The Aspen Grove

First Communion

Note Planted : 2025-03-03
Last Tended : 2025-04-02
12 min read

🪴Sprout 🙂Agree 🟢Conviction 📰Handout

Importance: 70%

The Big Idea

Handouts for First Communion Class. Currently doing it in Three weeks

Week 1: Introduction - We Receive Forgiveness of Sins

  • What is a Sacrament?

    • Three “criteria” for a sacrament (in the Lutheran church): (Augustine (354-430AD) used this classification system and since Luther was an Augustinian Monk, he (and us!) used this definition for a Sacrament)
      1. It is commanded by God.
      2. God’s Word of promise is connected with a visible element.
      3. Has the forgiveness of sins connected with it.

  • Three of the four Gospels record Jesus giving Communion

    • Matthew 26:26-29;
    • Mark 14:22-25;
    • Luke 22:17:-21;
    • John does not record this event.
      • This is likely b/c John is a “supplementary Gospel”, and he did not record this event since the other three already did

  • Matthew 26:26-29

    • V.26- “this is my body”
    • V. 28- “for this is my blood of the covenant”
    • Jesus is very clear with His language that the bread and wine are literally His body and blood
    • Baptists and other “Reformed” churches will say that “is” doesn’t mean “is”
    • They will claim that Jesus was simply being symbolic/metaphorical

  • Q: When did Christ institute the Lord’s Supper? 

    • On the night he was betrayed ( Maundy Thursday)

  • Q: What is the benefit of Communion? A: Forgiveness of sins!

    • V.29- “fruit of the vine” was a huge Passover term, meaning, Jesus will not celebrate the Passover with His disciples again until His Second Coming

  • Jesus gives us his life literally for our forgiveness. Blood being life in Leviticus.

  • Communion kind of bends time.

  • however, 1 Corinthians 11:26 speaks of Communion as still bread and wine

  • Body and Blood are “In, With and Under” the bread and wine.

  • What other churches believe about Communion:  (this is super simplified!) (draw this on the board)

BreadWineBodyBlood
LutheranXXXX
Roman CatholicXX
Reformed*XX
  • example- Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian
  • Catholic Transubstantiation (this understanding comes from Greek philosophy and not the Bible)
    • “substance”- what a thing “is”
    • “accident”- what appear around a thing
    • i.e.- a desk chair and a recliner
    • they are both “chairs” because they have the “substance” of “chair”, even though they have different “accidents” (color, shape, wheels, arms, etc.)
    • in Communion, the “substance” changes from bread and wine to body and blood
    • the “accidents” stay as bread and wine
    • hence, it still looks, smells, tastes, etc. like bread and wine

Week 2: How do we use Communion correctly?

Read Small Catechism section of Lord’s Supper

  • Talk about each part

The Words of Institution

  • Take and eat, this is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.
  • Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This, do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Communion and Baptism are “Means of Grace.” They deliver God’s forgiveness and gifts to us.

  • Catechism says “forgiveness of sins, life and salvation”
  • Past - forgiveness   
  • Future - salvation   
  • Present - strength for new life in Christ

Treating Communion Well

When you get a really amazing gift how should you treat it?

  • Treat it well

How do we treat communion well?

  • Prepare ourselves to take communion
  • Do our best to help others prepare themselves as well

Laying down the idea of communing being corporate:

1 Corinthians 10:14-22 (this sets the stage of the discussion of worship and Communion in ch.11)

  • (8:1-11:1 is about the problems the Corinthians were getting into by taking part in the worship of other idols and eating their sacrifices)
  • V.16- 
    • “cup””blood””bread””body” -Paul is obviously talking about Communion
    • “participation” (koinwni,a) “fellowship, communion”
    • Paul is talking about being in “communion” with God and each other
  • V.17- 
    • we are connected to each other
    • Communion is not just about “me and Jesus”
  • In the ancient church (and some still today), they would physically have a loaf of bread they would tear off and hand each person a piece)
  • V.18- 
    • “participate in the altar” (koinwnoi. tou/ qusiasthri,ou eivsi,n)
    • “altar” is symbolic for everything the church teaches
    • The people of Israel throughout the centuries have messed this up and provide an example for the Corinthians and us
  • V.19-20
    • Idols have no power and there is only one real God. However, the devil will use idols and other things to take us away from Christ.
    • “participants with demons” (koinwnou.j tw/n daimoni,wn)
    • Even if we “don’t believe” what another altar/church teaches, if we join in communion/fellowship with them, we are taking part in what they teach
    • It is an indication of acceptance of what they believe/teach/do
  • V.21
    • By eating at an altar, we are identifying ourselves with the worship that takes place there
  • V.22
    • God takes fellowship/communion very seriously!
  • (v.23-11:1 go on to talk about how our actions affect others and we need to be aware/sensitive to that, and how we need to do what is best for others, even if it isn’t easy (which applies directly also to Communion!))

This is why we cannot join in worship (and especially Communion!) with people who believe things different than us

Who Should and Should Not Take the Lord’s Supper:

1 Corinthians 11:24-31 (ch. 11 is about correcting the Corinthians’ problems with worship and Communion) - It is possible to use this gift wrongly and to sin against Jesus in doing so! - Since improperly using Communion is so serious, let’s talk about how we use it properly - The Corinthians had other problems with Communion that will skip (like some people drinking all the wine and getting drunk or not leaving some for everyone else) (11:17-22) - “Communion is like medicine.  If used properly it is a great help to us.  If used improperly, it can hurt us.”

  • Q: Would a person be a responsible doctor if he gave you whatever pills you wanted, even if he knew it would hurt you?
    • A: of course not! (he would have his license revoked!)
    • It is the same with pastors and handling Communion and the idea of “closed communion”

We need to be in “communion” (fellowship, agreement, etc.) with God (vertical) and each other (horizontal)

  • Be in “Communion” with God
    • We are sorry for our sins and want to change our sinful lives.
    • We “examine ourselves” and confess our sins
      • This is why we have Confession and Absolution in the worship service before Communion
      • 1 John 1:8-10 (John is laying out the basics of the faith and what it means to be a “light-filled” Christian) 
        • This is part of our liturgy of Confession/Absolution in Divine Service 1
    • We acknowledge Christ’s Body and Blood are present.
      • This is what we call “Real Presence.” 
      • The tricky thing about this phrase is that different denominations/Christians use this phrase and mean different things by it. 
  • Be in “Communion” with others 
    • (this is the aspect we struggle with in our culture because are such individualists that we believe that all what matters is “me and Jesus” and we neglect each other
    • We forgive each other.
      • Matthew 5:21-26 (esp. v.23-24) (in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount)
        •  This is where the practice of “sharing the peace” started in worship before Communion
    • Matthew 6:14-15 (right after Lord’s Prayer (v.9-13)
      • It is critical that we forgive each other!
    • We agree with what is taught at that “altar” (church).

**Who shouldn’t receive the sacrament?

  • Those who are openly ungodly or unrepentant.
  • Those who refuse to forgive others.
  • Those who do not see this as a means of grace; forgiveness is received.
  • Those unable to examine themselves or who have not received instruction about the significance of the sacrament.

**What 3 questions help you prepare for the Lord’s Supper?

  • Am I sorry for my sins?
  • Do I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior from sin?
  • Will I, with the Holy Spirit’s help, try to avoid the sins I am guilty of and live more according to His will.

Week 3: Lord’s Supper Logistics and Old Testament Connections

Jesus Celebrating Passover with His Disciples:

  • Matthew 26:17–29
    • Jesus connects communion with the old testament celebration of Passover

Passover Pointing Toward Communion:

  • Exodus 12:1-14

    • It was roasted not boiled and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. 
    • The Lord would pass over the homes of those covered in blood but kill the firstborn in every home that was not covered in blood.

  • What was the name of the meal Jesus and his disciples were sharing when he instituted the Lord’s Supper? Why is it an appropriate meal to be replaced by The Lord’s Supper?

    • The Passover.
    • The blood of the Lamb saved them. The blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, saves us.

  • Why did Jesus establish the Lord’s Supper?

    • We are connected with Jesus sacrifice for us on the cross and given His life and Forgiveness.
    • Jesus is the Lamb of God that dies for us and is the ultimate Lamb of Passover.

  • How is this Sacrament connected with Jesus’ death?

    • A: Jesus is the Lamb of God; He is without defect; His blood causes the God to “pass over”/forgive our sins

  • How does Christ’s Body and Blood benefit me?

    • Forgiveness, life and Salvation.

Other names for Communion:

  • the Lord’s Table, The Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, the Eucharist, Sacrament of the Altar,  “the Breaking of Bread” (Acts 2:42) 
  • Eucharist, “to give thanks” (1 Cor. 11:24)
  • Sacrament of the Altar - The Means of Grace where we receive Christ’s body and blood with bread and wine at His altar.
  • Communion - The meal that celebrates community with God and His family.
  • The Last Supper - The last meal Jesus ate with His disciples before he was crucified
  • The Eucharist - From a Greek word that means “to give thanks”.
  • Breaking the Bread - The action Jesus took before feeding people’s bodies and souls.

Names of the sacrament vessels.

  • Veil - Liturgical cloth used to cover the vessels before and after the sacrament.
  • Flagon - A metal or pottery vessel usually with a lid and handle to serve wine. This is where the wine is before it is consecrated by the pastor.
  • Chalice - Wine is poured in from the flagon to be consecrated. Used to distribute the wine to those receiving common cup communion.
  • Purificator - Cloth laid over the mouth of the chalice to prevent things from falling into or getting into the wine. Keeps the wine ‘pure’ as in, nothing is getting into it.
  • Ciborium - This cup is not used to hold liquid, it is used to hold the bread before it is consecrated (blessed) by the pastor.
  • Paten - The paten is where the bread is placed to be consecrated by the pastor. The paten is then used to distribute the bread to the communicants.

*Do we have to use bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper or can anything be used? Oreos and milk for example. Why?

  • When instituting the Lord’s Supper Jesus specifically mentions the bread and wine, so we should not change these instructions. The bread can be any bread and the wine can be any wine or in some cases unfermented (non-alcoholic) wine.

Ways to Take Communion

  • Taking Common Cup or Individual Cup
  • Intinction (dipping the bread into the wine)
    • This is a way to have both without having “too much” wine
    • Some Lutherans do this

Walk through the ritual of coming to the rail and bowing. Talk about the sign of the cross. Putting hands out for the elements.

Additional Notes and stuff

Connection with Baptism: Baptism - Infant Baptism, Means of Baptism Homework: The Story of My Baptism.pdf

Confirmation

Matthew 26:17–29

17Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Question from the text: Why did Jesus establish the Lord’s Supper? How is this Sacrament connected with Jesus’ death?

Questions from Time of Instruction:

  1.  Who instituted the Lord’s Supper? What is given to us in this Sacrament?

  2. Is it the true body and blood of Jesus in with and under the Sacrament? Why or why not?

  3. Why do we use bread and wine?

  4. What benefit do we get from the Lord’s Supper?

Questions from Time of Instruction:

  1.  What is it about eating and drinking that give us such great gifts?

  2. Does everyone who eats this meal receive the gifts of God?

  3. What do we mean by “closed” Communion?

  4. What does it mean to be “worthy” or “unworthy”?

  5. What about those who are weak or struggling in the faith? Can they commune?

  6. Who should not be given the sacrament?

  • Not a continual sacrifice but Jesus once and for all sacrifice.
  • Hebrews 10:14&18 says that Jesus’ one sacrifice was perfect and complete

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