1. Communion
The Nature of Communion
Recognizing Jesus' Real Presence in the Lord's Supper
Memorization Verses:
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after
under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to
for us Christians to eat and to drink. Our Lord Jesus them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the
Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took new testament, in My blood, which is shed for you for
bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it,
gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My in remembrance of Me."

2.  LSB 631 ethymnal.org/htm My strength is in Thy might, Thy might
 /h/e/hereomyl.htm alone.
 1 Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;  5 Mine is the sin, but Thine the
Here would I touch and handle things righteousness;
unseen; Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing
Here grasp with firmer hand th'eternal blood;
grace, Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
And all my weariness upon Thee lean. Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord, my
 2 Here would I feed upon the bread of God, God.
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of  6 Too soon we rise; the vessels disappear;
heav'n; The feast, though not the love, is past and
Here would I lay aside each earthly load, gone;
ere taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv'n. The bread and wine remove; but Thou art
 3 This is the hour of banquet and of song; here,
This is the heav'nly table spread for me; Nearer than ever; still my shield and sun.
Here let me feast and, feasting still prolong  7 Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
The brief bright hour of fellowship with Yet, passing, points to that glad feast above,
thee. Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
 4 I have no help but Thine; nor do I need The Lamb's great marriage feast of bliss and
Another arm but Thine to lean upon. love.
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed;

3. Communion Discussion and Reflection
What we do: …….Why?
•We praise God
•Prayer of thanks to God
•The Minister tells the story of how communion started.
•We pray for other people
•We say ―Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – have mercy on us‖
•We pass the bread and the wine
•We end with saying ‗The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.‘
Tell about your first communion.

4. Pray:
Holy Jesus, unite with my body and
PRAYER soul on this day. Nourish me with
• Take and eat Your flesh and refresh me with Your
blood, so that my weak faith may be
• True body and strengthened, receive the assurance of
blood Your grace, the forgiveness of my sin,
and eternal salvation. Clothe me with
• Visible elements the pure silk of Your righteousness.
• Consecrated by Clothe me in the true wedding
garment, that I may appear at Your
the Word heavenly table as a worthy guest.
• Celebration and Now, Lord God and Father, be my
help and my protection! Lord Jesus
Blessing Christ, be my bread, my light, and
P raise life! And You, O Holy Spirit, illumine
R epentance and preserve me in true
sanctification. In that estate, into
A ppreciation which I again am permitted to enter
Y ou may I remain for all my life. Let me
be enveloped in You. Without You
E veryone there is only grief. O dear Savior, let
R esolve me ever be with You. Amen. (Johann
Habermann, 1516-90).

5.  LSB 633  5 Mighty Victim from the sky,
 1 At the Lamb's high feast we sing Hell's fierce pow'rs beneath You lie;
Praise to our victorious King, You have conquered in the fight,
Who has washed us in the tide You have brought us life and light.
Flowing from His piercèd side. Alleluia! Alleluia!
 2 Praise we Him, whose love divine  6 Now no more can death appall,
Gives His sacred blood for wine, Now no more the grace enthrall;
Gives His Body for the feast-- You have opened paradise,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest. And Your saints in You shall rise. Alleluia!
Alleluia!  7 Easter triumph, Easter joy!
 3 Where the paschal blood is poured, This alone can sin destroy;
Death's dread angel sheathes the sword; From sin's pow'r, Lord, set us free,
Israel's hosts triumphant go Newborn souls in You to be. Alleluia!
Through the wave that drowns the foe.  8 Father, who the crown shall give,
Alleluia! Savior, by whose death we live,
 4 Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Spirit, guide through all our days;
Paschal victim, paschal bread; Three in One, Your name we praise.
With sincerity and love Alleluia!
Eat we manna from above. Alleluia!

6.  “With bread and
wine you can
walk your road.”
~Spanish
Proverb

7.  • What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
 •Where is this written?
 •What are some other names for the Sacrament of the Altar?
 •Who instituted the Sacrament of the Altar?
 •What does Christ give us in the sacrament?
 •How does the Bible make it clear that these words of Christ are not picture language?
 •What are the visible elements in the Sacrament?
 •Do Christ's body and blood in the Sacrament replace the bread and wine, so that the bread and wine
are no longer there?
 •How then are the bread and win in the Sacrament the body and blood of Christ?
 •Do all communicants receive the body and blood in the Sacrament, whether or not they believe?
 •Are the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament sacrificed again to God for the sins of the living
and the dead?
 •What does Christ command when He says, "This do in remembrance of Me"?
 •Why are we to receive the Sacrament often?
•______________________________ Say Mean Matter
 SS Take and eat
Key phrases Own words Answer the
 M True body and blood questions/
 T Visible elements Personal
 W Consecrated by the Word application
 Th Celebration and Blessing

9.  A Big Mac - the communion
wafer of consumption.
 John Ralston Saul
 Faith is not knowledge of an
object but communion with
it.
 Nicolás Gómez Dávila
 What do we commune
with?

10.  The supper consists of
 3 elements
 two physical, one verbal
 2 symbols
 both truly present, but not
physiologically or
scientifically
 1 recipient
 Personal, yet connecting
with all recipients
 1 action
 The true communion with
Christ

11.  The Eucharist (giving of
thanks) is a commemoration
meal instituted by Christ for
the Church.
 Christ binds himself to all
OT believers by fulfilling
the passover sacrifice and
infusing his own person
within this intimate setting
of forgiveness.
 Christ binds himself to the
supper in the same way he
binds himself eternally to
humanity through
incarnation

12.  The Supper is not:
 An infusion of
extra/special grace
 A magical event that can
be used sympathetically
 Idolotry or a replacement
of the historical events of
justification
 An unexamined meal of
consumption
 A ―just a symbol‖ or ―not
really Jesus‖ thought meal

13.  Historically, there have
been five reasons people
have had problems with
Communion:
 It is unimportant
 It is figurative/not real
 People abuse it
 You are too sinful
 Your pastor is too sinful
 How might we reconcile
these ideas scripturally?

14.  It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread
Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by which we break, is it not the communion of the body
Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to of Christ? (NKJV).
drink.  Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles'
 The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
Paul write: and to prayer.
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was  Matt. 26:26 Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke
betrayed, took bread, and when He had given it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat;
thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and this is My body."
said: "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for  Note: Eucharist comes from the Greek word for
you. This do in remembrance of Me." "giving thanks."
 In the same way also He took the cup after supper,  •
and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them,  Pray: O Lord, I do truly believe that You are here
saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new present in this sacrament, both God and man.
testament, in My blood, which is shed for you for Your will is that I should receive You, and that I
the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you should unite myself unto You in charity. Wherefore
drink it, in remembrance of Me." I implore Your mercy, and do crave Your special
 This sacrament is also called the Lord's Supper, the grace, to the end I may wholly be dissolved and
Lord's Table, Holy Communion, the Breaking of overflow with love unto You, and hereafter never
Bread, and the Eucharist. allow any external consolation to enter in. For this
 1 Cor. 11:20 When you come together, it is not the most high and precious sacrament is the health
Lord's Supper you eat. both of soul and body, the medicine for all spiritual
laziness; hereby my vices are cured, my passions
 1 Cor. 10:21 You cannot have a part in both the Lord's bridled, my temptations overcome. Amen.
table and the table of demons. (Thomas a Kempis, c. 1380-1471)
 1 Cor. 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it

15.  Tertullian
 he flesh is washed, in order that
the soul may be cleansed; the
flesh is anointed, that
the soul may be consecrated;
the flesh is signed [with
the cross], that the soul, too,
may be fortified; the flesh is
shadowed with the imposition
of hands, that the soul also may
be illuminated by the Spirit; the
flesh feeds on the body and
blood of Christ, that
the soullikewise may have its
fill of God — "Deres. Carnis.",
viii

16.  Augustine
 "By those sacrifices of the Old Law, this one
Sacrifice is signified, in which there is a true
remission of sins; but not only is no one forbidden
to take as food the Blood of this Sacrifice, rather,
all who wish to possess life are exhorted to drink
thereof." (Questions on the Heptateuch 3:57)
 That Bread which you see on the altar, having been
sanctified by the word of God IS THE BODY OF
CHRIST. That chalice, or rather, what is in that
chalice, having been sanctified by the word of
God, IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. Through that
bread and wine the Lord Christ willed to
commend HIS BODY AND BLOOD, WHICH HE
POURED OUT FOR US UNTO THE
FORGIVENESS OF SINS." (Sermons 227)

17.  Luther (―That These Words, 'This is My Body,' Still Stand
Against the Fanatics.‖ 1527)
But the glory of God is precisely that for our sakes He comes down to the very depths, into
human flesh, into the bread, into our mouth, our heart, our bosom; moreover, for our sakes He
allows Himself to be treated ingloriously both on the cross and on the altar, as St. Paul says in I
Corinthians 11 that some eat the bread in an unworthy manner."
"Death indeed tried once, wanting to devour and digest Christ's flesh; but it could not. This flesh
tore death's stomach and throat into more than a hundred thousand pieces, so that the teeth of the
grave fell to pieces and turned to dust, and this flesh of Christ remains alive. For this food was
too strong for death, and has devoured and digested it devourer. God is in this flesh. It is God's
flesh, the Spirit's flesh. It is in God and God is in it. Therefore it lives and gives life to all who
eat it, both to their bodies and to their souls."
"Therefore Christ wills to be in us by nature, in both our soul and body, according to the word in
John 6, 'He who eats Me abides in Me and I in him.' If we eat Him spiritually through the Word,
He abides in us spiritually in our soul; if one eats Him physically, He abides in us physically and
we in Him. As we eat Him, He abides in us and we in Him. For He is not digested or
transformed; but ceaselessly He transforms us-our soul into righteousness, our body into
immortality. So the ancient fathers spoke of the physical eating."

18.  Zwingli
 I have no use for that notion of a real
and true body that does not exist
physically, definitely and distinctly
in some place, and that sort of
nonsense got up by word triflers.
 The striking feature of the Zwinglian
observance of the sacrament was its
simplicity. Because the bread and
wine were not physically
transformed into Christ‘s body and
blood, there was no need for
spurious ceremonies and pompous
rituals. The occasion was marked by
simplicity and reverence, with an
emphasis on its nature as a
memorial.

19.  Jesus Christ, who is true God and true  Gal. 3:15 Though it is only a man's
man, instituted this sacrament. covenant [will], yet if it is confirmed, no
 1 Cor. 11:23-24 1 received from the Lord one annuls or adds to it (NKJV).
what I also passed on to you: The Lord  Note: Compare also Heb. 9:15-22.
Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took  •
bread, and when He had given thanks, He
 Pray: O Blessed Jesus, my only Savior
broke it and said, "This is My body, which
and most merciful God, in the Sacrament
is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
of Your own institution, You give Your
 In this sacrament Christ gives us His own body and blood to be the nourishment of
true body and blood for the forgiveness of my soul. May they preserve my body and
sins. soul unto everlasting life. When I eat
 Matt. 26:26, 28 "This is My body.... This is Your flesh in remembrance that You died
My blood." for me, may I feed on it with
 Christ's words in the Sacrament must be thanksgiving; and may Your blood
taken at face value especially because convey to my soul all the benefits of Your
passion. Grant that I may eat Your flesh
 A. these words are the words of a
and drink Your blood, so that my sinful
testament, and even an ordinary person's
body may be made clean by Your body,
last will and testament may not be
and my soul washed through Your most
changed once that person has died;
precious blood. Amen. (Johann
 1 Cor. 11:25 "This cup is the new covenant Gerhard, 1582-1637).
[testament] in My blood."

20.  Substance vs. Accidents
 Substance = the actual thing
or person that is present
 Accidents = the physical
composition or attributes of a
thing
 Difference between ―white‖
and ―Socrates‖
 Transubstation
 Substance changes from
bread to body
 Accidents stay the same
 Is this scriptural?

21.  B. God's Word clearly teaches that in the took the cup.
Sacrament the bread and wine are a  Note: "The fruit of the vine" (Luke 22:18) in
communion or participation in the body the Bible means wine, not grape juice. See
and blood of Christ; also I Cor. 11:21.
 1 Cor. 10:16 The cup of blessing which we  No, bread and wine remain in the Sacrament.
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of
 1 Cor. 11:26 Whenever you eat this bread
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not
and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
the communion of the body of Christ?
death until He comes.
(NKJV).
 •
 C. God's Word clearly teaches that those
Pray: Graciously grant, O Lord and Savior,
who misuse the Sacrament sin not against
that Your holy Sacrament may be kept
bread and wine but against Christ's body
sacred among us, and be used by us for our
and blood.
soul’s welfare, and that it may not be cast
 1 Cor. 11:27, 29 Whoever eats the bread or before dogs and swine. Grant me and all
drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy sincere Christians grace to come to a true
manner will be guilty of sinning against the knowledge of this Your will and to take it
body and blood of the Lord For anyone who well to heart. O let Your worthy Sacrament
eats and drinks without recognizing the body be among us what Your mercy has designed
of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on it to be: a table where wholesome food and
himself. rink is given to poor and grief-stricken
 The visible elements are bread and wine. sinners who put their trust in You. Amen.
 Matt. 26:26-27 Jesus took bread.... Then He (Zorn)

22.  On the first day of the Festival of  Azumwn:
 The removal of sin and impurity in preparation
Unleavened Bread, the disciples for Passover. Disciples do this in preparation.
came to Jesus and asked, ―Where do  Clean one hand for appetizers, than both for
you want us to make preparations main meal.
for you to eat the Passover?‖  pa/sxa:
 The lamb that is slain in connection to Egypt
 After taking the cup, he gave thanks  Also indirectly connected to Isaac
and said,―Take this and divide it  Haggadah
among you. 18 For I tell you I will  The liturgical text that outlines the practices of
passover, including songs, blessings, and order
not drink again from the fruit of the of meals.
vine until the kingdom of God  Fruit of the vine
comes.‖ (Luke 22:17)  Direct reference to wine
 First cup with appetizer
 While they were eating, Jesus took
 Customary to make metaphorical statements
bread, and when he had given  Labete fagete, toutoestin to swma mou
thanks, he broke it and gave it to his  Blessing (eulugeo) with a symbol enacted.
disciples, saying, ―Take and eat; this  Christ is the passover fullfillment. Type/Anti
is my body.‖

23.  27 Then he took a cup, and  pothrion kai euxaristhsav:
when he had given thanks,  Cup of blessing before the main course
he gave it to them,  Unusual for the Jewish metaphors from
saying, ―Drink from it, all the paterfamilias to extend this far (as the
meal is gearing up towards its own
of you. 28 This is my blood eschatological meaning)
of the[b] covenant, which is  Christ is clearly separating his body from
poured out for many for his blood, the broken and dead sacrifice
the forgiveness of sins. 29 with the covenantal promise of the
Paschal
 Kai umnhsantev echlqon eiv to
 When they had sung a
Orov twn Elaiwn.
hymn, they went out to the  Tradition is fulfilled, Jerusalem left.
Mount of Olives.  The family of God in the city of God
goes out to the world of temptation

24.  The bread and wine in the Sacrament are  1 Cor. 5:7 Christ, our Passover lamb, has been
Christ's body and blood by sacramental sacrificed.
union. By the power of His word, Christ gives  Heb. 10:14 By one sacrifice He has made
His body and blood in, with, and under the perfect for ever those who are being made holy.
consecrated (blessed) bread and wine.  Heb. 10:18 Where these [sins] have been
 1 Cor. 10:16 The cup of blessing which we forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of  Note: We speak of the "Sacrament of the
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the Altar" because an altar is a place of sacrifice.
communion of the body of Christ? (NKJV). Jesus sacrificed His body and blood on the
 Yes, because the Sacrament depends on Christ's cross for the sins of the world once and for
word, not on our faith. all. In the Sacrament of the Altar, He
 1 Cor. 11:27 Whoever eats the bread or drinks distributes this same body and blood until
the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will the end of time.
be guilty of sinning against the body and blood  •
of the Lord.  Pray: Count us worthy of this communion
 Note: All communicants should receive both also, O God of true, and make our bodies to
parts of the Sacrament, since Christ said, contain purity and our souls prudence and
"Take and eat; this is my body.... Drink from knowledge. And make us wise, O God of
it, all of you" (Matt. 26:2627). compassions, by partaking of the body and
 No, the body and blood of Christ in the the blood, because through Your only –
Sacrament are the one perfect sacrifice begotten Son to You is the glory and the
offered to God once and for all on the cross strength and the Holy Spirit, now and to all
and are now distributed to us in the the ages of the ages. Amen. (Serapion of
Sacrament together with all the blessings and Thumuis, d. after 360).

25.  The God we worship breaks forth
into the muddy world and
invades the enemy territory with
us in mind
 Every instance where God is
present with his people, forgiving
sins, bidding for righteousness,
and healing afflictions, there is a
descriptive sacrament, including
OT typology and liturgical
practices
 In communion, we draw near to
the one who declares boldly that
we are forgiven in this new,
continuing covenant.

26.  Christ instutitutes a meal in
communion with Himself
and in
expectation/rememberance
of his sacrifice.
 The newly created passover
meal (Eucharist) retains the
expectaions of the coming
messiah into the new
escahton
 The meal now is but a
foretaste of the clear and
unfiltered communion to
come

27.  Christ commands in these words that His Sacrament the God and Father of Your holy Child Jesus, our
be celebrated in the church till the end of time as a Savior! Look down upon us and upon Your flock,
living proclamation and distribution of His saving which You have chosen through Him to the glory of
death and all its blessings. Your Name. Sanctify us in body and soul, and
 1 Cor. 11:26 Whenever you eat this bread and drink this grant us the favor to be made pure from all
cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. filthiness of flesh and spirit. May we obtain the
 We are to receive the Sacrament often because A. good things laid up for us. Do not count any of us
Christ commands, or urgently invites, us, saying, unworthy. But be our Comforter, Helper, and
"This do in remembrance of Me"; B. His words, Protector through Your Christ, with whom glory,
"Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins" honor, praise, doxology, and thanksgiving be to You
promise and offer us great blessings; and to the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. (Apostolic
 Matt. 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and Constitutions, c. 350-80).
burdened and I will Live you rest.  May my reason, sense, and intellect be ever
 C. we need the forgiveness of our sins and the submissive to Your Word. May I earnestly resolve
strength for a new and holy life. to better and improve my life with Your help. In
 John 15:5 1 am the vine; you are the branches If a man this precious sacrament, may I not only receive
remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; Your body and blood with my mouth, but also
apart from Me you can do nothing. accept You in true faith, my Savior and Redeemer,
 Note: In the New Testament, the Sacrament was a enthrone You in my heart, and find in You my life
regular and major feature of congregational worship, and blessedness. For YOouare the living bread
not an occasional extra (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, which comes down from heaven and brings life to
33). In Reformation times our churches celebrated men. O beloved Lord, my spirit and my mind
the Sacrament "every Sunday and on other festivals" yearn for You. As the hart pants after the water
(Apology XXIV 1). brooks, so pants my soul after You, O God. My
soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall
 •
I come and appear before God? Fill me with Your
 Pray: O God, who is great and whose name is
grace. Amen. (Johann Habermann, 1516-90).
great, who is great in counsel and mighty in works,

28.  He comes down; down from
the heights of absolute being
into time and space, down
into humanity; down further
still ... (to) the womb ...
down to the very roots and
sea-bed of the Nature He has
created. But He goes down
to come up again and bring
the whole ruined world up
with Him

29.  LSB 622 Here with Your congregation. Remember that I am but dust,
 1 Lord Jesus Christ, You have Firm as a rock this truth shall And let my faith not fail me.
prepared stand, Your Supper in this vale of tears
This feast for our salvation; Unmoved by any daring hand Refreshes me and stills my fears
It is Your body and Your blood, Or subtle craft and cunning. And is my priceless treasure.
And at Your invitation  4 We eat this bread and drink  7 Grant that we worthily receive
As weary souls, with sin this cup, Your Supper, Lord, our Savior,
oppressed, Your precious Word believing And, truly grieving o’er our
We come to You for needed rest, That Your true body and Your sins,
For comfort, and for pardon. blood May prove by our behavior
 2 Although You did to Heav’n Our lips are here receiving. That we are thankful for Your
ascend, This word remains forever true, grace
Where angel hosts are dwelling, All things are possible with You, And day by day may run our
And in Your presence they For You are Lord Almighty. race,
behold 5 Though reason cannot In holiness increasing.
Your glory, all excelling, understand,  8 For Your consoling supper,
And though Your people shall Yet faith this truth embraces; Lord,
not see Your body, Lord, is even now Be praised throughout all ages!
Your glory and Your majesty At once in many places. Preserve it, for in ev'ry place
Till dawns the judgment I leave to You how this can be; The world against it rages.
morning. Your Word alone suffices me; Grant that this sacrament may
 3 Yet, Savior, You are not I trust its truth unfailing. be
confined  6 Lord, I believe what You have A blessèd comfort unto me
To any habitation; said; When living and when dying.
But You are present even now Help me when doubts assail me;

30.  Pray: O that to me also one of the of the cross. With this win, Lord
Seraphim would bring the burning Jesus purify our senses, that we
coal from the celestial altar, taking may adore You, and worship You.
it in the tongs of the two Amen. (Ambrose of Milan, c. 339-
testaments, and with the fire purge 97).
my unclean lips! But You, O Lord,
in revelation of the mystery have
come to us in the flesh. Do not
send any deputy, nor any
messenger, but You Yourself
cleanse my conscience from my
secret sins. There is a cup, which
You use to purify the hidden
chambers of the soul, a cup not of
the old order nor filled from a
common vine. It is a new cup,
brought down from heaven to
earth, filled with wine pressed
from the wondrous cluster, which
hung in fleshly form upon the tree

31. It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under by sacramental union. By the power of His word, Christ gives His
the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us body and blood in, with, and under the consecrated (blessed) bread
Christians to eat and to drink. The holy Evangelists Matthew, and wine.
Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the Yes, because the Sacrament depends on Christ's word, not on our
night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had faith.
given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Note: All communicants should receive both parts of the
"Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in Sacrament, since Christ said, "Take and eat; this is my body....
remembrance of Me." In the same way also He took the cup Drink from it, all of you" (Matt. 26:2627).
after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to No, the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament are the one
them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new perfect sacrifice offered to God once and for all on the cross and
testament, in My blood, which is shed for you for the are now distributed to us in the Sacrament together with all the
forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in blessings and benefits which this sacrifice has won for us.
remembrance of Me." This sacrament is also called the Lord's Note: We speak of the "Sacrament of the Altar" because an altar is
Supper, the Lord's Table, Holy Communion, the Breaking of a place of sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His body and blood on the
Bread, and the Eucharist. cross for the sins of the world once and for all. In the Sacrament of
Note: Eucharist comes from the Greek word for "giving thanks." the Altar, He distributes this same body and blood until the end of
Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man, instituted this time.
sacrament. Christ commands in these words that His Sacrament be celebrated
In this sacrament Christ gives us His own true body and blood for in the church till the end of time as a living proclamation and
the forgiveness of sins. distribution of His saving death and all its blessings.
Christ's words in the Sacrament must be taken at face value We are to receive the Sacrament often because A. Christ
especially because A. these words are the words of a testament, commands, or urgently invites, us, saying, "This do in
and even an ordinary person's last will and testament may not be remembrance of Me"; B. His words, "Given and shed for you for
changed once that person has died; 1 the forgiveness of sins" promise and offer us great blessings;
B. God's Word clearly teaches that in the Sacrament the bread and C. we need the forgiveness of our sins and the strength for a new
wine are a communion or participation in the body and blood of and holy life.
Christ; C. God's Word clearly teaches that those who misuse the Note: In the New Testament, the Sacrament wa regular and major
Sacrament sin not against bread and wine but against Christ's body feature of congregational worship, not an occasional extra. In
and blood. The visible elements are bread and wine. Reformation times our churches celebrated the Sacrament "every
Note: "The fruit of the vine" (Luke 22:18) in the Bible means wine, Sunday and on other festivals" (Apology XXIV 1).
not grape juice.
No, bread and wine remain in the Sacrament.
The bread and wine in the Sacrament are Christ's body and blood

32.  Benefit of
Communion