Communion: A Profound Invitation to Remember Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Communion as Remembering Jesus’ Sacrifice

Communion is a physical and spiritual practice of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
When we take communion, we are invited to remember the story of Jesus—how He gave His body and shed His blood to rescue us from sin and death. This act is not just a ritual or a quick meal during a church service, but a deep spiritual moment to recall the love of God who did not leave us in our brokenness. Instead, He came to us through Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, to bring us out of bondage and into freedom. Each time you take communion, let it be an invitation to remember the greatest story ever told: Jesus changes everything. [50:44]

Luke 22:19-20 (NIV)
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Reflection: When you take communion, what specific part of Jesus’ story do you most need to remember today, and how can you let that truth shape your attitude or actions?

Day 2: The Passover Points to Jesus

The Passover meal foreshadowed Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb who brings true freedom.
The original Passover was a story of God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt, instructing them to mark their doors with the blood of a lamb so that death would pass over them. This powerful act of deliverance was remembered every year by the Jewish people through the Passover meal, with unleavened bread and cups of wine symbolizing God’s promises. Jesus, during the Passover meal, redefined its meaning by identifying Himself as the true Lamb whose sacrifice would bring redemption and salvation to all. The story of the Exodus points forward to the greater rescue Jesus accomplished for us. [43:18]

Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)
Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.’

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience God’s rescue and freedom, and how can you invite Jesus to be your deliverer in that area today?

Day 3: Communion Is a New Covenant

Communion affirms our commitment to the new covenant—God’s promise through Jesus, not our own works.
When Jesus took the cup at the Last Supper, He declared it the new covenant in His blood, signifying a new binding agreement between God and His people. No longer are we made right with God through our own sacrifices or efforts, but through trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice. Communion is a moment to refresh our faith, to say “yes” to Jesus as both Savior and Lord, and to remember that our salvation is based on His finished work. This new covenant changes everything, offering us forgiveness, restoration, and a relationship with God that is not dependent on our performance. [47:04]

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NIV)
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.

Reflection: What is one area where you are tempted to rely on your own efforts instead of trusting in Jesus’ finished work, and how can you surrender that to Him as you take communion?

Day 4: Examine Yourself Before Communion

Communion calls us to examine our hearts and approach God with reverence and honesty.
Paul instructed the early church to examine themselves before taking communion, warning against treating it as a mere ritual or taking it in an unworthy manner. This is not about being perfect, but about pausing to reflect on your relationship with Jesus—remembering His story, believing in His sacrifice, and refreshing your commitment to Him. Communion is a sacred moment to check your heart, confess where you’ve drifted, and realign your life with the truth of the gospel. It’s an opportunity to move beyond the physical act to a deeper spiritual encounter with God. [59:11]

1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NIV)
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Reflection: Before you take communion, what is one thing you need to bring honestly before God—whether it’s a doubt, a sin, or a burden—and how can you invite Him to meet you in that place?

Day 5: Communion Is Both Physical and Spiritual

Communion is more than a ritual; it’s a spiritual practice that deepens our faith and unites us as one.
While the act of eating bread and drinking juice is simple, communion is meant to move us from the physical to the spiritual. It’s a moment to remember why we follow Jesus, to refresh our faith, and to declare together that our hope is in Him alone. Communion unites us as a community, reminding us that we share in the story of Jesus and the new life He offers. Let this practice go beyond the surface—let it be a time where you encounter God’s presence, renew your commitment, and celebrate the grace that makes us one family in Christ. [01:01:05]

John 6:56-57 (NIV)
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

Reflection: As you take communion this week, how can you intentionally move beyond the physical act to truly encounter Jesus and renew your sense of belonging in His family?

Sermon Summary

Communion is more than a ritual or a “church word”—it is a profound invitation to remember and participate in the story of Jesus. From my earliest memories in church, communion was always treated as something sacred, but it wasn’t until I understood its roots and meaning that it became truly significant. Communion is not just about eating bread and drinking juice; it is about remembering the rescue, restoration, and new life that Jesus brings.

The practice of communion is rooted in the Passover meal, a festival God gave the Israelites to remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. During the original Passover, God instructed His people to eat unleavened bread and mark their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so that death would “pass over” their homes. This meal became a yearly reminder of God’s faithfulness and power to save. When Jesus shared His last meal with His disciples, He redefined the Passover by identifying Himself as the true sacrificial lamb. The bread became His body, and the wine His blood, establishing a new covenant—a new promise—between God and humanity.

This new covenant is not based on our ability to keep rules or perform rituals, but on Jesus’ sacrifice and our trust in Him. Communion, then, is a physical act that points to a deeper spiritual reality. It is a moment to remember that Jesus’ death and resurrection have set us free from sin and death, just as the Israelites were set free from Egypt. It is also a time to refresh our faith, to recommit ourselves to following Jesus, and to recognize that our salvation is not earned but received as a gift.

Communion is meant to be taken seriously, not as a rushed or thoughtless act, but as a time to examine our hearts, remember the story of Jesus, and renew our commitment to Him. Whether taken weekly, monthly, or less often, the “how” is less important than the “why.” Each time we participate, we proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection until He comes again, joining with believers across time and space in this ancient and holy practice.

Key Takeaways

1. Communion is a call to remember the story of God’s rescue. Just as the Passover meal reminded the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt, communion reminds us of our deliverance from sin and death through Jesus. It is a tangible way to keep the story of God’s faithfulness and love at the center of our lives, especially when we are prone to forget in the busyness and chaos of daily living. [32:16]
2. The meaning of communion is rooted in the new covenant Jesus established. By taking the bread and the cup, we are not just recalling a historical event, but affirming our participation in a new relationship with God—one based not on our works, but on Jesus’ sacrifice. This covenant is a binding promise that God is for us, and that our salvation is secure in Christ alone. [47:04]
3. Communion is both a physical and spiritual act. While the bread and juice are simple elements, they point to a deeper reality: the body and blood of Jesus given for us. Participating in communion is an opportunity to move beyond the surface, allowing the physical act to lead us into spiritual reflection, gratitude, and renewed faith. [50:44]
4. Taking communion invites us to examine ourselves honestly. Paul’s warning to the Corinthians was not meant to instill fear, but to encourage a thoughtful and reverent approach. Communion is a time to pause, reflect on our relationship with Jesus, and ensure we are not just going through the motions, but truly remembering and refreshing our commitment to Him. [57:32]
5. The frequency of communion is less important than its purpose. Whether taken weekly, monthly, or otherwise, what matters is that we use this practice to remember Jesus and the new life He offers. Communion is a gift—a regular reminder that our hope, identity, and future are anchored in Christ, not in our own efforts or achievements. [59:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Childhood Memories of Communion
[03:30] - Awkward Catholic Communion Experience
[07:10] - Introduction to “Church Words” Series
[10:00] - Why We Forget God and the Power of Remembrance
[13:45] - What is Communion?
[16:30] - Where Did Communion Come From?
[19:30] - Jesus Institutes Communion
[22:00] - The Passover Story and Its Significance
[27:00] - The Four Cups of the Passover Meal
[31:00] - Jesus Redefines the Passover
[35:00] - The New Covenant Explained
[38:00] - Why and How We Practice Communion
[41:00] - Communion as Remembering and Refreshing
[45:00] - Paul’s Warning: Taking Communion Seriously
[49:00] - Preparing Our Hearts for Communion
[52:00] - Taking Communion Together and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 22:19-20 (NIV) — > And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Exodus 12:12-14 (NIV) — > “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV) — > 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. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

Observation Questions

According to Luke 22:19-20, what did Jesus say the bread and the cup represent?
In the Exodus story, what was the purpose of the unleavened bread and the lamb’s blood during the first Passover? ([36:40])
What does Paul warn the church in Corinth about when it comes to taking communion? ([57:32])
In the sermon, what are the four cups of the Passover meal, and what do they symbolize? ([43:18])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose the Passover meal as the moment to introduce communion? How does this connect the Old Testament story to the new covenant? ([46:23])
The sermon says communion is “not just about eating bread and drinking juice; it is about remembering the rescue, restoration, and new life that Jesus brings.” What does it mean for communion to be both a physical and spiritual act? ([50:44])
Paul tells the Corinthians to “examine themselves” before taking communion. What might it look like to honestly examine your heart before participating? ([57:32])
The sermon mentions that the frequency of communion is less important than its purpose. Why do you think the “why” matters more than the “how often”? ([59:41])

Application Questions

The sermon describes communion as a time to “remember the story of God’s rescue.” When you take communion, do you find yourself truly remembering what Jesus has done, or does it sometimes feel like just a routine? What could help you make it more meaningful? ([32:16])
Jesus redefined the Passover by identifying himself as the true sacrificial lamb. How does this change the way you view your relationship with God? ([46:23])
The new covenant is based on Jesus’ sacrifice, not our ability to keep rules. Are there ways you still try to “earn” your place with God? How can communion remind you that salvation is a gift? ([47:04])
The sermon encourages us to “examine ourselves honestly” before taking communion. Is there anything in your life right now that you need to bring before God before you participate in communion? ([57:32])
The physical act of communion is meant to lead us into spiritual reflection, gratitude, and renewed faith. What is one practical way you can prepare your heart before taking communion next time? ([50:44])
The sermon says, “Communion is a gift—a regular reminder that our hope, identity, and future are anchored in Christ, not in our own efforts or achievements.” What are some things you tend to anchor your hope or identity in besides Jesus? How can you shift your focus? ([59:41])
If you have ever skipped communion because you didn’t feel “worthy,” how does the message of grace in the new covenant change your perspective? ([59:11])

Sermon Clips

And the Passover is the story of God rescuing and restoring his people. It's the story of them out of slavery, out of captivity, out of bondage, out of brokenness, into freedom, into life, into the promises that God made them a long time ago. [00:41:18] (16 seconds) #passoverFreedomStory

But then Jesus breaks and goes, this is my body, and you're going to eat this, and you're going to do this in remembrance of me. And now things start getting a little weird, because for their entire lives, they would do this Passover meal, and they'd eat the unleavened bread as a reminder of, oh yeah, God told us to make this bread so we can get out quickly, and we'd have sustenance as we'd leave Egypt. And now Jesus is saying, no, this is me now. [00:46:00] (25 seconds) #JesusNewCovenant

Now, before this moment, God and his people had a covenant of how they were supposed to live and operate. And this was where the temple came in place where they would sacrifice animals for the forgiveness of their sins and all these different things. And now Jesus is saying something completely different. He's like, hey, this cup of wine, this cup of redemption is a new promise. It's a new binding agreement. Things are different now. [00:47:27] (25 seconds) #ancientHolyPractice

That's exactly who Jesus is. He's the one who can change everything. Because the same God that did the first Passover was sitting amongst them in Jesus Christ. The same God that rescued and restored the Jews then was there to rescue and restore all of mankind in that moment. The same God who did everything in Egypt was about to lay down his life for you and me through his son, Jesus Christ. [00:49:09] (26 seconds) #communionInvitesRemembering

Everything changes because of Jesus. This was like changing Christmas. This is how big of a deal this was. And we still practice this as a part of our Christian faith today. Something followers of Jesus have been doing for almost 2 ,000 years now. This is an ancient and holy practice to remember Jesus. [00:50:21] (19 seconds) #greatestStoryEverTold

Jesus said the blood was the new covenant this new promise with god this new agreement it's no longer based off our own works and our own sacrifices it's based off of jesus's sacrifice and trusting that jesus is is enough that when we take communion it's like you are affirming your commitment to this new promise this new binding agreement with god by saying yes jesus i'm in yes jesus i'm a follower of you yes jesus i trust you as both savior of my life and lord of my life that you're in charge of every aspect of our lives [00:53:23] (32 seconds) #sharingGoodNewsOfJesus

So here's the one thing today if you forget everything else i said just remember this communion is the physical and spiritual practice of remembering jesus it's what it is yes it's like a quick meal that we remember jesus with but it is a much deeper spiritual thing that we're doing to remember the story and to refresh our faith [00:54:17] (21 seconds) #reflectAndExamineFaith

``You can't be good enough to earn your way to salvation. You can't do enough good things. You can't do the whole scale thing of weighing the good and the bad. Our lives, our righteousness, us being made right with God is based off one thing only, and that is Jesus. And that's what this new covenant is. It's that through Jesus' blood, we have a new promise that our salvation is found through Jesus, and we take that together as one. [01:03:13] (23 seconds)

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