This week on Cultivate, we dove into the often-overlooked but deeply important topic of ecclesiology—the study of the church. Charlie and Abigail (a.k.a. “Bagel”) explored why practices like communion and baptism have sparked such strong debates throughout church history. Drawing insight from Jesus’ words at the Last Supper (“This is my body”), we discussed how Christians have understood communion—from mystical and sacramental traditions to more symbolic approaches common in Baptist and non-denominational churches. We unpacked the differences between transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and other beliefs, and reflected on how each perspective shapes not only our worship but our sense of spiritual connection and community life.

Along the way, we talked about how these theological nuances show up in real church services (yes, even down to bread and grape juice choices!), and how the way we share in communion or baptism can help us find deeper meaning in following Jesus together. We invite you to reflect on your own experiences and consider what these practices mean for your faith journey today.