Preparing Your Heart for the Lord’s Table

There are moments in life that should never be rushed. Communion is one of them. When we hold the bread and the cup, we are stepping onto holy ground, remembering the greatest act of love the world has ever known. It’s not simply a tradition—it’s a sacred reminder that Christ’s body was broken and His blood was poured out so that we could be made whole.

Communion is not just a ritual to check off the list. It is a moment to remember the cross, proclaim Christ’s death until He comes, and examine our hearts before a holy God. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he warned them that their casual, self-centered approach to the Lord’s Supper had turned it into a mockery instead of worship. Division, pride, and even drunkenness had crept into what should have been a sacred celebration.

The message is clear: God takes this table seriously, and so should we.

The Corinthian church was marked by conflict and pride. Instead of building one another up, believers looked down on each other. The wealthy feasted while the poor were left hungry. What was designed to display unity in Christ had become a platform for arrogance and selfishness.

The Lord’s Supper reminds us that the ground at the foot of the cross is level. No one comes superior—racially, socially, or financially. We are all sinners saved by grace. That reality should lead us to humility, forgiveness, and unity.

Ask yourself: Am I holding on to bitterness? Am I elevating myself above others in God’s family? Before you come to the table, reconcile what divides and lay pride aside.

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The bread points us to His body given for us, and the cup to His blood shed for our forgiveness. Each time we partake, our hearts should be drawn back to Calvary, where mercy and justice met.

Communion isn’t an empty ritual or a habit to check off. It is a holy memorial that anchors us in the gospel. Every time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the death of Christ until He comes again.

So come with gratitude. Come with awe. Come ready to worship the Savior who gave His life for you.

Paul calls every believer to examine themselves before participating. We cannot make ourselves “worthy” of the cross—only Christ does that. But we can bring our hearts into honest alignment with His holiness.

Ask:

• Am I walking with God or drifting from Him?
• Am I worshiping Him with sincerity and truth?
• Am I using the gifts He has given me to serve His people?

Examination begins not by comparing ourselves to others but by fixing our gaze on Christ. He is our standard. His holiness reveals our sin—and His mercy invites our repentance.

Paul warns that careless participation invites God’s discipline. In Corinth, some even faced sickness and death for treating the Lord’s Table with contempt. But he also gives us hope: “If we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.” Confession clears the way for communion with God.

This table is not one of despair but of grace. It is an invitation to return to God, to renew our worship, to walk in obedience. It is a moment to say again, “Lord, here am I. Send me. Use me. I want to be found faithful.”

So when you come to the Lord’s Table, come with reverence. Come with reflection. Come with gratitude. And come ready to live in obedience until Christ comes again.

This blog is based on a message preached by Interim Pastor Steve Dighton on Sunday, August 31. You can watch the full message here.