Communion: How Often?
WHAT IS COMMUNION?
Communion is a sacred act where believers partake in bread and the cup to remember and proclaim Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. It is a moment of reflection, gratitude, and unity, symbolizing Christ's body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins through the physical elements. When churches take communion together we touch the beautiful ideas of the Gospel. We taste the sweetness of Jesus’ forgiveness. We feel the church’s unity in the broken bread.
The question is, how often should churches take communion? Is communion a biblical command that should be done each and every Sunday without fail? Is it a ceremony that, done too casually, risks losing its power? How do we continually embrace this profound Gospel reminder without turning something sacred into mundane ritual?
Let’s explore what the Bible says, what history teaches, and how this simple yet sacred act can continually edify the church.
HOW OFTEN DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
The Bible has much to say about communion, but frequency doesn’t seem to be prescriptively commanded.
Dr. Jim Hamilton, a professor of biblical theology, argues that the New Testament indicates that the early church took the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day, citing Acts 20:7: "On the first day of the week, when we gathered to break bread..." However, the observant student of Scripture will notice that this verse is not a command for how often the church is required to take communion, but a description of how often these specific house churches were breaking bread. Even Richard Baxter, who preferred weekly observance, acknowledged that the New Testament does not explicitly command a specific frequency, stating: "The frequency of it is not determined; often it must be, but how often is not expressed."
Perhaps the most explicit passage instructing Christians on how exactly to take communion is 1 Corinthians 11:26-29:
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
Paul states “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup”. It might be tempting to interpret “as often” to suggest weekly or even daily observance. However, this sentence does not prescribe a specific frequency; instead, it emphasizes the proclamation of Christ’s death through communion as often as the church partakes. The context of 1 Corinthians 11 reveals that Paul’s concern was not about the regularity but the reverence of communion. The focus is on “discerning the body” (v. 29) and partaking in a manner worthy of the Lord.
This is why John MacArthur, in his New Testament Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11, clarifies: "The Bible does not specify how often believers should partake of the Lord's Supper. The early church observed it daily (Acts 2:46), weekly (Acts 20:7), and at other intervals. The emphasis is on the attitude and manner in which it is observed, rather than the frequency."
This is what theologian Stephen J. Cole rightly explains:
"Paul does not specify how often we should observe the Lord’s Supper. He says, 'For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes' (1 Cor. 11:26). The phrase 'as often as' implies regularity, but it does not prescribe a specific frequency. Some churches observe it weekly, others monthly, and some quarterly. The key issue is that we observe it often enough to keep Christ’s death central in our thinking, but not so often that it becomes a meaningless ritual."
Since Scripture itself is open to the possibility of multiple rhythms, the next question we must seek to answer is, what was the normative practice in Church history?
A CASE FOR WEEKLY COMMUNION FROM CHURCH HISTORY
Some leaders have advocated for frequent, even weekly, communion, viewing it as a means of regular spiritual nourishment:
Martin Luther (1483–1546): Luther encouraged weekly communion, linking it to strengthening faith. However, his insistence that infrequent participation was un-Christian may overstate the necessity of regularity at the expense of reverence.
What’s interesting about Luther’s perspective is that he wrote while breaking out of the constraints of Catholicism, one of which was a belief in Transbustantiation, the unbiblical idea that the bread and wine turn literally into Jesus’ blood and body when consumed. Luther often rejected Catholic beliefs but does not go as far as his followers would in fully dismantling Catholic traditions. Because of this, his practice of communion is still closely aligned with that of Roman Catholicism.John Wesley (1703–1791): Wesley’s sermon, “The Duty of Constant Communion,” emphasized the sacrament’s role as a channel of grace. His advocacy for “constant” communion, while fervent, carried the risk of reducing its profound significance to mere routine.
Wesley was one of the fiercest proponents of very frequent communion. He was teaching against Antinomianism, a theological stance that downplayed the necessity of obedience to God’s moral law. He fought to see Christians strive for practical holiness and this likely influenced his view on frequency of communion.
A CASE FOR WEIGHTY COMMUNION FROM CHURCH HISTORY
Church history reveals a compelling case for what could be called “reverent rhythmic” communion—a practice that treasures sacred preparation and avoids casual routine. Key leaders and movements embody this approach:
Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531): Zwingli was an early reformer, contending against Catholic Corruption alongside Martin Luther. He, unlike Luther, observed communion quarterly, aligning it with major Christian festivals. He believed that less frequent participation encouraged deeper reflection, preserving the sanctity of the ritual and guarding against it becoming mundane.
Puritan and Reformed Traditions: In the 17th century, Puritan and Reformed churches often celebrated communion quarterly or annually. Due to their intense commitment to holiness and repentance, communion was done in a much more intense manner. Rigorous self-examination practices and the logistics of gathering dispersed congregations made this infrequency a meaningful act of devotion.
John Knox (c. 1514–1572): John Knox was a fiery Scottish reformer and the founder of Presbyterianism, whose relentless preaching and bold leadership transformed Scotland into a bastion of Reformation ideals, earning him a lasting legacy as a champion of the Gospel. Knox advocated for infrequent but highly reverent observances of communion. So it was typically celebrated quarterly or even annually under his leadership, reflecting the solemnity and preparation associated with the sacrament.
Scottish Presbyterian Tradition: Infrequent “communion seasons” involved days of preparation and culminated in the Lord’s Supper. These annual or biannual gatherings were marked by intense spiritual focus and solemnity.
Jonathan Edwards and John Calvin
Fascinatingly, even leaders who advocated frequent observance, like Calvin and Edwards, adjusted to rhythmic patterns that prioritized reverence.
John Calvin (1509–1564): Calvin preferred weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper, viewing it as a means of grace essential for spiritual nourishment. He stated, "The Lord's Table should have been spread at least once a week for the Assembly of Christians."
Despite his preference, Calvin faced resistance from Geneva's city council, resulting in a quarterly observance. This compromise was influenced by concerns over church discipline and ensuring that participants approached the sacrament with proper reverence.Jonathan Edwards (1727-1750)
Edwards himself advocated for more frequent observance of the Lord's Supper. In his writings, he referenced the practices of the early Christian church, noting: "And it seems by the account of holy Scripture that they were at first wont to celebrate this ordinance daily... afterwards weekly, every sabbath day."
Edwards was the minister of the Northampton Church in Massachusetts. During his tenure, the church observed the Lord's Supper approximately once every two months, resulting in about six Communion services annually. This bimonthly practice was consistent with the traditions of many New England Congregational churches of that era. Why the dissonance between his preference and practice?
Despite his personal inclinations towards more frequent Communion, Edwards adhered to the established customs of his congregation, maintaining the bimonthly schedule throughout his ministry. It seems that though an emphasis on regular communion marks the best and brightest theologians of history, in an attempt to take the practice seriously, irregular communion was embraced.
This explains the most common practice of the protestant church. A survey conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals found that the majority (70 percent) of churches serve communion once a month. Leith Anderson, President of the NAE, commented on this: "Throughout church history, Christians have celebrated the Lord’s Table in many different ways and with varying frequency. Right now, the trend among evangelicals is once a month, which seems to balance taking communion regularly while not replacing the central role of the sermon in most evangelical worship services."
THE APPROACH OF THE GARDEN CHURCH
In light of both the biblical ambiguity and the divergent practices of church history, we need to consider how to approach communion as a church.
On the one hand, we could embrace weekly communion. Due to the important place the sacrament should have in the church, it may be right to adhere to routine consistency in communion. On the other hand, it seems the dominant practice of the historical protestant Church was more rare, even quarterly or annually. So which do we choose? What most glorifies God and edifies people?
As a leadership team, it seems the annual or quarterly practice is not often enough, yet the mechanical weekly practice seems overly routine. Instead, we are opting for a reverent rhythmic communion that honors the biblical emphasis on discerning the Lord’s body and approaching the table with intentionality and keeps this important practice in front of the church regularly. We have therefore decided on the practice of communion once a month. Church history’s dominant practice of infrequent communion reflects a desire to safeguard its sacredness, while many trusted theologians prioritized communion regularly. Monthly seems to capture the essence of both.
According to Scripture, the question is not simply how often we partake but how meaningfully we do so. Are we preserving the awe of Christ’s sacrifice, or are we allowing the sacred to become stale through routine? Communion is not a mere ritual; it is a profound proclamation of the gospel. Let us approach it with rhythms of reverence and hearts that are truly prepared.
Conclusion
As leaders who take the weight of this sacrament seriously, we long to honor communion with both severity and regularity. This rhythm allows us to approach the Lord’s table with intentionality and anticipation. It fosters a sense of sacred weightiness without allowing the act to fade into routine. Monthly communion gives us the opportunity to reflect deeply, prepare fully, and engage regularly with the profound mystery of Christ’s sacrifice.
We recognize that no schedule can perfect the worship of Christ’s church, but this cadence reflects our conviction: to treat this sacrament with reverence, to guard its sacredness, and to proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes with hearts that are both solemn and expectant.
Further Study: Sources Cited
Luther vs. Zwingli on the Lord’s Supper
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/luther-vs-zwingli-3-zwingli-on-the-lords-supperThe Theology of Zwingli
https://www.academia.edu/113695034/Theology_of_Zwingli_The_ReformationCalvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper
https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/calvins-doctrine-lords-supperThe Lord's Supper: How Often?
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/march-1990/lords-supper-how-oftenFrequency of Communion in Calvin’s Geneva
https://warhornmedia.com/2019/04/25/frequency-of-communion-in-calvins-genevaAs Often as You Eat This Bread: Communion Frequency in English, Scottish, and Early American Churches
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/review/as-often-as-you-eat-this-bread-communion-frequency-in-english-scottish-and-early-american-churchesReformed Theologians on the Frequency of Communion: Past & Present
https://www.rpcmatthews.org/articles/reformed-theologians-on-the-frequency-of-communion-past-amp-presentJonathan Edwards on Weekly Communion
https://reformedforum.org/jonathan-edwards-on-weekly-communionFrequency of the Lord's Supper (Puritan Board Discussion)
https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/frequency-of-the-lords-supperMatthew Henry on the Frequency of the Lord’s Supper
https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/matthew-henry-on-the-frequency-of-the-lords-supper