The Bible doesn’t give a required schedule for communion. The early church seems to have shared the Lord’s Supper often, probably whenever they gathered, but Scripture never commands a specific frequency. What matters most is why and how we take it: remembering Jesus’ death, proclaiming the gospel, examining our hearts, and celebrating our unity in him. Whether your church takes communion weekly, monthly, or quarterly, those truths should shape every time you come to the table.
What Jesus Asked Us to Remember
Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, goes back to the night before Jesus died. He was sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, a meal that remembered how God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. Then Jesus gave that familiar bread and cup a stunning new meaning.
Luke 22:19-20 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.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Jesus didn’t say, “Do this every Sunday” or “Do this once a month.” He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The focus is on remembering, not on a calendar. Every time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we look back to the cross, where Jesus’ body was broken and his blood was poured out so our sins could be forgiven. If you’ve never trusted Jesus for that forgiveness, here’s a good place to start: How can I become a Christian?
It’s worth noting that most churches today don’t follow the original meal exactly. Jesus used unleavened bread and wine, while many churches use crackers and grape juice. That’s okay. The power of communion isn’t in perfect reenactment. It’s in the One we remember.
What the Early Church Practiced
When we look at the book of Acts, the first Christians seem to have broken bread together often. Right after the church began at Pentecost, Luke describes their life together.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Later, Luke mentions that believers in Troas gathered “on the first day of the week” to break bread (Acts 20:7). Many scholars believe the Lord’s Supper was part of a larger shared meal in those days. That’s why some churches today take communion every week, believing it best reflects the early church’s practice. Others take it monthly or quarterly so it stays special and doesn’t become routine. Both approaches can honor God. Paul simply says, “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,” which leaves room for freedom.
What Communion Means
Christians have understood communion in different ways. The Catholic Church teaches transubstantiation, the belief that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus. You can read more about that in What Do Catholics Believe About Communion? Most Protestant and evangelical churches see communion as a powerful remembrance and a means of grace, where we meet with Jesus by faith, recommit to him, and celebrate what he has done.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Paul calls communion an act of proclamation. When we take it, we’re preaching a living sermon about Jesus’ death, and we’re looking forward to the day he returns. It’s an object lesson you can taste and touch, reminding us that the gospel isn’t just an idea but a real event in history.
Taking Communion in a Worthy Way
The church in Corinth was abusing the Lord’s Supper. Wealthy believers were eating and drinking their fill while poorer members went hungry and were left out. Paul gave them a serious warning.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Taking communion “in an unworthy manner” doesn’t mean you have to be perfect before you come to the table. None of us is worthy on our own. It means not treating the Lord’s Supper casually, and not taking it while ignoring sin or holding contempt for other believers. Communion is a moment to pause, confess, receive grace, and remember that we belong to one body.
Communion also isn’t a magic charm that gives spiritual protection. Our security comes from Jesus himself, through faith in his finished work. In a sense, every meal is a chance to thank God for his provision, but the Lord’s Supper focuses our gratitude on the greatest gift of all.
The Takeaway
When it comes to how often to take communion, the Bible gives freedom rather than a fixed schedule. Whether weekly or less often, come to the table with a humble, grateful heart, remembering Jesus’ death and proclaiming it until he comes.
