Supplies & Set-up: - Jesus of Nazareth video clip - Waterbottle (1/person) - Pita bread (1/table) - Koolaid powder, pitcher of water, clear glass and long handled spoon - Luther s sm. Catechism - Bibles - Wine - Communion cup 1
What is Holy Communion? This class is to teach you about the sacrament of Holy Communion. It s a special meal we eat and celebrate 2-3 times/ month in worship. 2
It s at Holy Communion where we eat bread in the form of a wafer. We drink wine, either from a common cup or individual cups. You ve probably gone up with your parent s to Holy Communion to receive a special blessing from the pastor. And soon it will be your turn to join your parents and the rest of the congregation at the table to participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion. 3
(Introduce Luther s Catechism & what it is) Luther s Small Catechism defines Holy Communion as: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink. 4
What are other names for Holy Communion? - Holy Communion goes by several other names. - Each word we use to describe this meal tells us something important about what it means for us. 1. Cup of Thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 10:16) 2. Lord s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20) 3. Lord s Table (1 Corinthians 10:21) 4. Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:42) 5. Eucharist, the Greek word for give thanks 6. Holy Communion- A sacrament from Latin meaning a pledge or oath. 5
Holy Communion is considered a sacrament. What is A Sacrament? What s a sacrament? Luther s Small Catechism defines it as, a sacred act. Sacraments are sacred acts celebrated not only by Lutheran churches but other Christian churches all over the world. The word sacrament comes to us from the Latin Bible, where it translates the Greek word mystery because there are definitely things about these sacred acts we can t fully understand. 6
What are the Two Sacraments? Holy Communion is one of two sacraments with second sacrament being Baptism These two meet all the criteria for being a sacrament. 7
What are the criteria for an act to be considered a sacrament? Lutherans and other Christian churches recognize baptism and Holy Communion as sacraments because they meet these criteria. An act must fulfill all three of these criteria in order to be considered a valid sacrament. 1. Instituted by God & He invites us to do it 2. In which God Himself has joined His word of promise to a visible element 3. And by which God offers, gives and seals the forgiveness of sins earned by Christ. 8
Why are the five acts in the Roman Catholic church not considered valid sacraments by other Christian churches? In the Roman Catholic church, 5 additional acts are considered sacraments- marriage, confirmation, Holy Order (priesthood), Last Rites (special blessing for the sick) & Confession. However, each of these acts do not meet all three criteria needed to be considered a valid sacrament by the Lutheran Church. 9
Who started the sacraments? It is God who instituted or started the sacraments. The word institute means to start or establish something. God began the two sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism and commanded they be done for all time. Start of Baptism Before going back into Heaven Jesus, who is God, commanded His disciples to, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) In fact baptism is so important that Jesus Himself was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17) Therefore, Holy Baptism meets the first criteria for being a sacrament. Start of Holy Communion Jesus also began Holy Communion. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread, 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 For whenever you eat this break and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) Jesus established this special meal and commanded it be eaten until the end of time. Therefore, Holy Communion meets the first criteria for being a sacrament. 10
Let s watch a short clip from a great movie called Jesus of Nazareth In this scene we see Jesus and His disciples eating the Passover Meal on Maundy Thursday. Watch how Jesus established Holy Communion and commanded we eat it. (Watch Jesus of Nazareth clip) 10
(Jesus of Nazareth clip) 11
What visible elements are used in the sacraments? The second criteria for an act to be considered a sacrament is that God s Words of promise is joined to a visible element. There s nothing special about these elements. They are plain and common until God s word is spoken over them. They gain their power when God s Word of promise is applied to them. All three elements are products of Gods earth. What is the element used in Baptism? (Students read Mark 1:10); Water flows upon the earth watering giving the earth life and nutrients. It s just plain water. What makes is so special is when God s Words are spoken over it, giving it the power to wash away sins. What are the elements used in Holy Communion? (Students read Luke 22:19 & Luke 22:17-18) In Holy Communion the elements used is bread made from wheat (Luke 22:19), and wine from grapes (Luke 22:17-18). Grape juice can also be used but we use wine because that s what Jesus drank at the Passover meal at the first Lord s Supper. Wine was a common drink at meals due to the lack of water in the land. Break off a piece of pita bread and eat it. 12
These plain, common elements take on special meaning in the Lord s Supper when again, God s words are spoken over them, giving them the power to forgive your sins. 12
What words are spoken over the elements? In Baptism the pastor applies God s Word of promise to the element of water when he says, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Mathew 28:19) These are the words Jesus commanded his disciples to use. When we are baptized we are united into the fellowship of the Triune God Himself. In Holy Communion the pastor applies God s Word of promise to the bread and wine when he says the same words Jesus used at the first Lord s Supper, Take and eat this is my body broken for you take and drink this is my blood shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) We call these words the Words of Institution or Words of Consecration because they are the special blessing Jesus used at the first Lord s Supper. These same words are still used by pastors today to consecrate the Sacrament whenever it is celebrated. 13
What happens to the elements? Do they change? Once God s Words has been spoken the water is no longer plain water; the bread and wine are no longer just plain bread and wine. They still look the same-water is still water, bread and wine are still bread and wine-but what we can t see is that something amazing happens spiritually to the elements. An unseen supernatural miracle takes place. When the words are spoken God s promises of forgiveness and other blessings are joined together with the visible elements. (Object Lesson) It s like when you mix koolaid powder and water together. When stirred, they join together to become the koolaid you drink. In a similar way, God s promise of forgiveness is mixed together with the visible elements. They are joined together therefore meeting the second criteria for Holy Communion and Baptism to be considered a sacrament. 14
How does God get His forgiveness and other gifts to us? Once the words have been spoken the elements take on God s forgiveness and the other gifts He has promised to give us. They become the container or the way in which God delivers these gifts to a person. We call this the means of grace ; the way God gets us His gifts. It s like when you drink the koolaid. The glass is the container that holds the koolaid and becomes the means or the way in which you transfer the koolaid into your body. In the same way God uses the physical elements of water in baptism and physical elements of bread and wine in Holy Communion (all of which have been mixed with God s promises) to deliver to your body God s forgiveness. This is how God offers, gives and gets His forgiveness to us therefore meeting the third criteria for Baptism and Holy Communion to be considered a sacrament. 15
What happens in the sacraments? This all sounds like a magic spell God s word mixed with an element = God s forgiveness. It s not a magic spell but rather a great mystery, one we can t understand. As Christians we call these great mysteries of faith miracles. A miracle is an extraordinary act that can only happen because of the power of God. When you witness a Baptism you are watching a miracle happen. When you take Holy Communion, you are involved in a miracle. It s the miracle of being forgiven!! 16
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