitute who died in our place. The cup’s significance is that the blood of Jesus associated with that death was able to atone for our sin. The sinlessness of Jesus meant he had no sin of his own to die for and could therefore qualify to be our Saviour. 

Whereas sermons might sometimes neglect a specific reference to the power of the Cross to transform us, Communion can help enhance the message of salvation in a church service. Maybe this is the great weekly benefit. Rather than require Communion to be held weekly, then, it may be more useful to consider in what diverse ways Jesus is prioritised to be central in the weekly life of the local church.

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