Pastor Rick Warren is sharing the vital importance of communion that most Christians miss when they eat and drink the Lord’s Supper.
According to the Christian Post, Warren discussed the importance of communion during the World Evangelical Alliance’s General Assembly, held at the SaRang Church. Below are 10 of the most important things Christians should know about communion.
1. Communion is what drives us to go and share the gospel with the world.
As Warren described, “Communion…is one of the most sacred practices in the Christian faith…It was instituted by Jesus Christ on the night before His crucifixion, when He took bread and wine, gave thanks and shared them with His disciples…”
Just as the disciples looked to Jesus’ example to live a godly life and share His message with the world, we are also to look to this example to do all that He has called us to do.
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2. If we take communion with a prideful heart, we are eating and drinking judgment upon ourselves.
As the Post noted, Warren read 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. Verse 27 (MEV) reads: “Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
We must take the Lord’s Supper with a repentant heart, not doing it out of our own pride.
3. It is more than just a generic, religious practice.
Warren said that this act is beyond a “simple ritual,” stating that it has a “deep spiritual meaning and serves several important purposes in the life of a believer and the Church.”
4. Communion allows us to reflect on our life.
“God’s Word tells us that we shouldn’t just start in the communion right off the bat,” Warren notes. “…the first step long before we take communion is to check our hearts and to check our minds and to check our emotions.”
Taking communion ultimately shows us what our heart truly looks like and where we need God to clean us up.
5. It is a time to repent.
Just as there is judgment for those who do not take communion wisely, it also allows us to repent when God asks us to.
Warren read Proverbs 28:13: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
6. This is a moment to accept the mercy and forgiveness of God.
When we repent, God will forgive us of our sins and remove their stain. As the Christian Post noted, Warren explained how the Lord is willing and able to remove these sins.
“He puts it behind His back. He can’t see it. It is out of sight. But not only are your forgiven sins out of sight, they’re out of reach,” Warren said. “And then Isaiah 43 tells us they’re out of mind. God says, ‘‘I will wipe away your sins because of who I am, and I’ll forgive your sins, remembering them no more.”
7. We see ourselves as part of the larger body of Christ.
Warren noted that taking communion is a time to “recognize our unity in the body of Christ.”
Just as Scripture tells us that we are many parts of one body, communion is a time to see the beauty of our unique roles in the larger Church.
8. It is a time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Communion is a time to reflect on what Jesus did for us, taking on the debt none of us could ever pay.
“He did this so we could stop living for sin and start living right, and through His wounds we are healed,” warren said.
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9. We draw into the excitement that Jesus is coming again.
Communion is a reminder of God as a promise keeper and redeemer, the One who will fulfill His promise yet again to come back.
“…we look forward to the coming King. This is not the end of the story,” Warren said.
10. We are refreshed for the kingdom work God has prepared for us.
“Our communion is our fuel for our commission,” Warren told the crowd. “The table that draws us in is going to send us out.”
In a time when many believers can fall into the routine of religious practice, Pastor Warren’s message is a sobering reminder that communion is far more than a ritual—it is a sacred encounter with the living Christ. It is not meant to be rushed through or taken lightly; it is a divine invitation to renew our relationship with God, to receive His mercy and to realign our hearts with His will.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
