Short answer
Holy Communion, which we also call the Breaking of Bread or the Lord’s Supper, is when believers share bread and the cup together to remember Jesus’ death for us, to give thanks, and to look forward to His return. Jesus asked His followers to keep doing it.
Where it comes from
On the night before He died, Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me
(Luke 22:19). Then He took the cup: This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood
(Luke 22:20).
The first Christians did this from the start; they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers
(Acts 2:42).
What it means
The bread and the cup point to Jesus’ body given and blood shed on the cross. Sharing them together we remember what He did, we receive afresh the grace of the new covenant, and we declare that we belong to Him and to each other. Paul writes that as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes
(1 Corinthians 11:26). It looks back to the cross and forward to His return.
Who takes part
Communion is for everyone who has repented and put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, whatever church they belong to. Paul asks each person to examine themselves before taking part (1 Corinthians 11:28): not to be perfect, but to come honestly, confessing sin and at peace with others. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, you are welcome to sit with us and watch, and to ask about it afterwards.
At Spring Valley we share the Breaking of Bread regularly in our Sunday service, in every language we speak.
How this connects across the Bible
The Bible is one story. Here is how this theme runs from the Old Testament to Jesus:
- The Passover lamb and meal marked Israel’s rescue from Egypt (Exodus 12:14); Jesus gives the meal its final meaning at the Last Supper (Luke 22:15-20), and Paul calls Him our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
- Moses sealed the covenant at Sinai with blood (Exodus 24:8); Jesus speaks of the new covenant in His blood (Matthew 26:28), the covenant Jeremiah promised (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
- God fed Israel with manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4); Jesus says He is the true bread from heaven (John 6:32-35).
- Isaiah invites the hungry to a feast (Isaiah 55:1-2); the story ends with the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), which every Communion anticipates.
What we believe at Spring Valley
We believe that all who have truly repented and believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour should regularly participate in the Breaking of Bread.
Your next step
Join us on a Sunday to share Communion with us, and read Why be baptised in water? for the other command Jesus gave His church.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Read the Bible free in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English and many more languages at bible.com.