Confirmation 18 & 19 done

God’s Tools

Holy Communion - A Real Meal

18

INTRODUCTIONImagine that you were someone who had never been to a Christian service before. Then you went when a friend invited you and you saw people going up to the front to eat and drink these

things. What are some questions that might go through your mind?

STUDYING GOD’S WORD

What do we receive in the Lord’s Supper?

Matthew 26:17-2517 On the first day of the Feast of

Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you

want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell

him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the

Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as

Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:17-2520 When evening came, Jesus was

reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”22 They were very sad and began

to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl

with me will betray me.

Matthew 26:17-2524 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man

who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

The sacrament was instituted by Jesus during the Passover meal on the night of His death. At a birthday party there

is always a cake and candles and “Happy Birthday” is sung. Imagine that at your birthday party someone wanted

to sing a new song that no one had ever heard before. Everyone would be

surprised. At the Passover certain things were always done, said and

sung. The disciples must have been surprised when Jesus changed what

everyone was used to doing.

Matthew 26:26-2926 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he

took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of

you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you,

I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink

it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

In a natural way, we receive the bread and wine just as the disciples did. In some churches they only use grape juice because they say it is wrong to drink alcohol. We know that Jesus drank wine because that is the only

fruit of the vine available in April without refrigeration. Fall is the grape

harvest.

Matthew 26:26-2826 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take

and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of

you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

In a miraculous way, we receive Christ’s body and blood. Just think, the same body which the soldiers

nailed to the cross we receive. The same blood which flowed from Jesus’ wounds, which flowed through Jesus’ veins as he died for us all, we receive.

What a miracle!

1 Corinthians 10:16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which

we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the

body of Christ?

The bread and wine are in, with and under the body and blood of Christ in

Holy Communion. Don’t misunderstand. We’re not saying Jesus’ body and blood are trapped

inside the bread and wine, sort of like cream in a Twinkie. They are united in a way that we cannot fully understand

or comprehend. Jesus' words are a miracle we accept by faith.

Jesus instituted this Holy Supper in which we receive the body and blood of our Lord in, with and under the bread and wine in

miraculous, Holy Communion.

Who teaches it: THE BIBLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

REFORMED CHURCHES

Name of the doctrine: Real Presence Transubstantiation Representation

Summary of the Doctrine: Partakers of the Lord’s Supper receive the body and blood of our Lord “in, with, and under” the bread and wine.

Partakers of the Lord’s Supper receive only the body and blood of Christ

Partakers of the Lord’s Supper receive only the bread and wine, which are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ

Reason for belief in the doctrine:

Matthew 26:26-29 Mark 14:22-25 Luke 22:18-20

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

False belief that the Lord’s Supper is not a sacrament, but a sacrifice. Christ is “re-sacrificed” over and over for the forgiveness of sins.

Human reason

What does the Bible “Really” say about Holy Communion?

GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFEExplain: How could the disciples have received the Lord’s body and blood as they ate the first Lord’s Supper? Wasn’t Jesus right in front of them sitting at a table, not in their mouths? Question: What if someone asked you this question: “When you receive the Lord’s Supper, are you chewing and swallowing into your stomach Christ’s body and blood?” How would you answer

What is a last will and testament?

How is that like the Lord’s supper?

CHRISTIAN VOCABULARY

Holy Communion: The sacrament in which the body and blood of Jesus Christ are given to us “in union with” bread and wine for forgiveness of sins.

Real Presence: The miraculous presence of Jesus’ real body with the bread and real blood with the wine in the Lord’s Supper.


Transubstantiation: Teaching of the Catholic church that the bread and wine actually change into the body and blood

Representation: The bread and wine are only symbols of Jesus’ body and blood—no body and blood are present


How do we know Jesus body and blood are present?

1 Corinthians 11:26-28 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the

Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or

drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of

sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread

and drinks of the cup.

Paul plainly states that we are sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Pull out your wallet and say, “Here is $20.” Notice, I didn’t say, here is my

wallet. It is obvious there is $20 inside and the same is true with Jesus words

to his disciples.

Matthew 26:26-2826 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he

took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of

you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus clearly states, “This is my body”, “This is my blood.” Some

think that since Jesus is in heaven, he can’t be at every celebration of the

Lord’s supper in body and blood. Remember Jesus is God and fills the

whole universe.

Luke 1:37For nothing is impossible with God.”

We know that nothing is impossible with God so we take Him at His word.

God made the whole universe with nothing but his word. That Jesus can

give his true body and blood in the sacrament is a drop in the bucket

compared to what God did in creating the world.

We know that Jesus’ body and blood are really in the sacrament because Jesus clearly states it and nothing is

impossible for him.

GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE

Evaluate this statement: Since Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me, “ we know that the Lord’s Supper is mainly a reminder of what he did for us.

Explain: Why would it be wrong to attend the Lord’s Supper in a congregation that does not confess Jesus’ real presence in the Sacrament, together with the bread and wine?

Hymnology Hymn 312 Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared


What great blessings does Jesus give us in the Lord’s Supper?

Matthew 26:28This is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives us the forgiveness of sin. Let’s say you

were stranded and starving on an island 2000 miles from home.

Enemies came by and tied a 100lb weight to your legs and threw you in

the ocean. What’s your biggest problem? The weight needs to be

taken care of first. So to in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus takes care of the

weight of sin that will drag us down to death first and foremost.

Romans 5:9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through

him!

Through the forgiveness of sins, Jesus also gives us life and

salvation. One problem still remains from our ocean disaster. We’re not

going to die from the weight, but we’re still a long way from home. Then we are rescued by someone

who loves us and sends us a helicopter. Jesus rescues us and he

sends us home to heaven.

Luke 22:19-2019 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them,

saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In

the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new

covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

This Body and Blood of Jesus is given “For You!” Let’s say that I invited you to my house. Which way would you

know for sure that I wanted you personally to come: If I put a notice on the bulletin board telling you to come, or if I gave you a personal invitation

with your name on it? Jesus puts his own body and blood in your mouth and

says “for you” and “for you” and “for you”… (pointing to each student)

In the Lord’s Supper Jesus’ body and blood were given

and shed for me and I receive forgiveness of sins, life and

salvation.


How can the Lord’s Supper give us such great blessings?

John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for

nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Jesus’ words give the Lord’s Supper this great power. In baptism, using water without the word is just plain water. In Communion, just eating bread and wine would be nothing

more than eating food. With Jesus’ powerful words added, it is

communion that gives us the great spiritual blessings God promised.

Romans 10:17Consequently, faith comes from

hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Through Jesus’ words the Holy Spirit also strengthens our faith. Automatic doors have an electronic eye with a beam you can’t see but it makes an impact on whatever walks into it and

causes the door to open. God’s Word works that way. It isn’t just information,

it’s power. You can’t see it, but it causes us to believe what it tells us.

The Lord’s Supper can offer such great blessings because of

Jesus’ words though which the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith.


Agree or disagree and why? The forgiveness we receive here in the Lord’s Supper is better than baptism, because here we receive Jesus’ body and blood.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME REVIEWING THE LESSON 1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral

quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words! 2. The Bible passages are included in the part of Holy Communion to be learned. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. Learn the Confession of our Faith Sacrament of Holy Communion (Page 13 in your Catechism) THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION First: What is the Sacrament of Holy Communion? (to the end)

God’s Tools

Holy Communion - Be Prepared

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INTRODUCTIONWhat do you normally do to prepare for a meal? Would you change anything if

you’re going to eat a very fancy and expensive restaurant? How would you prepare? Now imagine that you were

going to eat at the White house with the president and be on national television.

You would probably make even more preparations. We are invited to eat with

God in His supper and we want to be well prepared. We want to receive

Jesus’ body and blood rightly.


How does God want me to prepare to receive his meal—the

Lord’s Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the

cup.

God wants me to examine myself. Before a pilot takes off or an astronaut takes off, there is a whole check list of things that they take care of. “Fuel" - "Check” " Wing flaps" - "Check” etc. There is whole check list of things that we need to do before we receive the

Lord’s Supper.

1 John 1:8-98 If we claim to be without sin, we

deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all

unrighteousness.

God wants me to examine myself to see if I am sorry for my sins. When a

waitress comes by at a restaurant, she doesn’t pour more water in a full glass. It’s the same way if you are

not sorry for your sins, you think that you are full already and don’t need

forgiveness. You are deceiving yourself, and so you aren’t ready to

go to Communion.

Luke 22:19-2019 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for

you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the

supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for

you.

God wants me to examine myself to see if I believe that Jesus’ body and

blood are truly present. Give examples of times that we can examine ourselves

before Communion. Before church, during the offering, and during the

distribution if you are not in the front row.

1 Corinthians 11:27, 2927 Therefore, whoever eats the bread

or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of

sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks

judgment on himself.

If we don’t believe in Jesus’ body and blood, we receive it in an unworthy way and receive God’s judgment instead of his blessing. The Lord’s Supper is like

strong medicine. If you take it in a different way than prescribed, instead of helping you it will always hurt you

spiritually.

God wants me to examine myself to make sure that I am well

prepared to receive Holy Communion properly.

USING OUR HYMNAL See “Private Confession” on page 156 in front of the hymnal


Agree or Disagree and why? Everyone who goes to the Lord’s Supper receives Jesus’ body and blood.

Evaluate: Faith makes us worthy guests to the Lord's Supper because faith is the only thing that we can offer to God which can earn His love and forgiveness.


Therefore, to whom does God want us to give the Lord’s Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:23-2623 For I received from the Lord what I

also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given

thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in

remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup,

saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink

it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

Repentant Believers who have been educated in the meaning of the Lord’s Supper are to receive it.

Jesus gives us an example in the first supper. Many more men and women believed in Jesus, but he

only gave the supper to the eleven disciples. We still don’t give it to

second graders or even to infants as some churches do.

1 Corinthians 10:17

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake

of the one loaf.

God wants us to give it only to those who are united in faith with us.

Explain how you try to make it clear to visitors through the notice in the

worship folders, etc. We are not trying to say they are not Christians, but we

are trying to protect them from confessing unity with us without

knowing whether or not we are united and/or from bringing God's judgment

on themselves.

God wants us to give the Lord's Supper only to repentant believers

who have been thoroughly educated in the Christian faith and who are

one in faith with us.


Agree or Disagree and why? We should be able to attend the Lord's Supper in any Lutheran Church.

Evaluate this statement: When we deny the Lord's Supper to a sincere Christian, we are being proud and not very loving.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LORD'S TABLE:

THE HOLY GOD

GOD’S CHILDREN GOD’S CHILDREN GOD’S CHILDREN

The Lord’s Supper

In the Lord’s Supper we celebrate the vertical relationship between God and

his children as represented by the arrows going up and down. There is another relationship that we celebrate

as represented by the horizontal arrows - a unity of fellow Christians based on

our confession of faith.

The study of God's Word together and the confessing of that faith in public is

the practice that we call "confirmation". Celebrating the Lord Supper on

the basis of this unity is known as "close communion."

HYMNOLOGY Hymn 310 I Come, O Savior, to Your Table


Confirmation - a strengthening given in directed Bible Study, after which an individual confesses faith in Jesus and unity of faith with a body of believers.

Close Communion - the practice of admitting to the Lord's Supper only those who confess faith in Jesus and unity of faith with a body of believers.

The goal: 1.) so that the participant doesn't receive the Supper in an "unworthy matter"

2.) that the unity of believers celebrated in the Lord's Supper may be maintained


Why does Jesus invite us to receive the Lord's Supper often?

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new

covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance

of me.”

Jesus urges us to come often. We are baptized once, but Jesus invites us to come to the Lord’s Supper often. If a good friend urges you to come over to

his/her house often, that person doesn't mean once or twice a year, but

whenever you can.

Matthew 26:28This is my blood of the covenant, which

is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Through the Lord's Supper, Jesus wants to comfort us with the

forgiveness of our sins often. You just never get tired of the people in your family saying, "I love you.“ We can

never receive God's forgiveness, given in love, too often.

Colossians 2:6-76 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were

taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Jesus keeps on strengthening our faith though the Lord's Supper. Even though we eat and drink very little in the Lord's Supper, it gives us a real

strength. It strengthens our faith that Jesus died for each of us.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but

for him who died for them and was raised again.

Jesus strengthens us to live a life of thanks to him. Let's say that a friend

helps you with a problem you face such as taking care of your paper route when you are on vacation.

When he does this, wouldn't it be your natural reaction to show your thanks to him in a special way? Knowing what God gives us in the Lord's

Supper also makes us thankful and strengthens us to live a life that shows

that thanks to God.

Hebrews 10:25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and

all the more as you see the Day approaching.

By receiving the Lord's Supper with fellow members, we confess our unity

and encourage one another. You could watch the same ball game at

home and at the stadium, and probably cheer very differently. At home you might watch but not say

much of anything when you are alone. While at the stadium you would stand,

whistle, cheer and clap. Why? Because so many people are doing it

with you that you share the same interest and encourage you.

Jesus invites us to receive the Lord's Supper often so that he can keep on comforting us with the forgiveness of sins and strengthening us in our

faith.


Evaluate: Martin Luther wrote in his Large Catechism that if you do not feel as if you need to go to the Lord's Supper often, "Pinch yourselves and see if you are still flesh and blood… In the second place, evaluate if you are still a sinner. Or, if you do not know whether you are, ask your neighbor." Why do you think he suggested such things?

Agree or Disagree and why? It would be better for a congregation to offer the Lord's Supper every Sunday,

rather than to offer it every other Sunday.

Explain: Some people might look at the practice of "close communion" and say it is unloving because it prevents some people from taking the Lord's

Supper temporarily. But on the basis of what we have learned in this study,

explain how practicing close communion actually shows love to

God's Word and to the individual that we ask to wait. Explain how it would

be unloving not to practice close communion.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME REVIEWING THE LESSON 1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral

quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words! 2. Know from memory 1 Corinthians 10:17. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON Ask your parents to help you with the following activity: 1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet. Learn the Confession of our Faith Sacrament of Holy Communion (Page 14 in your Catechism) The Reception of Holy Communion Fourth: Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?

Spiritual

Confirmation 18 & 19 done