Communion
Why Closed Communion?
There are three main positions which different churches take concerning who should receive communion.
- Open communion or free communion
- Open or free communion means that anyone who walks into the church can take communion.
- Most churches will at least say that the person should be a “believer” in order to take it.
- This is the position of many Protestant and Baptist churches.
- Close or strict communion
- Close or strict communion means that only baptized believers can take communion.
- A person who is a baptized member of a church of like-faith can take communion with any church of like-faith.
- This is the position of many Baptist (Strict, Particular, Primitive, etc.) churches and also of the Lutheran and Catholic “churches”.
- Closed communion
- Closed communion means that only baptized members of an individual local church can take communion with that church, and only that church.
- This is the position of the Excelsior Springs Church and of the other churches of like-faith.
Communion (sermon series)
This study gives an in-depth examination of the ordinance of Communion, otherwise known as The Lord’s Supper.
- Communion (Part 1) - What Communion Is; Proper Elements Used in Communion
- Communion (Part 2) - Closed Communion
- Communion (Part 3) - When, Where, Why, and How Communion is to be Observed
- Communion (Part 4) - Refuting Transubstantiation
- Communion (Part 5) - Origin of Transubstantiation; Eucharist in One Kind; Eucharist Worship
Outline
The Lord's Supper (sermon)
This sermon covers the purpose for the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, what it symbolizes, and how to ensure we don’t partake of it unworthily.
Outline
Church Discipline series
This sermon series deals with the topic of Church Discipline which is closely related to Communion.
