1. Communion What it is

2. Compare Baptism and Communion For each word, decide if it is B for baptism C for communion, or D for both N for neither 1. uses bread 1. C go on to next page

3. Questions, page 2 2. It is a sacrament 2. D (both) on to next: 3. usually done in secret 3. N (neither) 4. instituted by God (God’s idea) 4. D (both) 5. uses water 5. B (baptism) on to next page

4. Questions, page 3 6. also called “Lord’s Supper.” 6. C 7. Do it only once in a lifetime 7. B 8. uses a physical substance 8 D (both) 9. brings you a promise from God 9. D (both) On to next page

5. Why Holy Communion? Holy Communion is God’s gift to you. Here’s how it started: On the same night that he was about to be arrested, Jesus was having his last supper with his disciples. It was passover, so they were using the bread and wine usually used for the passover meal. Then Jesus surprised them:

6. At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples and said “This is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to all to drink, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this for the remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

7. By saying “do this” at the end, Jesus was “instituting” holy communion, as something Christians are meant to do regularly. “Instituted by God” is one of the reasons we call communion a “sacrament.”

8. Defining a Sacrament We define a “sacrament” as an action that is: 1. instituted by God 2. uses a physical substance 3. brings a promise So we recognize 2 sacraments, which are: Baptism and Communion

9. Why call it communion? Com means with, and union means together. 1) we are together with one another 2) we are in union with Christ. Both these ideas are shown in the next verse:

10. Sharing Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread (1 Cor 10:16-17)

11. Holy Communion is also called … The Lord’s Supper. Sacrament of the Altar (because it’s at the altar) The Eucharist Which of these terms comes from the Jewish prayer that Jesus would have said at passover? Eucharist, because the first word of the prayer is “blessed.”

12. CONNECTION TO PASSOVER On Passover night, around 1400 BC, Moses told everyone to put blood on their door frames. When the angel of death came that night, the angel “passed over” any door with blood. Conclusion: They were saved because of blood. For us, we are also saved because of blood --- not a lamb’s blood, but the blood of _________.

13. Just before the soldiers came At his last supper before he was arrested, it was the time of year to celebrate Passover. Jesus would have said the passover prayer, and the first word in that prayer (in Greek language) is “eucharisto.” The next page shows the prayer:

14. Passover prayer (the first sentence is): Blessed are you, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. So, eucharisto means: Blessed

15. HERE’S ANOTHER NAME Acts 2:42 says that the new believers “continued regularly going over the teaching of the apostles, breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer.” Which of these is a code word for “taking communion?” “the breaking of bread”

16. THIS IS MY BODY Some churches say this means “it changes from bread into body.” Other churches say it means “it reminds us of Jesus’ body.” Luther took the simplest view: Jesus said “this is my body,” so we also say “this is his body.”

17. THE TERM WE USE: Believing that Jesus meant it when He said “this is my body” is called believing in the “REAL PRESENCE.” Luther liked to describe it as “the body of Christ in, with, and under” the bread. The same goes for the wine.

18. CLOSING PRAYER Dear Jesus, Thank you that in taking communion, we are in union with you and with all other believers. Thank you for the reassurance that our sins are forgiven.