Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Take & Eat
Today, we finished up the second lesson on communion and the fourth and final lesson on the sacraments.
Bible Text:
John 6:48–51
Lesson Focus:
Jesus feeds us with his body and blood so that we can feed others.
Big Question:
I take communion every week at church, but what am I supposed to do about it?
Key Words:
BREAD AND WINE, BODY AND BLOOD, SACRAMENT
Key Word Definitions
BREAD AND WINE: the earthly elements that, in the Lord's Supper, are Jesus' body and blood. When combined with God's word, they bring forgiveness, salvation, and life.
BODY AND BLOOD: the physical presence of Jesus Christ that he gives us in the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is also known as holy communion.
SACRAMENT: something that 1) Jesus Christ commands us to do; 2) involves an earthly element, like water or bread and wine; and 3) combines with God's spoken word to bring salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life.
Going Deep
Jesus is the bread of life. "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51). Jesus gave himself in life and death. The bread and wine we receive are Christ's body and blood. As we are baptized into the body of Christ, so in holy communion we are sustained and nourished as one body. "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Jesus' meals inform our understanding of the Lord's Supper and all our meals. With Jesus, there is always enough for all. Holy communion is a foretaste of the Messianic banquet to which all will be invited.
Lutherans teach that the bread and wine of the eucharist become, by God's word, the body and blood of Christ and are at the same time ordinary bread and wine. The Lutheran Reformation rejected transubstantiation, which they understood to mean that the sacramental elements were essentially changed from bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. "Just as in Christ two distinct, unaltered natures are inseparably united, so in the Holy Supper two essences, the natural bread and the true natural body of Christ, are present together here on earth in the action of the sacrament, as it was instituted" (Kolb/Wengert, Formula of Concord Solid Declaration, Article VII 599.35–39). This teaching is an example of the idea that the finite is capable of bearing the infinite—finitum capax infiniti. The human Jesus is God's Word, the bread and wine are body and blood, AND the ordinary water is the water of baptism.
"Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17). The unity of the church is most manifest at the table of the Lord's Supper, whose most common site is the local congregation. This sacrament of our unity, shared by the whole church, unites all Christians. Over the centuries, eucharistic theology and practice have been the ground of disagreement and schism in the church. In the Reformation, Luther contested transubstantiation as a theory of how Christ is present in the bread and wine. At the same time, he rejected the teaching that the eucharist was merely a "memorial" and not the actual presence of Christ. Luther also argued against the theology of communion as a sacrifice having merits and against the private celebration of communion by priests.
From the earliest days, Christians' eucharistic worship has included sending believers away from the meal to serve the world, and in particular, to feed the hungry. Bread for the World, an ecumenical hunger advocacy organization, reports that over 800 million people in the world go hungry every day. In developing countries, six million children die annually, mostly from causes related to hunger. In the United States, one in ten households lives in hunger or is at risk of hunger, including 13 million children. Hunger around the world is not a financial problem, nor is it a problem of how much food there is. The United Nations estimates that "the basic health and nutrition needs of the world's poorest people could be met for an additional $13 billion a year" (www.bread.org/hungerbasics/index.html). We have the financial resources, knowledge, and technology to end hunger now. The challenge is equitable distribution, a political problem. As people who know the bounty of God's grace and who share Jesus' body and blood, given for all people, we are empowered to help see that hunger is eradicated.
Small Group Connection
Object Lesson Option: Bundled, Not Broken!
Have a couple dozen new pencils and two rubber bands. Take 12 or more of the pencils and bundle them together with the rubber bands. Ask for a volunteer who thinks he or she is very strong. Invite the volunteer to stand by you. Provide a single pencil and tell the volunteer to break it. Now give him or her the bundle of pencils you have made; have the volunteer try to break the bundle. The lesson of this classic object lesson is clear: Alone, we can easily be broken, but together, we are strong. We are one in the body of Christ, and one in the church. Pass out the pencils as gifts when you are done.
Review the activity with these questions:
• What are some ways that you can join with others to make a difference?
• Why does Christ call us to help one another?
• How does holy communion represent Christ's bond with us?
Showing posts with label sacraments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacraments. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Make-Up: October 10th – Sacrament of Communion
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacrament of Communion
Bible Text:
Exodus 12:1–36; Matthew 26:17–29; Luke 22:19–20
Lesson Focus:
Word, wine, and bread together give us salvation, forgiveness, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during communion?
Key Words:
PASSOVER, LAST SUPPER, EUCHARIST, COMMUNION
Key Word Definitions
PASSOVER: the Jewish celebration of the night God passed over Egypt, killing the firstborn in every Egyptian household. God spared the Hebrews, who were protected by the blood of the lamb.
LAST SUPPER: the Passover celebration Jesus shared with his best friends on the night he was betrayed.
EUCHARIST: the communion meal Christians share that remembers Jesus' Last Supper, bestowing on them Jesus' forgiveness and grace.
COMMUNION: the Lord's Supper. Also refers to what happens when followers of Jesus Christ come together to worship, learn, or pray.
Going Deep
In the story of the ancient Israelites' liberation from slavery, God told the people to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. When God executed judgment against the Egyptians, killing the firstborn humans and animals, the blood was a sign for the Lord to pass over those houses. The annual Passover celebration is a remembrance of and participation in the liberation. The confession in Deuteronomy 26:5–11 is recited as part of this remembrance and participation.
Jesus' family went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. Jesus instituted Holy Communion at a Passover supper. Jesus said that the bread is his body and the wine his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. At his last supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to [the Twelve], saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood'" (Luke 22:19–20). His blood, he said, "is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). As in baptism, here is a sacrament—ordinary bread and wine together with the word, a command ("Do this") and a promise ("for the forgiveness of sins"). God's forgiveness of sins in Holy Communion reconciles believers to God and to one another so that we are one body.
Early Christians did not practice communion as an annual Passover meal but as a weekly celebration of the resurrection. From the beginning, Christians gathered on the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection and to share a meal. Holy Communion or Eucharist, the meal of thanksgiving, was celebrated in the context of the meal. Over time communion was celebrated as a separate meal. Weekly communion worship included scripture readings and commentary and then the meal. The annual celebration of the resurrection—Easter or Pascha, as it is called in Orthodox Christianity—was generally at Passover (Pesach in Hebrew). Passover might or might not fall on a Sunday or Resurrection Day. The Council of Nicea (325 C.E.) set the date for Easter as the first Sunday after Passover. Later, for Western Christianity, the date was defined as the first Sunday after the first full or Paschal moon on or after the spring equinox. Orthodox Christianity defines the date in the same way but by a different calendar.
Throughout the history of Christianity and across different segments of the church, weekly communion has not always been the practice. For Lutherans, according to the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, communion every Sunday and on festivals is the norm. Congregations are encouraged to celebrate communion weekly, though not every service need be a Eucharist. All Christians need Holy Communion frequently. The Lord's Supper establishes and sustains the fellowship and mission of the church. Yet, while we should commune frequently, participation is by Christ's invitation and not by human requirement. Participation in the Eucharist, a gift from God, is a response to Jesus Christ.
Small Group Time
Art Option: Eucharistic Artwork
As a small group, make a piece of artwork that can be displayed on Holy Communion Sundays in the narthex of your church building. Get permission from the right people in your church, like the pastor, before displaying your art! Students can use symbols of Holy Communion such as a chalice, bread, grapes, and wheat. They can also try to invent some of their own symbols. Be creative! Project ideas include a fabric banner with felt shapes, a collage of images on poster board or foam core, or a mosaic made of tiles or paper squares. If you don't have time to prep, visit your Sunday school supply closet to find construction paper, glue sticks, and other basics.
Debrief the activity with these questions:
- What symbols of communion are most meaningful to you? Why are they important?
- What artwork in our church do you notice? Do you think it's important to have art in a church building? Why or why not?
- What are some of your ideas for how our church could display and use more artwork during worship?
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacrament of Communion
Bible Text:
Exodus 12:1–36; Matthew 26:17–29; Luke 22:19–20
Lesson Focus:
Word, wine, and bread together give us salvation, forgiveness, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during communion?
Key Words:
PASSOVER, LAST SUPPER, EUCHARIST, COMMUNION
Key Word Definitions
PASSOVER: the Jewish celebration of the night God passed over Egypt, killing the firstborn in every Egyptian household. God spared the Hebrews, who were protected by the blood of the lamb.
LAST SUPPER: the Passover celebration Jesus shared with his best friends on the night he was betrayed.
EUCHARIST: the communion meal Christians share that remembers Jesus' Last Supper, bestowing on them Jesus' forgiveness and grace.
COMMUNION: the Lord's Supper. Also refers to what happens when followers of Jesus Christ come together to worship, learn, or pray.
Going Deep
In the story of the ancient Israelites' liberation from slavery, God told the people to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. When God executed judgment against the Egyptians, killing the firstborn humans and animals, the blood was a sign for the Lord to pass over those houses. The annual Passover celebration is a remembrance of and participation in the liberation. The confession in Deuteronomy 26:5–11 is recited as part of this remembrance and participation.
Jesus' family went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. Jesus instituted Holy Communion at a Passover supper. Jesus said that the bread is his body and the wine his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. At his last supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to [the Twelve], saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood'" (Luke 22:19–20). His blood, he said, "is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). As in baptism, here is a sacrament—ordinary bread and wine together with the word, a command ("Do this") and a promise ("for the forgiveness of sins"). God's forgiveness of sins in Holy Communion reconciles believers to God and to one another so that we are one body.
Early Christians did not practice communion as an annual Passover meal but as a weekly celebration of the resurrection. From the beginning, Christians gathered on the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection and to share a meal. Holy Communion or Eucharist, the meal of thanksgiving, was celebrated in the context of the meal. Over time communion was celebrated as a separate meal. Weekly communion worship included scripture readings and commentary and then the meal. The annual celebration of the resurrection—Easter or Pascha, as it is called in Orthodox Christianity—was generally at Passover (Pesach in Hebrew). Passover might or might not fall on a Sunday or Resurrection Day. The Council of Nicea (325 C.E.) set the date for Easter as the first Sunday after Passover. Later, for Western Christianity, the date was defined as the first Sunday after the first full or Paschal moon on or after the spring equinox. Orthodox Christianity defines the date in the same way but by a different calendar.
Throughout the history of Christianity and across different segments of the church, weekly communion has not always been the practice. For Lutherans, according to the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, communion every Sunday and on festivals is the norm. Congregations are encouraged to celebrate communion weekly, though not every service need be a Eucharist. All Christians need Holy Communion frequently. The Lord's Supper establishes and sustains the fellowship and mission of the church. Yet, while we should commune frequently, participation is by Christ's invitation and not by human requirement. Participation in the Eucharist, a gift from God, is a response to Jesus Christ.
Small Group Time
Art Option: Eucharistic Artwork
As a small group, make a piece of artwork that can be displayed on Holy Communion Sundays in the narthex of your church building. Get permission from the right people in your church, like the pastor, before displaying your art! Students can use symbols of Holy Communion such as a chalice, bread, grapes, and wheat. They can also try to invent some of their own symbols. Be creative! Project ideas include a fabric banner with felt shapes, a collage of images on poster board or foam core, or a mosaic made of tiles or paper squares. If you don't have time to prep, visit your Sunday school supply closet to find construction paper, glue sticks, and other basics.
Debrief the activity with these questions:
- What symbols of communion are most meaningful to you? Why are they important?
- What artwork in our church do you notice? Do you think it's important to have art in a church building? Why or why not?
- What are some of your ideas for how our church could display and use more artwork during worship?
Make-Up: October 3rd – Word With Water
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Word With Water
Bible Text:
Matthew 28:16–20; Genesis 6–9; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Romans 6:3–11
Lesson Focus:
With water and word, we are washed in God's loving grace.
Big Question:
How does baptism work?
Key Words:
WATER, WORD, PROMISE, SACRAMENT
Key Word Definitions:
WATER: ordinary H2O through and with which God does amazing things.
WORD: Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God made flesh. Also, spoken and written words that point us to the Living Word.
PROMISE: A commitment that is dependable and reliable.
SACRAMENT: God's word joined with an earthly element through which God promises to work. The Lutheran Church teaches that there are two sacraments—holy communion and holy baptism.
Going Deep
Long before John began baptizing people in the wilderness, water was a sign of life and renewal. In Genesis 2, a stream coming forth from the earth is the first act of creation. The earth is cleansed with the great flood (Genesis 7). The Israelites pass through the waters of the Red Sea into freedom, and they drink water that springs forth from the rock in the desert (Exodus 14, 17). The Syrian general Naaman is healed by washing in the river Jordan seven times, at the command of the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5). God uses water to give life and renewal to his people.
John precedes Jesus and offers a baptism "with water for repentance" while declaring that Jesus will baptize "with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11–12). The resurrected Jesus charged his disciples to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus here commands both the washing in God's name and for the teaching of obedience, that is, a life of discipleship.
Jesus speaks of his baptism not as his washing by John but as his death on the cross (Mark 10:38–39; Luke 12:50). In baptism we participate in Christ's death and resurrection. "We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).
Baptism is a gift. It is the work of God and does not depend on the worthiness of the person administering the baptism, nor on the faith or worthiness of the one being baptized. God loves us as we are. Baptism depends completely on the word and commandment of God. Like any gift, baptism must be received. Without being received, the gift is of no use to us. Faith alone receives baptism. We need nothing more to be worthy of this gift than faith to receive it. Those who receive this free gift of God's loving grace daily poured out have freedom to live by the Holy Spirit. "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). Since baptism is the work of God, whose promise is unfailing, it is once and for all.
Small Group Activity
Object Lesson Option: Wiped Clean
Before class, arrange to have a whiteboard and an eraser up front in your learning space. On the board write, "Today I have sinned against God and my neighbor, both by what I have done and by what I have not done." Remind students that in daily repentance and remembrance of our baptism, our sins are wiped clean, as if they never existed. If you dare, ask them to shout out common sins people their age commit, and write them on the board. Invite them to shout out sins they "do" and sins that are those things "left undone." With a big, dramatic flourish, erase the words. Finish by saying, "In baptism, God wipes away all our sins every day, and it is like we never sinned at all!"
Follow up the object lesson with these questions:
- How do you think that baptism, which happens once in a lifetime, can involve God wiping away our sins every day?
- Have you ever been forgiven by someone you wronged? How did it feel?
- Do you think you have to name all your sins to be forgiven? Why or why not?
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Word With Water
Bible Text:
Matthew 28:16–20; Genesis 6–9; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Romans 6:3–11
Lesson Focus:
With water and word, we are washed in God's loving grace.
Big Question:
How does baptism work?
Key Words:
WATER, WORD, PROMISE, SACRAMENT
Key Word Definitions:
WATER: ordinary H2O through and with which God does amazing things.
WORD: Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God made flesh. Also, spoken and written words that point us to the Living Word.
PROMISE: A commitment that is dependable and reliable.
SACRAMENT: God's word joined with an earthly element through which God promises to work. The Lutheran Church teaches that there are two sacraments—holy communion and holy baptism.
Going Deep
Long before John began baptizing people in the wilderness, water was a sign of life and renewal. In Genesis 2, a stream coming forth from the earth is the first act of creation. The earth is cleansed with the great flood (Genesis 7). The Israelites pass through the waters of the Red Sea into freedom, and they drink water that springs forth from the rock in the desert (Exodus 14, 17). The Syrian general Naaman is healed by washing in the river Jordan seven times, at the command of the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5). God uses water to give life and renewal to his people.
John precedes Jesus and offers a baptism "with water for repentance" while declaring that Jesus will baptize "with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11–12). The resurrected Jesus charged his disciples to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus here commands both the washing in God's name and for the teaching of obedience, that is, a life of discipleship.
Jesus speaks of his baptism not as his washing by John but as his death on the cross (Mark 10:38–39; Luke 12:50). In baptism we participate in Christ's death and resurrection. "We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).
Baptism is a gift. It is the work of God and does not depend on the worthiness of the person administering the baptism, nor on the faith or worthiness of the one being baptized. God loves us as we are. Baptism depends completely on the word and commandment of God. Like any gift, baptism must be received. Without being received, the gift is of no use to us. Faith alone receives baptism. We need nothing more to be worthy of this gift than faith to receive it. Those who receive this free gift of God's loving grace daily poured out have freedom to live by the Holy Spirit. "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). Since baptism is the work of God, whose promise is unfailing, it is once and for all.
Small Group Activity
Object Lesson Option: Wiped Clean
Before class, arrange to have a whiteboard and an eraser up front in your learning space. On the board write, "Today I have sinned against God and my neighbor, both by what I have done and by what I have not done." Remind students that in daily repentance and remembrance of our baptism, our sins are wiped clean, as if they never existed. If you dare, ask them to shout out common sins people their age commit, and write them on the board. Invite them to shout out sins they "do" and sins that are those things "left undone." With a big, dramatic flourish, erase the words. Finish by saying, "In baptism, God wipes away all our sins every day, and it is like we never sinned at all!"
Follow up the object lesson with these questions:
- How do you think that baptism, which happens once in a lifetime, can involve God wiping away our sins every day?
- Have you ever been forgiven by someone you wronged? How did it feel?
- Do you think you have to name all your sins to be forgiven? Why or why not?
Make-Up: September 26 – Sacrament of Baptism
Make-Up:
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacrament of Baptism
This lesson was the first of four that dealt with our two sacraments: baptism and communion.
Bible Text:
Matthew 3:1–17; Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:19–20; Colossians 3:1–14
Lesson Focus:
In baptism we join the family of faith and receive God's promises of forgiveness, salvation, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during baptism?
Key Words:
BORN AGAIN, INFANT BAPTISM, DAILY REPENTANCE, BODY OF CHRIST
Key Word's Definition
BORN AGAIN: having received in baptism salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life with God.
INFANT BAPTISM: occurs when a baby receives the sacrament and becomes a full member of the body of Christ. The infant becomes a member not by his or her own decision, but by the undeniable grace of God.
DAILY REPENTANCE: the realization every day that you are a sinner, but through your baptism into Jesus Christ you are redeemed and forgiven.
BODY OF CHRIST: the entire company of saints, including everyone on earth—past, present, and future—who lives in the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ for eternity.
Going Deep
In Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descended on him and a voice from heaven declared, "You are my Son" (Mark 1:10–11). In baptism, all become members of one body, which is the body of Christ. We become children of one Father, and there is "no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
Baptism is a new birth. We become children of God and heirs with Christ. Baptized into Christ, we are members of the body of Christ, buried with Christ "by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Receiving forgiveness, we are freed from sin and death to righteousness. Whatever sins we commit cannot hold us captive. Not only every day, but also every hour, God's forgiveness frees us to new life so that we may start anew to serve God.
Salvation is promised to us in baptism. God in Christ Jesus rescues us from death and sin so that we might live in God's glory forever. God does this "through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit . . . poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5–8). Adopted as God's children through Jesus Christ in baptism, we receive God's grace and the forgiveness of sins. We become inheritors of God's promises, set aside for God's purposes, so that we might live new lives to the glory of God. New life in Christ is characterized by unity in the Spirit given in baptism. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who is the power of God. The Holy Spirit energizes us and gives us gifts for new life together in Christ.
Baptism is both an event and a process. We become members of any family by an event like birth, adoption, or marriage. Baptism, too, is an event—the washing in God's grace with water and word. Becoming part of a family is a process. It is the responsibility of all family members as well as the new family member. We learn and grow into what being a family member means. Baptism also involves the family of faith in a process. The process of baptism is ongoing education and growth in Christian understanding. It is also reliance on baptism in daily repentance and forgiveness of sins. "Daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever"
Creative Writing Option: Water Dwellers
Have students get into pairs or work together as a small group. Come up with a list of at least one thing that lives in water for every letter of the alphabet. If you have time (and art supplies), students can illustrate the list with the water creatures.
Debrief the activity with these questions:
- Have you ever visited an aquarium? Which creatures did you like the most?
- What are some ways that you use water every day, and how could you remember your baptism during these times?
- Why do you think God uses something so common to do something so amazing?
We ask you to read the material below. The material will include "deep thought", our key words (definition), scripture (link - please read) and some general thoughts. We ask you to read all material and then comment in the comments section. Share one key thought or concept that came to you and how it will make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacrament of Baptism
This lesson was the first of four that dealt with our two sacraments: baptism and communion.
Bible Text:
Matthew 3:1–17; Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:19–20; Colossians 3:1–14
Lesson Focus:
In baptism we join the family of faith and receive God's promises of forgiveness, salvation, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during baptism?
Key Words:
BORN AGAIN, INFANT BAPTISM, DAILY REPENTANCE, BODY OF CHRIST
Key Word's Definition
BORN AGAIN: having received in baptism salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life with God.
INFANT BAPTISM: occurs when a baby receives the sacrament and becomes a full member of the body of Christ. The infant becomes a member not by his or her own decision, but by the undeniable grace of God.
DAILY REPENTANCE: the realization every day that you are a sinner, but through your baptism into Jesus Christ you are redeemed and forgiven.
BODY OF CHRIST: the entire company of saints, including everyone on earth—past, present, and future—who lives in the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ for eternity.
Going Deep
In Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descended on him and a voice from heaven declared, "You are my Son" (Mark 1:10–11). In baptism, all become members of one body, which is the body of Christ. We become children of one Father, and there is "no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
Baptism is a new birth. We become children of God and heirs with Christ. Baptized into Christ, we are members of the body of Christ, buried with Christ "by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Receiving forgiveness, we are freed from sin and death to righteousness. Whatever sins we commit cannot hold us captive. Not only every day, but also every hour, God's forgiveness frees us to new life so that we may start anew to serve God.
Salvation is promised to us in baptism. God in Christ Jesus rescues us from death and sin so that we might live in God's glory forever. God does this "through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit . . . poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5–8). Adopted as God's children through Jesus Christ in baptism, we receive God's grace and the forgiveness of sins. We become inheritors of God's promises, set aside for God's purposes, so that we might live new lives to the glory of God. New life in Christ is characterized by unity in the Spirit given in baptism. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who is the power of God. The Holy Spirit energizes us and gives us gifts for new life together in Christ.
Baptism is both an event and a process. We become members of any family by an event like birth, adoption, or marriage. Baptism, too, is an event—the washing in God's grace with water and word. Becoming part of a family is a process. It is the responsibility of all family members as well as the new family member. We learn and grow into what being a family member means. Baptism also involves the family of faith in a process. The process of baptism is ongoing education and growth in Christian understanding. It is also reliance on baptism in daily repentance and forgiveness of sins. "Daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever"
Creative Writing Option: Water Dwellers
Have students get into pairs or work together as a small group. Come up with a list of at least one thing that lives in water for every letter of the alphabet. If you have time (and art supplies), students can illustrate the list with the water creatures.
Debrief the activity with these questions:
- Have you ever visited an aquarium? Which creatures did you like the most?
- What are some ways that you use water every day, and how could you remember your baptism during these times?
- Why do you think God uses something so common to do something so amazing?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sacrament: Lesson Four
Here is a brief synopsis of the lesson overview in Big Group Time
Take and Eat
Bible Text:
John 6:48–51
Lesson Focus:
Jesus feeds us with his body and blood so that we can feed others.
Big Question:
I take communion every week at church, but what am I supposed to do about it?
Key Words:
BREAD AND WINE, BODY AND BLOOD, SACRAMENT
Key Word Definitions
BREAD AND WINE: the earthly elements that, in the Lord's Supper, are Jesus' body and blood. When combined with God's word, they bring forgiveness, salvation, and life.
BODY AND BLOOD: the physical presence of Jesus Christ that he gives us in the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is also known as holy communion.
SACRAMENT: something that 1) Jesus Christ commands us to do; 2) involves an earthly element, like water or bread and wine; and 3) combines with God's spoken word to bring salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life.
Going Deeper
Jesus is the bread of life. "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51). Jesus gave himself in life and death. The bread and wine we receive are Christ's body and blood. As we are baptized into the body of Christ, so in holy communion we are sustained and nourished as one body. "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Jesus' meals inform our understanding of the Lord's Supper and all our meals. With Jesus, there is always enough for all. Holy communion is a foretaste of the Messianic banquet to which all will be invited.
Lutherans teach that the bread and wine of the eucharist become, by God's word, the body and blood of Christ and are at the same time ordinary bread and wine. The Lutheran Reformation rejected transubstantiation, which they understood to mean that the sacramental elements were essentially changed from bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. "Just as in Christ two distinct, unaltered natures are inseparably united, so in the Holy Supper two essences, the natural bread and the true natural body of Christ, are present together here on earth in the action of the sacrament, as it was instituted" (Kolb/Wengert, Formula of Concord Solid Declaration, Article VII 599.35–39). This teaching is an example of the idea that the finite is capable of bearing the infinite—finitum capax infiniti. The human Jesus is God's Word, the bread and wine are body and blood, AND the ordinary water is the water of baptism.
Take and Eat
Bible Text:
John 6:48–51
Lesson Focus:
Jesus feeds us with his body and blood so that we can feed others.
Big Question:
I take communion every week at church, but what am I supposed to do about it?
Key Words:
BREAD AND WINE, BODY AND BLOOD, SACRAMENT
Key Word Definitions
BREAD AND WINE: the earthly elements that, in the Lord's Supper, are Jesus' body and blood. When combined with God's word, they bring forgiveness, salvation, and life.
BODY AND BLOOD: the physical presence of Jesus Christ that he gives us in the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is also known as holy communion.
SACRAMENT: something that 1) Jesus Christ commands us to do; 2) involves an earthly element, like water or bread and wine; and 3) combines with God's spoken word to bring salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life.
Going Deeper
Jesus is the bread of life. "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51). Jesus gave himself in life and death. The bread and wine we receive are Christ's body and blood. As we are baptized into the body of Christ, so in holy communion we are sustained and nourished as one body. "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Jesus' meals inform our understanding of the Lord's Supper and all our meals. With Jesus, there is always enough for all. Holy communion is a foretaste of the Messianic banquet to which all will be invited.
Lutherans teach that the bread and wine of the eucharist become, by God's word, the body and blood of Christ and are at the same time ordinary bread and wine. The Lutheran Reformation rejected transubstantiation, which they understood to mean that the sacramental elements were essentially changed from bread and wine into Christ's body and blood. "Just as in Christ two distinct, unaltered natures are inseparably united, so in the Holy Supper two essences, the natural bread and the true natural body of Christ, are present together here on earth in the action of the sacrament, as it was instituted" (Kolb/Wengert, Formula of Concord Solid Declaration, Article VII 599.35–39). This teaching is an example of the idea that the finite is capable of bearing the infinite—finitum capax infiniti. The human Jesus is God's Word, the bread and wine are body and blood, AND the ordinary water is the water of baptism.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sacrament: Lesson Three
On Sunday, October 10th, we had our 3rd lesson in the sacraments. In this class we switched over to the sacrament of Communion.
Going Deep
Jesus' family went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. Jesus instituted Holy Communion at a Passover supper. Jesus said that the bread is his body and the wine his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. At his last supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to [the Twelve], saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood'" (Luke 22:19–20). His blood, he said, "is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). As in baptism, here is a sacrament—ordinary bread and wine together with the word, a command ("Do this") and a promise ("for the forgiveness of sins"). God's forgiveness of sins in Holy Communion reconciles believers to God and to one another so that we are one body.
KEY WORDS
PASSOVER: the Jewish celebration of the night God passed over Egypt, killing the firstborn in every Egyptian household. God spared the Hebrews, who were protected by the blood of the lamb.
LAST SUPPER: the Passover celebration Jesus shared with his best friends on the night he was betrayed.
EUCHARIST: the communion meal Christians share that remembers Jesus' Last Supper, bestowing on them Jesus' forgiveness and grace.
COMMUNION: the Lord's Supper. Also refers to what happens when followers of Jesus Christ come together to worship, learn, or pray.
Key Components
Bible Text:
Exodus 12:1–36; Matthew 26:17–29; Luke 22:19–20
Lesson Focus:
Word, wine, and bread together give us salvation, forgiveness, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during communion?
Going Deep
Jesus' family went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. Jesus instituted Holy Communion at a Passover supper. Jesus said that the bread is his body and the wine his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. At his last supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to [the Twelve], saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood'" (Luke 22:19–20). His blood, he said, "is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). As in baptism, here is a sacrament—ordinary bread and wine together with the word, a command ("Do this") and a promise ("for the forgiveness of sins"). God's forgiveness of sins in Holy Communion reconciles believers to God and to one another so that we are one body.
KEY WORDS
PASSOVER: the Jewish celebration of the night God passed over Egypt, killing the firstborn in every Egyptian household. God spared the Hebrews, who were protected by the blood of the lamb.
LAST SUPPER: the Passover celebration Jesus shared with his best friends on the night he was betrayed.
EUCHARIST: the communion meal Christians share that remembers Jesus' Last Supper, bestowing on them Jesus' forgiveness and grace.
COMMUNION: the Lord's Supper. Also refers to what happens when followers of Jesus Christ come together to worship, learn, or pray.
Key Components
Bible Text:
Exodus 12:1–36; Matthew 26:17–29; Luke 22:19–20
Lesson Focus:
Word, wine, and bread together give us salvation, forgiveness, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during communion?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Sacrament: Lesson Two
On October 3rd, we had the second session in our sacrament series and we had our second lesson on baptism. Here are some of the key scriptures and concepts:
Bible Text: Matthew 28:16–20; Genesis 6–9; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Romans 6:3–11
Lesson Focus: With water and word, we are washed in God's loving grace.
Big Question: How does baptism work?
Key Words: WATER, WORD, PROMISE, SACRAMENT
WATER: ordinary H2O through and with which God does amazing things.
WORD: Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God made flesh. Also, spoken and written words that point us to the Living Word.
PROMISE: A commitment that is dependable and reliable.
SACRAMENT: God's word joined with an earthly element through which God promises to work. The Lutheran Church teaches that there are two sacraments—holy communion and holy baptism.
Bible Text: Matthew 28:16–20; Genesis 6–9; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Romans 6:3–11
Lesson Focus: With water and word, we are washed in God's loving grace.
Big Question: How does baptism work?
Key Words: WATER, WORD, PROMISE, SACRAMENT
WATER: ordinary H2O through and with which God does amazing things.
WORD: Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God made flesh. Also, spoken and written words that point us to the Living Word.
PROMISE: A commitment that is dependable and reliable.
SACRAMENT: God's word joined with an earthly element through which God promises to work. The Lutheran Church teaches that there are two sacraments—holy communion and holy baptism.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sacraments: Lesson 1
Sacrament of Baptism
Our lesson was on the Sacrament of Baptism. Here is some of the highlights and information regarding what we covered in "big group"
Bible Text:
Matthew 3:1–17; Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:19–20; Colossians 3:1–14
Lesson Focus:
In baptism we join the family of faith and receive God's promises of forgiveness, salvation, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during baptism?
Key Words:
BORN AGAIN, INFANT BAPTISM, DAILY REPENTANCE, BODY OF CHRIST
Here are the definitions of the key words:
BORN AGAIN:
having received in baptism salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life with God.
INFANT BAPTISM:
occurs when a baby receives the sacrament and becomes a full member of the body of Christ. The infant becomes a member not by his or her own decision, but by the undeniable grace of God.
DAILY REPENTANCE:
the realization every day that you are a sinner, but through your baptism into Jesus Christ you are redeemed and forgiven.
BODY OF CHRIST:
the entire company of saints, including everyone on earth—past, present, and future—who lives in the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ for eternity.
The Adolescence Connection
What really happens during baptism?
The metaphor of God's cleansing through the practice of remembering your baptism can be lived out through daily washing. Youth wash their hands to eat (sometimes) and bathe to remain acceptable to their peers. Establishing the connection between daily washing and being washed in God's grace through baptism helps youth to remember that God's grace cleanses them and makes them new in God's eyes, just as bathing helps them to remain clean and ward off disease and unpleasantness.
Baptism has become a powerful part of our communal life. It is through this sacrament that people are initiated into the community of faith. Belonging is important to youth. Their need to be part of a group helps them to bond together and feel the strength of numbers. Episcopal priest and author John Westerhoff refers to one of the stages of faith as "affiliative." By this term he means "belonging" to a certain denomination or church and claiming the name of that church. Belonging is an important step on the journey of faith. Remembering their baptism and reviewing the symbolic inclusion will give youth a sense of being a part of a larger community. It is in this community that youth begin to discover what it means to say, "I am a Christian. I am a member of the Lutheran Church." This belonging becomes part of their identity.
Our lesson was on the Sacrament of Baptism. Here is some of the highlights and information regarding what we covered in "big group"
Bible Text:
Matthew 3:1–17; Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:19–20; Colossians 3:1–14
Lesson Focus:
In baptism we join the family of faith and receive God's promises of forgiveness, salvation, and new life.
Big Question:
What really happens during baptism?
Key Words:
BORN AGAIN, INFANT BAPTISM, DAILY REPENTANCE, BODY OF CHRIST
Here are the definitions of the key words:
BORN AGAIN:
having received in baptism salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of everlasting life with God.
INFANT BAPTISM:
occurs when a baby receives the sacrament and becomes a full member of the body of Christ. The infant becomes a member not by his or her own decision, but by the undeniable grace of God.
DAILY REPENTANCE:
the realization every day that you are a sinner, but through your baptism into Jesus Christ you are redeemed and forgiven.
BODY OF CHRIST:
the entire company of saints, including everyone on earth—past, present, and future—who lives in the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ for eternity.
The Adolescence Connection
What really happens during baptism?
The metaphor of God's cleansing through the practice of remembering your baptism can be lived out through daily washing. Youth wash their hands to eat (sometimes) and bathe to remain acceptable to their peers. Establishing the connection between daily washing and being washed in God's grace through baptism helps youth to remember that God's grace cleanses them and makes them new in God's eyes, just as bathing helps them to remain clean and ward off disease and unpleasantness.
Baptism has become a powerful part of our communal life. It is through this sacrament that people are initiated into the community of faith. Belonging is important to youth. Their need to be part of a group helps them to bond together and feel the strength of numbers. Episcopal priest and author John Westerhoff refers to one of the stages of faith as "affiliative." By this term he means "belonging" to a certain denomination or church and claiming the name of that church. Belonging is an important step on the journey of faith. Remembering their baptism and reviewing the symbolic inclusion will give youth a sense of being a part of a larger community. It is in this community that youth begin to discover what it means to say, "I am a Christian. I am a member of the Lutheran Church." This belonging becomes part of their identity.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Series One: Sacraments
On Sunday, september 26th, we will begin a 4-week series on the Sacraments. We will spend two weeks on baptism and two weeks on communion. Below is a video message (1 minute) on what the highlights of the teaching time will be. Below the video will be the schedule for the series.
September 26: The Sacrament of Baptism
October 3: Word With Water
October 10: The Sacrament of Communion
October 17: Take and Eat
We hope to see you out for all four weeks as we take a look at the Sacraments and what they mean for us as a church body.
September 26: The Sacrament of Baptism
October 3: Word With Water
October 10: The Sacrament of Communion
October 17: Take and Eat
We hope to see you out for all four weeks as we take a look at the Sacraments and what they mean for us as a church body.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)