33 Why We Take Communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The Lord’s Supper is not a mystical ritual we perform by habit; it is a memorial meal that keeps the cross at the center of our story. In this episode on 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Krisan Marotta walks through Paul’s account of Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, tracing how the Lord’s Supper intentionally echoes the Passover to remind us of judgment spared, slavery broken, and a new covenant relationship with God. In this week’s episode, we explore:How the Corinthians’ abuse of the Lord’s Supper exposes a deeper problem with what they truly believe and why Paul responds by going back to the meaning of the meal itselfThe Old Testament background: the first Passover as the night of judgment, rescue from slavery in Egypt, and the beginning of God’s covenant with IsraelWhy God commanded Israel to remember the Exodus through a yearly memorial meal, combining teaching, symbolic food, and shared family celebrationHow Jesus, at a Passover table, takes bread and wine and reinterprets them in light of his coming death as the true Passover LambJeremiah’s promise of a new covenant and how Jesus’ words, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood,” connect forgiveness of sins and a new heart to the crossThree key parallels between Passover and the Lord’s Supper: judgment passed over, deliverance from slavery, and the formation of a people who can truly say, “He is our God, and we are His people”The Lord’s Supper as a memorial today: a time of explicit teaching, tangible symbols of Christ’s body and blood, and a shared meal that unites believers as those who inherit the blessings of his deathA brief look at differing views of communion in church history and why, at its core, the Lord’s Supper is a powerful, God-given act of remembrance rather than a ritual that imparts grace by itselfAfter listening, you’ll see communion with fresh clarity as a God-designed way to remember what Christ has done and who you are because of it. You’ll be invited to come to the Lord’s table not casually or fearfully, but thoughtfully and gratefully—letting the words, symbols, and shared nature of the meal draw your heart back to the cross, anchor you in the new covenant, and remind you that you belong to a people rescued by the body and blood of Jesus. Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the ChurchMost people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life.Sign up for Bible Study Boot Camp