Breaking bread with our guests in the celebration of communion holds some of the most intimate times we’ve shared with friends. I love it when my friends and I head into the kitchen to bake bread, while the men fellowship in the other room. I’ve never made it before guests arrive, because I love sharing in the entire preparation with my sisters in Christ. It takes only about five minutes to prepare and about 10 minutes to bake in the oven.
It’s a beautiful way to remember the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to celebrate our faith as one body, at Easter, Christmas or any other time of the year.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups of flour
1/2 t. salt
2 T. of oil
(I use cooking oil, although many recipes call for olive oil because of it’s Biblical significance)
1/2 cup of warm water
Oil the surface of a cookie sheet, as well as the palms of your hands and spread the dough out into a circle or oval. No need to reach the edges of the pan. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, but keep an eye on it. You just want the edges to be slightly brown.
Notice that we have not added yeast, as yeast is always synonymous with sin in the Bible.
Remove from the oven and place it into a basket lined with a cloth napkin. Cover with a second cloth napkin. Covering the bread is representation of Christ wrapped in a linen cloth when His body was laid in the tomb.
Fill a wine goblet with grape juice or wine to accompany the bread. And place both on the table.
Before sharing in communion read this verse aloud so that both you and your guests can examine your hearts.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:28-30
Bow in a moment of silence as hearts prepare for receipt of the emblems.
Read the following scripture together:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
Take turns passing the bread from one guest to another, each breaking and eating their piece. This is a time of reverence and reflection of Christ’s sacrificial gift to mankind.
Once everyone has eaten the bread, read this portion of scripture aloud:
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
~ 1 Corinthians 11:25-26
Pass the cup from one guest to another, each taking a sip and then wiping the rim of the cup with the napkin before passing it on.
Close in prayer, thanking God for the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, His grace to us while we were yet sinners, and His ongoing mercy toward mankind.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene
For comments or questions, contact me at:
darlene[at]darleneschacht.net
In Participation With:
