Communion—also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist—is one of the most familiar practices in Christian worship. Bread is eaten. A cup is shared. Simple words are spoken. And yet, for Protestants, communion is far more than a ritual we repeat out of habit. It is a gift Jesus gave to His church to shape our faith, our hope, and our life together.

At its heart, communion is something Jesus himself asked us to do. On the night before his death, he took bread and a cup and told his disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  (Luke 22:19) When Christians practice communion, we are responding in obedience to Jesus’ invitation. We gather not looking for meaning, but to receive what he has already given.

First, communion is about remembering the gospel. The bread and the cup point us to Jesus’ body given and his blood poured out for us. They remind us that our faith is not based on self-improvement or moral effort, but on what Christ has already done. Every time we come to the table, we are brought back to the center: Jesus crucified for sinners, raised to new life, and offering forgiveness and peace. In a world full of distractions, communion re-centers us on grace. This is why communion is for those that have “believed in their hearts and confessed with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead.”  (Romans 10:9)

Second, communion is about trusting, not earning. From a Protestant perspective, communion is not a sacrifice we offer to God or a work that makes us right with him. Instead, it is a sign and seal of God’s promise to us. We come empty-handed, receiving again the assurance that we are saved by grace through faith. The table proclaims that salvation is a gift, not a reward for spiritual success.

Third, communion is a way God nourishes our faith. While theologians may differ in how they describe Christ’s presence in communion, there is wide agreement on this: God uses it to strengthen believers. As we eat and drink in faith, the Holy Spirit works in us—reminding us who we are in Christ, deepening our trust, and renewing our love for God. Communion does not replace faith; it feeds it. We feed ourselves on the goodness of God made available in Jesus Christ.

Fourth, communion proclaims hope. The apostle Paul writes that whenever we eat the bread and drink the cup, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  (1 Corinthians 11:26). Communion looks backward to the cross, but it also looks forward to Christ’s return. It reminds us that the story is not finished. One day, brokenness will be healed, sin will be fully dealt with, and God’s people will feast together in his kingdom,  and all things will be made new. The Lord’s table trains us to live with that future in view.

Fifth, communion shapes our life together as a church.  We come as one body, many people united together in Christ. At the table, social status, background, ethnicity and personal achievements fade into the background. What matters is that we all come by the same grace. This bread and this cup calls us to humility, reconciliation, and love for one another. It asks us to examine ourselves—not to exclude ourselves in shame, but to come honestly, seeking mercy and restored relationships. There is only One who saves. No one arrives by merit, advances by performance, nor rejected because of weakness.  Therefore, my solidarity with Christ is my deepest identity. This unity goes deeper than one’s ethnicity, nationality, gender, or family. There is One Lord and we are all apart of His one body!

Finally, communion invites us to draw near without fear. Because of Jesus, we do not approach God weighed down by guilt or uncertainty. We come confidently, knowing that Christ has opened the way. The table becomes a place of welcome for the weary, the doubting, and the struggling—a reminder that Jesus meets us where we are and does not let us remain unchanged. In Christ, God has removed all barriers that hindered or blocked access to Him.  Therefore, communion is a way of drawing near with confidence to the throne of grace “to receive mercy and grace in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

In short, Christians practice communion because it grounds us in the gospel. It teaches us to remember, to receive, to hope, and to love. Simple as it may seem, this bread and this cup quietly forms us again and again into people who live by grace and look to Christ. Communion is a sacrament of the church because Christ has commanded it and He is present with His people in it.  The real danger for Christians is not sin, but relating to God as if sin still defined access to Him. So, come to the table of the Lord for what communion teaches us, of which, we can be certain: you and I are loved and wanted!

Practicing communion together as a family can be a beautiful experience that lays the foundations of the gospel for the whole family, honors Jesus, and encourages and deepens trust in Him.

First, know that it is common for adults to feel intimidated or unqualified to lead their family in communion, but that is a scheme of the enemy! These feelings are common when we are learning to do something new! The Bible encourages us to practice our faith in all of life.

Second, communion is about remembering and not about getting all the mechanics right. We can do communion ‘right’ and miss the point! The purpose of communion is to draw us to reflect on and put our trust in what Jesus Christ has done for us. At the center is remembering and remembering builds our faith.

Third, Jesus used wine and unleavened bread, but grape juice (any juice really) and crackers or bread will be perfectly fine. If you desire to use unleavened bread most grocery stores sell Matzah (Matzo) crackers in the kosher section.

First, communicate with your family what you are doing. Perhaps refer to what they have seen at church and how communion has and can be practiced anywhere. It’s best to create a calm, unhurried atmosphere. A good practice may be lighting a candle in the middle of the table to represent the presence of God.

Second, lay out the juice and bread. These are often called the “elements” of communion. Pointing them out, take a moment to read the scriptures. Some good options are: 1 Cor. 11:24-26 and Matt. 26:26-28. Before reading, you could ask those around you what the elements represent and why Christians take communion. This could lead to a great conversation about why we need forgiveness, what sin is, etc.

Third, take the bread. One could read the scripture again concerning the bread and then take the bread together, or one could pray, thanking the Lord for becoming a man and a sacrifice for our sins.

Next, take the juice. One could either read the scripture concerning the cup or say another prayer thanking the Lord for His death, resurrection, and the new covenant.Finally, after taking the elements, each person could take turns naming someone they want to pray for and praying for that person.