Remember, Examine, Proclaim – Part 3: Proclaim and Participate

Communion does not end with remembrance or examination. It moves us outward.

When we come to the table, we are not only looking back at the cross or inward at our hearts, we are also looking forward and outward. The Apostle Paul makes this clear when he writes, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV).

This means that every time we take communion, we are doing more than participating in a sacred moment. We are declaring something with our lives. We are proclaiming a message that has present power and future hope.

Communion is not silent. It speaks about what Christ has done, what He is doing, and what He will do.

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“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

Communion is both a declaration of the gospel and a participation in the life of Christ and His body, shaping our identity and mission as believers.

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Big Idea 1: Proclamation Declares the Gospel

When Paul says that we “proclaim the Lord’s death,” he uses the Greek word katangellō, which carries the idea of announcing or declaring publicly. This is not a private whisper of faith; it is a bold declaration.

This means that communion is not merely a personal or internal experience. It is a visible, communal act that declares the gospel to one another and to the world.

Every time we take the bread and the cup, we are proclaiming that Jesus died. We are declaring that His death was necessary because of sin, that it was sufficient to save, and that it remains central to everything we believe.

This proclamation is deeply rooted in the message of the early church. In Acts, the apostles consistently proclaimed Christ crucified and risen. Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 2:2 when he writes, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The cross was not one message among many; it was the message.

Communion keeps that message at the center.

In a world filled with competing voices and shifting truths, communion re-centers the church on the unchanging gospel. It reminds us that our hope is not found in human effort, moral achievement, or cultural influence, but in the finished work of Christ.

This proclamation is not only something we say but also something we embody. When we take communion together, we are collectively declaring our allegiance to Christ and our dependence on His sacrifice.

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Big Idea 2: Proclamation Looks Forward to His Return

Paul adds an essential dimension to this proclamation with the phrase “until he comes.” Communion is not only rooted in the past, but it is also oriented toward the future.

This gives communion an eschatological dimension. It reminds us that history is moving toward a defined conclusion, the return of Christ and the full establishment of His kingdom.

Jesus Himself alludes to this in Matthew 26:29 when He says, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” This statement reveals that the table we gather around now is a preview of a greater table to come.

Revelation 19:9 describes this future moment as the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” where God’s people will be gathered in perfect unity, joy, and celebration.

Every time we take communion, we are anticipating that day.

This anticipation shapes how we live in the present. We are not only remembering what Christ has done, but we are also living in expectation of what He will do. Our hope is anchored not only in the cross, but also in His return.

This perspective changes everything. It reminds us that suffering is temporary, that injustice will be addressed, and that what is broken will be restored. It anchors us in hope even in uncertain times.

Communion becomes a declaration that the story is not finished.

Christ has died. He is risen. Christ will come again.

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Big Idea 3: Participation Forms Our Identity and Community

Communion is not only proclamation, it is participation.

Paul develops this idea further in 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, where he writes, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

The word “participation” comes from the Greek word koinōnia, which is often translated as fellowship, sharing, or communion. It speaks of a deep, relational connection and shared life.

This means that when we take communion, we are not only remembering Christ, but we are sharing in Him. We are participating in the benefits of His death and in the life that He gives.

This participation is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, we are united with Christ. We receive the benefits of His sacrifice, forgiveness, righteousness, and new life. Horizontally, we are united with one another as members of His body.

Paul emphasizes this when he says, “we who are many are one body.” Communion is not an individual act; it is a communal reality. It shapes how we see ourselves and how we relate to others.

In a culture that emphasizes individualism, this is a needed correction. We are not isolated believers pursuing our own spiritual journeys. We are part of a body, connected to one another and called to live in unity.

This has practical implications. It affects how we care for one another, how we handle conflict, and how we pursue mission together. Communion reminds us that our faith is not only personal, but it is also profoundly communal.

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We remember His sacrifice, we examine our hearts, and we respond with our lives.

Proclamation and participation are the outward expression of that response. They move us beyond the table and into the world as people who carry Christ’s message and life.

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Conclusion

Communion is not only a moment to reflect, it is a moment to be formed and sent.

As we proclaim the Lord’s death, we reaffirm the gospel. When we look forward to His return, we anchor our hope. As we participate in His body, we embrace our identity as His people.

This means that communion does not end when the elements are gone. It continues in the way we live, the way we love, and the way we represent Christ in the world.

We are a people shaped by the cross, anchored in hope, united in Christ, and sent with a message.

And when we leave the table, we carry that reality with us.

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The next time you take communion, remember that you are proclaiming the gospel, anticipating Christ’s return, and participating in His body.

Do not leave that moment behind when communion is finished. Let it shape how you live, how you relate to others, and how you represent Christ in your daily life.

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Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of communion. Help us to proclaim Your truth with boldness, to live in expectation of Your return, and to walk in unity as Your body. Shape our lives by what we celebrate at the table, and send us out as people who carry Your message to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

First Blog Post in the Series: Remember, Examine, Proclaim – Part 1: Remember

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It begins with Christ!

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Blessings,

Chad 

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