Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 1)

When the Lord Jesus began the first Communion gathering with His remaining 11 disciples (Judas had left the Supper to betray Him) He gave them this command: "As often as you do this do it in remembrance of me". As a Christian church we view that command seriously and as a baptist church view it as one of the two ordinances Jesus gave the church, the other being baptism.

There is quite a bit of Scripture to draw from that teaches us about the meaning and purpose of Communion or the Lord's Supper/Table, beginning the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. We can also learn from the first church in Jerusalem the importance of observing Communion and from Paul's corrective letter to the Corinthian church we learn even more about it.

Some try to argue that Communion should be observed each Sunday. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with a weekly observance, it seems clear that becoming legalistic about when to have Communion misses the point. Jesus didn't dictate how often or even when. His first Communion was in the middle of the week, either on a Wednesday or Thursday night. So that tells us it doesn't have to be on a Sunday.

The Jerusalem believers, we're told in Acts 2, observed Communion daily. But then in 1 Corinthians 11:17 Paul speaks of Communion being observed when the church gathers together. Yet nothing is said of if it was every time they met or if it was only when the whole church met together or if it was in home groups. Nothing is said that it must be on a Sunday or any other particular day. And since nothing definitive is said we have to surmise that in this area of "how often/when" God gives us liberty. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule. We are free as a church to make those decisions.

It's also vital that we understand the purposes of Communion as set forth in the Scriptures. First, Communion is a time for believers to gather together to remember the suffering and crucifixion of Christ as our Savior. Because it is an ordinance of the church it is also open only to those who know Christ as Savior. That Jesus did not begin the first Communion until after Judas had left reinforces this.

Second, it is a time for fellowship in the church. Fellowship is much deeper in meaning than what we tend to first think. Fellowship may include food, but food isn't a necessity for fellowship. In fact, the word for fellowship and communion in the Greek language are the same and means "partnership". Gathering around the bread and the cup is a spiritual time of recognizing we belong together because we belong to Christ.

Third, Communion is a time for introspection - each believer looking within his/her own heart and evaluating his/her own relationship both with God and with one another. So, it is a time for reconciliation both with God and with others who may need my forgiveness or I may need theirs.

Fourth, Communion is a time to be reminded that Christ is returning. He told us to continue observing Communion until the day we observe it with Him. It gives us hope.

Fifth, the elements of Communion - the bread and the cup of wine (or in our case juice) are simply symbols of Jesus body and blood. They do not in some way physically or mystically become His body and blood. But they are real reminders as we eat and drink them together.

These principles from the Bible guide our approach to Communion.

Next: Why do we observe Communion when we do at Nags Head Church?