Bible Study: What AG Believes About Communion
Assemblies of God Christians believe Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is one of the Church’s two ordinances. Using bread and the fruit of the vine, believers remember Jesus’ suffering and death, proclaim the gospel, share fellowship as Christ’s people, examine their hearts, give thanks, and look forward to His return.
This Bible study explains the Assemblies of God understanding of Communion through 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Luke 22:19–20, and Acts 2:42. It also considers what Communion means for believers who feel spiritually tired, disconnected, uncertain, or hungry for a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Why Does the Assemblies of God Call Communion an Ordinance?
The Assemblies of God recognizes two ordinances of the Church: water baptism and Holy Communion. An ordinance is a practice commanded by Jesus that visibly proclaims an essential truth of the gospel.
Water baptism points to identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Communion points believers back to Jesus’ sacrificial death and forward to the promise of His return.
The word ordinance matters because Communion is not merely a religious tradition created by later Christians. Jesus Himself instituted the meal and gave His followers a command: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
Communion is therefore an act of obedience, worship, remembrance, and proclamation. It does not replace saving faith in Jesus. Instead, it directs our faith toward the One who gave Himself for our salvation.
For a broader introduction to Assemblies of God teaching, you can read Why Are the 16 Fundamental Truths Essential for Your Faith?. Communion belongs within that larger biblical framework: Scripture is authoritative, salvation is through Jesus Christ, and the Church exists to worship God, make disciples, and show His love.
What Happened When Jesus Instituted the Lord’s Supper?
Luke 22 places the Lord’s Supper within the setting of Jesus’ final Passover meal with His disciples. This was the night before His crucifixion, a night filled with love, sorrow, betrayal, and holy purpose.
Luke writes:
“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.’” (Luke 22:19)
Then Jesus took the cup and connected it with the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20).
Jesus was not asking His disciples to remember an abstract idea. He was asking them to remember His body given for them and His blood poured out for them. The meal would continually bring the Church back to the center of the gospel: Jesus willingly gave Himself so that sinners could be forgiven and reconciled to God.
The phrase “given for you” is deeply personal. Communion announces that Christ’s sacrifice was not a distant religious event. Jesus gave Himself for real people, with real sin, real grief, real fear, real shame, and real need.
If you have ever wondered whether God sees you, Communion answers by pointing to the cross. Jesus’ love is not vague sentiment. It is demonstrated through His self-giving sacrifice.
Is Communion a Physical Transformation of the Bread and Cup?
The Assemblies of God understands the bread and the fruit of the vine as symbolic elements of the Lord’s Supper. The elements remain bread and the fruit of the vine. AG doctrine does not teach that they physically transform into Christ’s body and blood.
This does not mean Communion is empty, casual, or spiritually unimportant.
A symbol can communicate profound truth. A wedding ring is not the marriage itself, but it visibly represents a covenant relationship. A photograph is not the person pictured, but it brings that person to mind. In a similar way, the bread and cup direct our faith toward Jesus’ body given and blood shed for us.
Communion is not magic, and it is not a ritual that saves someone apart from repentance and faith in Christ. Salvation is found in Jesus, received by grace through faith. Yet Communion can be a meaningful moment of worship in which the Holy Spirit helps believers recognize Christ’s love, confess sin, receive assurance, and renew their devotion.
The goal is not to focus on the elements as objects of power. The goal is to receive them with faith and let them point us to the living Christ.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 Teach About Communion?
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 is one of the clearest New Testament explanations of the Lord’s Supper. Paul says he received this teaching from the Lord and passed it on to the church.
He repeats Jesus’ words concerning the bread and cup, then writes:
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
This passage reveals several important dimensions of Communion.
1. Communion Is a Memorial of Christ’s Death
Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Communion brings the cross before us again.
We remember that Jesus lived without sin, suffered injustice, bore our sin, died in our place, and rose again. We remember that our hope is not based on our ability to become good enough for God. Our hope rests on what Christ has already done.
For the believer who feels condemned, Communion says, “Look again to Jesus.”
For the believer who feels spiritually numb, Communion says, “Return again to the cross.”
For the believer who feels far from God, Communion says, “Christ has made a way for you to draw near.”
Remembrance is not merely recalling information. Biblical remembrance involves bringing God’s faithfulness into the present so that it shapes how we live today.
2. Communion Is a Proclamation
Paul says that believers proclaim the Lord’s death when they partake.
Communion is a visible sermon. Without speaking many words, the Church declares that Jesus died for sinners, that His sacrifice is sufficient, and that the cross remains the foundation of Christian faith.
The Lord’s Supper also proclaims the gospel to one another. In a world full of competing messages about identity, success, power, and worth, Communion announces that our deepest identity is found in Christ.
It also reminds the Church that we do not gather around our personal achievements, political preferences, cultural background, or social status. We gather around Jesus.
3. Communion Points Toward Christ’s Return
Paul includes the words “until he comes.”
The Lord’s Supper looks backward to the cross and forward to the return of Christ. It remembers the first coming of Jesus and anticipates the completion of His redemptive work.
This is why Communion is not only solemn. It is also hopeful.
The cross was not the end of Jesus’ story. He rose from the dead, ascended to the Father, and will return. The Church lives between the victory of Christ’s resurrection and the fulfillment of His kingdom.
Every celebration of Communion can therefore become an act of hope: Jesus has died, Jesus is risen, and Jesus will come again.
Why Does Self-Examination Matter Before Communion?
First Corinthians 11:27–32 continues Paul’s teaching by addressing the way some believers in Corinth were approaching the Lord’s Supper. Their problem was not simply that they felt imperfect. The larger issue was that their behavior contradicted the meaning of the meal.
Some were eating selfishly while others went hungry. The wealthy and socially powerful were failing to honor poorer believers. Instead of expressing unity, the gathering revealed division and disregard.
That context helps us understand Paul’s instruction to examine ourselves.
Self-examination does not mean waiting until we are flawless before coming to Jesus. If perfection were required, no one could come. It means honestly allowing the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and asking whether our lives reflect the gospel we are proclaiming.
Before Communion, we can ask:
Self-examination is not meant to drive sincere believers away from Christ. It is meant to bring us into truthful fellowship with Him.
There is a difference between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts us so that we can turn toward God. Condemnation tells us to hide from Him as though our failure has made restoration impossible.
At Communion, we do not pretend that we have no sin. We confess that Jesus is our Savior.
How Is Communion Connected to Christian Fellowship?
The word communion carries the idea of fellowship, participation, and shared life. Communion is personal, but it is never meant to be merely private.
In 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, Paul connects participation in the bread and cup with the unity of the Church. Because there is one bread, believers are reminded that though they are many, they belong to one body.
This is especially important in a divided and lonely world.
People can sit in crowded rooms and still feel invisible. Families can share a table while remaining emotionally distant. Churches can gather in the same place while carrying hidden wounds and unresolved divisions.
The Lord’s Supper calls us back to a different way of life. At Christ’s table, we remember that every believer is dependent on the same Savior. No one stands before the cross as a superior Christian. No one brings a stronger basis for acceptance than Jesus’ grace.
Communion therefore challenges racism, class pride, spiritual elitism, contempt, and selfishness. It reminds us that Christ’s Church is made up of people from different nations, generations, cultures, languages, and life stories who have been brought together through Him.
What Does Acts 2:42 Teach About Breaking Bread?
Acts 2:42 describes the devotion of the early believers:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
The phrase “breaking of bread” may include shared meals as well as the Church’s observance of the Lord’s Supper. Luke’s description gives us a picture of Christian life marked by teaching, fellowship, shared food, and prayer.
The verse should not be used to create a rigid schedule that Scripture does not command. The New Testament does not prescribe one universal frequency for Communion. Some Assemblies of God congregations observe it weekly, while others observe it monthly or at another regular rhythm.
The deeper point is devotion.
The early believers did not treat Christian fellowship as an occasional accessory. They built their lives around the apostles’ teaching, shared life, breaking bread, and prayer. Communion belongs within that same pattern of faithful gathering.
It is difficult to celebrate the unity of Christ’s body while refusing meaningful relationship with His people. It is difficult to remember Jesus’ self-giving love while living only for ourselves.
Communion invites us into a community shaped by Scripture, prayer, generosity, reconciliation, and worship.
If you are longing for biblical community, the Bible Study Club provides a place to continue learning and growing with others. And if you are exploring how digital Christian community can support your spiritual life, you may find encouragement in Does Online Church Create Real Belonging?.
How Should Believers Prepare to Receive Communion?
A thoughtful approach to Communion can help move the practice from routine to worship. Consider these five practical teaching points.
1. Read the Scripture Slowly
Before receiving the bread and cup, read Luke 22:19–20 or 1 Corinthians 11:23–26. Let Jesus’ words lead your attention.
Do not rush past the passage. Notice the words “given for you,” “new covenant,” “remembrance,” and “until he comes.”
2. Thank Jesus for His Sacrifice
Communion is an act of gratitude. Thank Jesus for His obedience, mercy, forgiveness, resurrection, and present care.
You do not need impressive words. A simple prayer such as “Jesus, thank You for giving Yourself for me” can become a sincere act of worship.
3. Confess What the Spirit Reveals
Ask God to search your heart. If the Holy Spirit brings a sin, attitude, or relationship to your attention, respond honestly.
Confession is not self-hatred. It is agreement with God and a return to grace.
4. Consider Your Relationships
Ask whether you are treating other believers as members of Christ’s body. Is there someone you have reduced to a label? Is there a wound you need to bring to God? Is there a step toward reconciliation that wisdom and humility require?
Reconciliation may take time, and forgiveness does not mean ignoring harm. But Communion should make us willing to let Jesus reshape how we see one another.
5. Receive With Hope
Do not leave Communion focused only on your failures. Look to Jesus.
He is the One who forgives, restores, sanctifies, strengthens, and keeps His people. The table points to a Savior who died, rose again, and is coming back.
For a related study on spiritual growth, read What Is Sanctification and Why Does It Matter for Your Daily Walk?.
Can Someone Take Communion at Home?
Many believers who are homebound, traveling, caring for family, recovering, or unable to attend an in-person gathering wonder whether Communion must happen inside a church building.
The New Testament emphasizes the meaning of the ordinance more than a particular building. Communion may be observed wherever believers gather in sincere faith and worship, with appropriate pastoral and congregational guidance.
At the same time, Communion should not become detached from the Church. Its meaning includes fellowship, unity, accountability, and shared devotion to Christ.
If you are unable to attend physically, you can still read the Scriptures, pray, worship, and participate with a gathered Christian community online when Communion is offered. When observing Communion at home, approach it reverently: not as a private magical ritual, but as a meaningful remembrance of Jesus within the larger body of Christ.
Local congregations may provide specific instructions about who leads Communion, what elements are used, and how it is observed. Those practices can differ while remaining within the central biblical convictions of remembrance, proclamation, fellowship, self-examination, gratitude, and hope.
What Should Communion Mean When You Feel Unworthy?
Many sincere Christians hesitate at Communion because they feel unworthy.
Perhaps you have failed again. Perhaps your prayers have become inconsistent. Perhaps you are carrying shame, grief, anger, doubt, or disappointment. Perhaps you have been away from church and do not know whether you still belong.
The answer is not to minimize sin. The answer is to look fully at Jesus.
Communion does not celebrate the worthiness of the person holding the bread. It celebrates the mercy of the Savior who gave His body and blood for us.
Self-examination should lead to repentance and renewed faith, not hopelessness. The table is not a trophy for people who have performed perfectly. It is a proclamation that our salvation depends on Christ.
Come honestly. Come reverently. Come ready to receive grace and to follow Jesus more faithfully.
If Communion brings painful memories of church conflict or spiritual disappointment, Jesus is not asking you to pretend those wounds do not exist. He meets people truthfully. He can lead you toward healing, wisdom, safe community, and renewed trust.
What Do Assemblies of God Believers Ultimately Remember?
When Assemblies of God believers receive Communion, they remember several truths at once:
These truths hold together the past, present, and future of Christian faith. Communion remembers what Jesus has done, celebrates what He is doing, and anticipates what He will complete.
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to give Himself for us. Help us remember the cross with humility, receive Your grace with gratitude, and treat Your people with love. Search our hearts, restore what is broken, and teach us to live as one body in Christ. Fill us with hope as we wait for Jesus’ return. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Assemblies of God Communion
Do Assemblies of God churches believe Communion is a sacrament?
Assemblies of God churches generally describe Communion as an ordinance rather than a sacrament that automatically conveys saving grace through the elements. Communion is a commanded, symbolic practice that points believers to Jesus’ death, fellowship with Christ and His Church, and hope in His return.
What elements are used for Communion in an Assemblies of God church?
The Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths identifies the elements as bread and the fruit of the vine. Congregations may use different forms of bread and grape juice or another fruit-of-the-vine practice according to local custom, but the central meaning remains the same.
Does the Assemblies of God believe the bread and cup physically become Jesus’ body and blood?
No. Assemblies of God teaching understands the bread and fruit of the vine symbolically. The elements do not physically transform into Christ’s body and blood. Communion is a serious act of remembrance, worship, proclamation, fellowship, and faith centered on Jesus.
How often should Assemblies of God Christians take Communion?
The New Testament does not establish one required schedule for every church. Assemblies of God congregations may observe Communion weekly, monthly, or at another regular rhythm. The important biblical emphasis is faithful participation by believers “until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Who may receive Communion in an Assemblies of God church?
Assemblies of God churches commonly practice open Communion for people who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Because local practices can vary, visitors should follow the guidance of the congregation leading the service. Communion is intended for believers who are trusting Christ and seeking to honor the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.
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