Communion is a holy moment where we remember what Christ did for us on the cross.  We celebrate our redemption and worship Jesus for taking our sins upon Himself, giving us His righteousness and forgiveness.  Communion also commemorates and solidifies our unity with other believers.  It is a holy moment.  It is a time when the Holy Spirit can meet with us in a special way.  That’s why Paul tells us to prepare ourselves for coming together to receive communion. 

Paul gives his instructions about communion in the context of correcting the division and disunity of the Corinthian church.  They exhibited disunity in doctrine and purpose.  They also demonstrated a significant amount of disrespect for each other.  After chastising them for these things, Paul gave instructions on what communion was all about and then gave the church the following instructions about how they should prepare to receive communion. 

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning 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.  That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.  But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers [and sisters], when you come together to eat, wait for one another — if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home — so that when you come together it will not be for judgment, (1 Cor 11:27-34 ESV).

We don’t usually have a potluck or carry in dinner prior to communion, so the instructions to “eat at home if you’re hungry” may not apply directly to us, but everything else does. 

Because communion is a holy moment that celebrates our redemption and commemorates our unity, we should examine ourselves and prepare ourselves in those areas ahead of time.  We should examine our spiritual life.  Is there anything that is creating a barrier or division between us and Christ?  If so, we should confess it and correct it.  We should examine our relationships with other believers.  Is there anything that is creating a barrier or division between us and another believer?  If so, we should confess and correct it.  Doing so will clear the way for the Spirit to work in us.  It will make us more sensitive to what the Spirit has to say to us.  And it will alleviate the need for God to discipline us to get our attention.