The Meaning and Practice of Communion

The Meaning and Practice of Communion
One Hundred and four meditations for presiding over the Lord's Table and giving a better understanding regarding what Christ and His crucifixion reveals about God, man, and the world we live in.


“I am extremely pleased to recommend The Meaning and Practice of Communion by Drs. R. K. Beam and R. E. Woods. I have known them both for over half a century and admire them as two of the finest Christian leaders that I have ever worked with in sixty-five years of ministry. They are highly regarded and respected for their devotion, integrity, scholarship, and service in the Lord's church. They have certainly been an inspiration and encouragement to me over the years.
Scores of people have already been blessed, informed, and inspired by their presentations of these communion devotionals in corporate church worship services. Some of them are theological in nature, while others are doctrinal and practical, but all of them can lead to spiritual enrichment and a greater understanding of the Lord's Supper for their readers. They can be used for profit in corporate worship communion service, in private family observance of communion, and simply in personal devotions for one's spiritual well-being.”
— David L. Eubanks, Ph.D.
President of Johnson University (1969 - 2007)


“Communion in the Stone-Campbell Movement is practiced so differently in each local congregation. Regrettably, it is either hurried through in the middle of the service, or tacked on at the end, and not much time is given for the congregation to prepare for or participate in it. I had a professor who said, 'We don’t celebrate the Supper, we nibble and sip and hurry on our way.' Drs. Beam and Woods, through their scriptural based and well-crafted communion meditations have given the church a tool that will help those leading the communion service to help us slow down and take time to worship the One who said: 'Do this in remembrance of me'. For this purpose, I highly recommend it!”
—LD Campbell
First Church of Christ, Burlington KY.

“In a time of momentary community on social media laden with flashy photos and wisps of pop psychology, the book, The Meaning and Practice of Communion, stands in stark contrast and offers wonderful biblical insights. Instead of a long diatribe or exposé, Drs. Bream and Woods bring succinct biblical truth and narrative regarding the very hinge point of faith that is the focus of any worship by Christians.
It is not the 'feel good' songs. It is not the convincing man-delivered sermons; not even the great coffee bars and fellowship meals. It is the God-like practice of communion, which is the pinnacle of any worship. It is the remembrance of the brokenness of humanity—one man at a time coming before a holy God and asking for another chance to love and be loved. This is not convenient—this is a covenant. It is not the Eucharist as “high church” would define it. This is not simply the Lord’s Supper; it is the exchange between humanity and deity.
Drs. Beam and Woods successfully extract nuggets of truth to be pondered on and prayed about during the most intimate time in any worship service—communion. It’s been said that to stay relevant in Christianity, one simply has to remember the basics. In this global season of disciple-making movements, micro and private house-church enclaves, and simple fellowships, this poignant book of reflections will find more and more open eyes and hearts as it helps readers and listeners reflect on the one main thing—Christ, the Anointed One, who asked us to 'do and remember.'
The Lord’s Supper is a 'comfort food' that you will discover at an entirely new level when reading The Meaning and Practice of Communion.
— Mike Schrage
President, Good News Productions, Int.

About the Authors Drs. Beam and Woods have served as elders of the Woodlawn Christian Church for over two decades. Dr. Beam was the Senior Minister of Woodlawn in the early 1990s. Both have a long association with Johnson University (formerly Johnson Bible College), whose mission is to educate students for Christian ministries and other strategic vocations framed by the Great Commission in order to extend the kingdom of God among all nations. Both Woodlawn and Johnson trace their roots to the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement of the early 19th century. (It is the practice of the churches associated with that movement to observe the Lord's Supper weekly.) Dr. Beam is a former Academic Dean of Johnson and Dr. Woods has served on its Board of Trustees for the last 15 years, is the current board chair, and is the author of several books in the field of electrical engineering.