Preparing for Communion
Believers prepare for the Lord's Table through faith, self-examination, confession, reconciliation, gratitude, love, and hope.
Summary
Prepare for Communion by looking to Jesus, examining your faith and conduct, confessing known sin, seeking reconciliation where possible, discerning Christ's body, giving thanks, and expecting His return. Self-examination is not a search for personal worthiness; it exposes the need for Christ. Come as a repentant believer who trusts His finished sacrifice and intends to love the people sharing His one table.
Come Hungry For Christ
Paul's warning in Corinth addresses a manner of eating that contradicted the gospel meal, not tender believers who know they need grace.
Look First To Christ
Recall the gospel: His body was given, His blood established the new covenant, His sacrifice is complete, and He will return (). The Table does not celebrate your record; it announces His.
Ask: Am I trusting Christ alone, or using religious participation to hide from Him? Faith comes empty-handed and receives.
Examine Honestly
Invite God to search the heart (). Confess specific sin without excuses and consider speech, sexuality, money, relationships, prejudice, secrecy, and responsibilities ignored. Examination should lead to the Advocate, not endless inward staring ().
| The unworthy manner is careless contradiction of the meal. The worthy receiver is a needy sinner who discerns Christ, repents, and comes by faith. |
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Discern And Love The Body
Corinth's wealthy members humiliated those with little and turned a shared meal into division (). To discern the body includes honoring Christ's sacred sign and recognizing His gathered people.
Seek peace where possible. Do not stage a rushed private reconciliation in an unsafe situation, but reject cherished hatred and take the next truthful, wise step.
Receive With Gratitude And Hope
Eat and drink attentively. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice, pray for the people beside you, and look toward the kingdom feast. Afterward, carry the Table's pattern into generosity, forgiveness, and shared life.
Support
- The Lord's Supper: explains the meal for which this preparation is made.
- Repentance And Forgiveness: gives a practical path of confession, turning, and assurance.
- : supplies the historical problem, institution, examination, and pastoral correction.
- : models a humble request for God to expose and lead.
- : joins confession with Christ's cleansing and advocacy.
Questions
Should Recent Sin Keep Me Away?
Unrepentant commitment to sin must be confronted. Sin confessed and brought to Christ is a reason to receive the gospel meal, not flee from grace. Follow your church's pastoral guidance and do not use temporary abstention as a substitute for repentance.
What If I Struggle With Doubt?
Come if you are truly looking to Christ and willing to be helped. The Supper was given to strengthen weak faith. Tell a pastor about persistent fear so the promise can be applied personally and responsibly.
What About Children Or Visitors?
The Table belongs under local-church oversight. Churches should explain clearly how professing faith, baptism, membership, age, and discipline relate to participation according to their biblical convictions. Visitors should respect that shepherding rather than treat Communion as a private act.
Sources
- : gives the complete context for self-examination and discerning the body.
- : supplies a concise prayer for honest examination.
- : keeps confession grounded in Christ's cleansing and advocacy.
- Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Westminster Larger Catechism questions 171-175: provides a historic Scripture-indexed Protestant summary of preparation, reception, and response.