1. 18
God’s Tools
Holy Communion - A Real Meal

2. INTRODUCTION
Imagine that you were someone who
had never been to a Christian service
before. Then you went when a friend
invited you and you saw people going
up to the front to eat and drink these
things. What are some questions that
might go through your mind?

3. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
What do we receive in the
Lord’s Supper?

4. Matthew 26:17-25
17 On the first day of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, the disciples came
to Jesus and asked, “Where do you
want us to make preparations for you to
eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go
into the city to a certain man and tell
him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed
time is near. I am going to celebrate the
Passover with my disciples at your
house.’” 19 So the disciples did as
Jesus had directed them and prepared
the Passover.

5. Matthew 26:17-25
20 When evening came, Jesus was
reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21
And while they were eating, he said, “I
tell you the truth, one of you will betray
me.”22 They were very sad and began
to say to him one after the other, “Surely
not I, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one
who has dipped his hand into the bowl
with me will betray me.

6. Matthew 26:17-25
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is
written about him. But woe to that man
who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would
betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”

7. The sacrament was instituted by Jesus
during the Passover meal on the night
of His death. At a birthday party there
is always a cake and candles and
“Happy Birthday” is sung. Imagine that
at your birthday party someone wanted
to sing a new song that no one had
ever heard before. Everyone would be
surprised. At the Passover certain
things were always done, said and
sung. The disciples must have been
surprised when Jesus changed what
everyone was used to doing.

8. Matthew 26:26-29
26 While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take
and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it
to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of
you. 28 This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you,
I will not drink of this fruit of the vine
from now on until that day when I drink
it anew with you in my Father’s
kingdom.”

9. In a natural way, we receive the bread
and wine just as the disciples did. In
some churches they only use grape
juice because they say it is wrong to
drink alcohol. We know that Jesus
drank wine because that is the only
fruit of the vine available in April
without refrigeration. Fall is the grape
harvest.

10. Matthew 26:26-28
26 While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take
and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered
it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of
you. 28 This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for
many for the forgiveness of sins.

11. In a miraculous way, we receive
Christ’s body and blood. Just think,
the same body which the soldiers
nailed to the cross we receive. The
same blood which flowed from Jesus’
wounds, which flowed through Jesus’
veins as he died for us all, we receive.
What a miracle!

12. 1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which
we give thanks a participation in the
blood of Christ? And is not the bread
that we break a participation in the
body of Christ?

13. The bread and wine are in, with and
under the body and blood of Christ in
Holy Communion. Don’t
misunderstand. We’re not saying
Jesus’ body and blood are trapped
inside the bread and wine, sort of like
cream in a Twinkie. They are united in
a way that we cannot fully understand
or comprehend. Jesus' words are a
miracle we accept by faith.

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

15. What does the Bible “Really” say
about Holy Communion?
Who teaches it: THE BIBLE ROMAN CATHOLIC REFORMED CHURCHES
CHURCH
Name of the doctrine: Real Presence Transubstantiation Representation
Summary of the Doctrine: Partakers of the Lord’s Partakers of the Lord’s Partakers of the Lord’s
Supper receive the body Supper receive only the Supper receive only the
and blood of our Lord “in, body and blood of Christ bread and wine, which are
with, and under” the bread symbolic of the body and
and wine. blood of Christ
Reason for belief in the Matthew 26:26-29 False belief that the Lord’s Human reason
doctrine: Mark 14:22-25 Supper is not a sacrament,
Luke 22:18-20 but a sacrifice. Christ is “re-
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 sacrificed” over and over
for the forgiveness of sins.

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

17. What is a last will and testament?
How is that like the Lord’s supper?

18. CHRISTIAN VOCABULARY
Holy Communion: The sacrament in
which the body and blood of Jesus
Christ are given to us “in union with”
bread and wine for forgiveness of sins.
Real Presence: The miraculous
presence of Jesus’ real body with the
bread and real blood with the wine in
the Lord’s Supper.

19. CHRISTIAN VOCABULARY
Transubstantiation: Teaching of the
Catholic church that the bread and
wine actually change into the body and
blood
Representation: The bread and wine
are only symbols of Jesus’ body and
blood—no body and blood are present

20. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
How do we know Jesus body
and blood are present?

21. 1 Corinthians 11:26-28
26 For whenever you eat this bread
and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord’s death until he comes. 27
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of
the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine
himself before he eats of the bread
and drinks of the cup.

22. Paul plainly states that we are sinning
against the body and blood of the Lord.
Pull out your wallet and say, “Here is
$20.” Notice, I didn’t say, here is my
wallet. It is obvious there is $20 inside
and the same is true with Jesus words
to his disciples.

23. Matthew 26:26-28
26 While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take
and eat; this is my body.”27 Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered
it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of
you. 28 This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for
many for the forgiveness of sins.

24. Jesus clearly states, “This is my
body”, “This is my blood.” Some
think that since Jesus is in heaven,
he can’t be at every celebration of the
Lord’s supper in body and blood.
Remember Jesus is God and fills the
whole universe.

25. Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God.”
We know that nothing is impossible
with God so we take Him at His word.
God made the whole universe with
nothing but his word. That Jesus can
give his true body and blood in the
sacrament is a drop in the bucket
compared to what God did in creating
the world.

26. We know that Jesus’ body and blood
are really in the sacrament because
Jesus clearly states it and nothing is
impossible for him.

27. GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE
Evaluate this statement: Since Jesus
says, “Do this in remembrance of me, “
we know that the Lord’s Supper is
mainly a reminder of what he did for us.
Explain: Why would it be wrong to
attend the Lord’s Supper in a
congregation that does not confess
Jesus’ real presence in the Sacrament,
together with the bread and wine?

28. Hymnology Hymn 312
Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared
STUDYING GOD’S WORD
What great blessings does Jesus
give us in the Lord’s Supper?

29. Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins.

30. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives us
the forgiveness of sin. Let’s say you
were stranded and starving on an
island 2000 miles from home.
Enemies came by and tied a 100lb
weight to your legs and threw you in
the ocean. What’s your biggest
problem? The weight needs to be
taken care of first. So to in the Lord’s
Supper. Jesus takes care of the
weight of sin that will drag us down to
death first and foremost.

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

32. Through the forgiveness of sins,
Jesus also gives us life and
salvation. One problem still remains
from our ocean disaster. We’re not
going to die from the weight, but
we’re still a long way from home.
Then we are rescued by someone
who loves us and sends us a
helicopter. Jesus rescues us and he
sends us home to heaven.

33. Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks
and broke it, and gave it to them,
saying, “This is my body given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In
the same way, after the supper he took
the cup, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which is poured
out for you.

34. This Body and Blood of Jesus is given
“For You!” Let’s say that I invited you
to my house. Which way would you
know for sure that I wanted you
personally to come: If I put a notice on
the bulletin board telling you to come,
or if I gave you a personal invitation
with your name on it? Jesus puts his
own body and blood in your mouth and
says “for you” and “for you” and “for
you”… (pointing to each student)

35. In the Lord’s Supper Jesus’
body and blood were given
and shed for me and I receive
forgiveness of sins, life and
salvation.

36. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
How can the Lord’s Supper
give us such great blessings?

37. John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for
nothing. The words I have spoken to
you are spirit and they are life.

38. Jesus’ words give the Lord’s Supper
this great power. In baptism, using
water without the word is just plain
water. In Communion, just eating
bread and wine would be nothing
more than eating food. With Jesus’
powerful words added, it is
communion that gives us the great
spiritual blessings God promised.

39. Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the message
is heard through the word of Christ.
Through Jesus’ words the Holy Spirit
also strengthens our faith. Automatic
doors have an electronic eye with a
beam you can’t see but it makes an
impact on whatever walks into it and
causes the door to open. God’s Word
works that way. It isn’t just information,
it’s power. You can’t see it, but it
causes us to believe what it tells us.

40. The Lord’s Supper can offer such
great blessings because of
Jesus’ words though which the
Holy Spirit strengthens our faith.

41. GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE
Agree or disagree and why? The
forgiveness we receive here in the
Lord’s Supper is better than baptism,
because here we receive Jesus’ body
and blood.

42. ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME
REVIEWING THE LESSON
1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral
quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words!
2. The Bible passages are included in the part of Holy Communion to be learned.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON
Ask your parents to help you with the following activity:
1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet.
Learn the Confession of our Faith
Sacrament of Holy Communion (Page 13 in your Catechism)
THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
First: What is the Sacrament of Holy Communion? (to the end)

43. 19
God’s Tools
Holy Communion - Be Prepared

44. INTRODUCTION
What do you normally do to prepare for
a meal? Would you change anything if
you’re going to eat a very fancy and
expensive restaurant? How would you
prepare? Now imagine that you were
going to eat at the White house with the
president and be on national television.
You would probably make even more
preparations. We are invited to eat with
God in His supper and we want to be
well prepared. We want to receive
Jesus’ body and blood rightly.

45. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
How does God want me to
prepare to receive his meal—the
Lord’s Supper?

46. 1 Corinthians 11:28
A man ought to examine himself before
he eats of the bread and drinks of the
cup.

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

48. 1 John 1:8-9
8 If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not
in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.

49. God wants me to examine myself to
see if I am sorry for my sins. When a
waitress comes by at a restaurant,
she doesn’t pour more water in a full
glass. It’s the same way if you are not
sorry for your sins, you think that you
are full already and don’t need
forgiveness. You are deceiving
yourself, and so you aren’t ready to
go to Communion.

50. Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks
and broke it, and gave it to them,
saying, “This is my body given for
you; do this in remembrance of
me.” 20 In the same way, after the
supper he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in
my blood, which is poured out for
you.

51. God wants me to examine myself to
see if I believe that Jesus’ body and
blood are truly present. Give examples
of times that we can examine ourselves
before Communion. Before church,
during the offering, and during the
distribution if you are not in the front
row.

52. 1 Corinthians 11:27, 29
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of
the Lord. 29 For anyone who eats
and drinks without recognizing the
body of the Lord eats and drinks
judgment on himself.

53. If we don’t believe in Jesus’ body and
blood, we receive it in an unworthy way
and receive God’s judgment instead of
his blessing. The Lord’s Supper is like
strong medicine. If you take it in a
different way than prescribed, instead
of helping you it will always hurt you
spiritually.

54. God wants me to examine
myself to make sure that I am well
prepared to receive Holy
Communion properly.
USING OUR HYMNAL
See “Private Confession” on page 156 in
front of the hymnal

55. GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE
Agree or Disagree and why?
Everyone who goes to the Lord’s
Supper receives Jesus’ body and blood.
Evaluate: Faith makes us worthy
guests to the Lord's Supper because
faith is the only thing that we can offer to
God which can earn His love and
forgiveness.

56. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
Therefore, to whom does God
want us to give the Lord’s Supper?

57. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I
also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus,
on the night he was betrayed, took
bread, 24 and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my
body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me.” 25 In the same
way, after supper he took the cup,
saying, “This cup is the new covenant in
my blood; do this, whenever you drink
it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For
whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death
until he comes.

58. Repentant Believers who have been
educated in the meaning of the
Lord’s Supper are to receive it.
Jesus gives us an example in the
first supper. Many more men and
women believed in Jesus, but he
only gave the supper to the eleven
disciples. We still don’t give it to
second graders or even to infants as
some churches do.

59. 1 Corinthians 10:17
Because there is one loaf, we, who are
many, are one body, for we all partake
of the one loaf.

60. God wants us to give it only to those
who are united in faith with us.
Explain how you try to make it clear to
visitors through the notice in the
worship folders, etc. We are not trying
to say they are not Christians, but we
are trying to protect them from
confessing unity with us without
knowing whether or not we are united
and/or from bringing God's judgment
on themselves.

61. God wants us to give the Lord's
Supper only to repentant believers
who have been thoroughly educated
in the Christian faith and who are
one in faith with us.

62. GOD’S WORD IN MY LIFE
Agree or Disagree and why? We
should be able to attend the Lord's
Supper in any Lutheran Church.
Evaluate this statement: When we
deny the Lord's Supper to a sincere
Christian, we are being proud and not
very loving.

63. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE
LORD'S TABLE:
THE HOLY GOD
The
Lord’s
GOD’S CHILDREN GOD’S CHILDREN GOD’S CHILDREN Supper

64. In the Lord’s Supper we celebrate the
vertical relationship between God and
his children as represented by the
arrows going up and down. There is
another relationship that we celebrate
as represented by the horizontal arrows
- a unity of fellow Christians based on
our confession of faith.

65. The study of God's Word together and
the confessing of that faith in public is
the practice that we call "confirmation".
Celebrating the Lord Supper on
the basis of this unity is known as
"close communion."
HYMNOLOGY Hymn 310 I Come,
O Savior, to Your Table

66. CHRISTIAN VOCABULARY
Confirmation - a strengthening given in
directed Bible Study, after which an
individual confesses faith in Jesus and
unity of faith with a body of believers.
Close Communion - the practice of
admitting to the Lord's Supper only
those who confess faith in Jesus and
unity of faith with a body of believers.

67. The goal:
1.) so that the participant doesn't
receive the Supper in an "unworthy
matter"
2.) that the unity of believers
celebrated in the Lord's Supper may be
maintained

68. STUDYING GOD’S WORD
Why does Jesus invite us to receive
the Lord's Supper often?

69. 1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way, after supper he took
the cup, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this,
whenever you drink it, in remembrance
of me.”

70. Jesus urges us to come often. We are
baptized once, but Jesus invites us to
come to the Lord’s Supper often. If a
good friend urges you to come over to
his/her house often, that person doesn't
mean once or twice a year, but
whenever you can.

71. Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the covenant, which
is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins.
Through the Lord's Supper, Jesus
wants to comfort us with the
forgiveness of our sins often. You just
never get tired of the people in your
family saying, "I love you.“ We can
never receive God's forgiveness, given
in love, too often.

72. Colossians 2:6-7
6 So then, just as you received Christ
Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.

73. Jesus keeps on strengthening our
faith though the Lord's Supper. Even
though we eat and drink very little in
the Lord's Supper, it gives us a real
strength. It strengthens our faith that
Jesus died for each of us.

74. 2 Corinthians 5:15
And he died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but
for him who died for them and was
raised again.

75. Jesus strengthens us to live a life of
thanks to him. Let's say that a friend
helps you with a problem you face
such as taking care of your paper
route when you are on vacation.
When he does this, wouldn't it be your
natural reaction to show your thanks
to him in a special way? Knowing
what God gives us in the Lord's
Supper also makes us thankful and
strengthens us to live a life that shows
that thanks to God.

76. Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing, but
let us encourage one another—and
all the more as you see the Day
approaching.

77. By receiving the Lord's Supper with
fellow members, we confess our unity
and encourage one another. You
could watch the same ball game at
home and at the stadium, and
probably cheer very differently. At
home you might watch but not say
much of anything when you are alone.
While at the stadium you would stand,
whistle, cheer and clap. Why?
Because so many people are doing it
with you that you share the same
interest and encourage you.

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

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

80. Agree or Disagree and why? It
would be better for a congregation to
offer the Lord's Supper every Sunday,
rather than to offer it every other
Sunday.

81. Explain: Some people might look at
the practice of "close communion" and
say it is unloving because it prevents
some people from taking the Lord's
Supper temporarily. But on the basis
of what we have learned in this study,
explain how practicing close
communion actually shows love to
God's Word and to the individual that
we ask to wait. Explain how it would
be unloving not to practice close
communion.

82. ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT TIME
REVIEWING THE LESSON
1. Review your notes; be sure you understand them. Be prepared for a written or oral
quiz. Don’t forget about the vocabulary words!
2. Know from memory 1 Corinthians 10:17.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LESSON
Ask your parents to help you with the following activity:
1. Complete the Bible History Worksheet.
Learn the Confession of our Faith
Sacrament of Holy Communion (Page 14 in your Catechism)
The Reception of Holy Communion
Fourth: Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?