Preparing Children For Communion

Whether you call it the Lord’s Supper or something else, the question remains—how should we handle it with our children? Children need to understand both the significance and importance of the Lord’s supper. From the classroom, sanctuary, and the home, we need to show children the importance of what Jesus has done for us.

How do we teach it in the classroom?

Children need to have both exposure to and an understanding of the Lord’s Supper. It is a significant part of the Christian faith, but it is not something to be taken lightly.

First, we need to address the question of who can take communion. The Bible does not explicitly say, but as we read through the New Testament, we see the pattern of salvation, baptism, and communion (Acts 2). The Lord’s Supper is to be done in remembers of what Jesus did for us, something that only believers who have received Jesus’ atoning salvation can understand. This implies that communion is for believers. If communion is the family meal, then only those who are part of God’s family should partake. As tempting as it might be to make your lesson time hands-on by having children participate in their own communion service, if they aren’t baptized believers, they should not be taking communion.

Are you preparing children for communion?

Children seeing their parents take communion is important, and it provides an amazing discipleship opportunity. But that often takes some intentionality.

Start with training parents. It’s essential to remind parents why their children are present during communion. Before communion, communicate to parents what to expect. Let parents know that it’s okay to talk through the elements and explain their significance.

Provide tools, not toys. Instead of giving kids busy bags filled with toys, provide them with interactive tools to encourage engagement during the service, like a sermon note sheet.

Remember the goal. Incorporating children into a communion service is not just about having them sit quietly; it’s about engaging them in the life of the church and allowing parents to model their faith and disciple.

Want to dive deeper into how to prepare children for communion both in the classroom and in the congregation? Check out some of the resources below:

• The Kidmin Huddle, Episode 178: How to Prepare Kids and Parents for Communion
• What is Communion? Parent Training Video
• Remembering the Lord’s Supper Family Devotion Video
• The Church, Big Theology for Little Hearts Board Book

And since you’re thinking about how to prepare children for communion, why not go ahead and think about how to prepare children for baptism? Take a look at Believer’s Baptism by Dr. Josh Mulvihill.