12.05.11 communion power of communion

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Communion Power of Communion Recognizing Jesus' Real Presence in the Lord's Supper Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions Memorization Verses: Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

Transcript of 12.05.11 communion power of communion

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CommunionPower of Communion

Recognizing Jesus' Real Presence in the Lord's Supper

Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions

Memorization Verses: Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has

exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

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LSB 634 http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/d/e/a/deatjcol.htm1 The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord,We celebrate with one accord;It is our comfort in distress,Our heart's sweet joy and happiness.2 He blotted out with His own bloodThe judgment that against us stood;For us He full atonement made,And all our debt He fully paid.3 That this forever true shall beHe gives a solemn guarantee:In this His holy Supper hereWe taste His love so sweet, so near.4 His Word proclaims and we believe.That in this Supper we receiveHis very body, as He said,

His very blood for sinners shed.5 We dare not ask how this can be,But simply hold the mysteryAnd trust this word where life begins;"Given and shed for all your sins."6 They who this word do not believe,This food unworthily receive,Salvation here will never find--May we this warning keep in mind!7 But blest is each believing guestWho in these promises finds rest;For Jesus shall in love remainWith all who here His grace obtain. 8 Help us sincerely to believeThat we may worthily receiveYour Supper and in You find rest.Amen! They who believe are blest.

Sing it!

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Game

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PRAYER

• Given and shed• Words together• Forgiveness, Life, Salvation• Righteousness• BlessingP raiseR epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

Pray: 23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above    and opened the doors of the heavens; 24 he rained down manna for the people to eat,    he gave them the grain of heaven. 25 Human beings ate the bread of angels;    he sent them all the food they could eat. 26 He let loose the east wind from the heavens    and by his power made the south wind blow. 27 He rained meat down on them like dust,    birds like sand on the seashore. 28 He made them come down inside their camp,    all around their tents. 

29 They ate till they were gorged

—    he had given them what they craved. 30 But before they turned from what they craved,    even while the food was still in their mouths, …

38 Yet he was merciful;    he forgave their iniquities    and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger    and did not stir up his full wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh,    a passing breeze that does not return.

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LSB 621

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

2 King of kings yet born of Mary,As of old on earth He stood,Lord of lords, in human vesture,In the body and the blood,He will give to all the faithfulHis own self for heav'nly food.

Sing it!

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“Where is God? Where is He?” someone behind me asked. ..

For more than half an hour the child in the noose stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face. He was still alive when I passed in front of him. His tongue was still red, his eyes were not yet glazed.

Behind me, I heard the same man asking:

“Where is God now?”

And I heard a voice within me answer him:

“Where is He? Here He is—He is hanging here on this gallows. . . .”

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The world, other religions, and the evil reality of pain, suffering, despair, grief and the Accuser himself want to remind us that: Rituals mean nothing, they are merely

symbols that can snap in two in the storm Our faith is wishful thinking, or worship

but a pipe dream Our actions are fruitless, our efforts are

without merit We are hypocritical, irrational, blind,

boring, simple, arrogant, bigoted, unprofitable, inefficient, and insulting.

Why, then does God “remember” us in Communion: a simple meal of bread and wine?...what power exists?

Ritual is weakness?

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God participates in our communion with Him by: Bringing the “body of Christ” together with a

meal to have fellowship with the “body of Christ” as we are actively bringing to remembrance the reality of the “body of Christ”.

….Huh? God’s sharing of Himself is not contingent on

time/space. His history is not our history, his time/space, not ours. Therefore all three truths co-exist:

1. “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Rom. 12:5 (1 Cor. 10:17)

2. “is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” 1 Cor. 10:16

3. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Communion “trinity”

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The power of Communion resides in the following:1. Bringing about an active redemption to

individuals who are resurrected spiritual (cross/conversion) and physically (last day) because of Christ’s own death and victory.

2. Bringing broken and cantankerous people together, despite diversities and cultural practices, customs and languages, politics and education, to a cohesive whole in the supper.

3. The bringing to active remembrance that God does hear his people, that he loves them, and has already secured salvation for them.

Communion as Community

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The Hebrew mind is different than the western mindRight “thinking” vs. Right “action”

The Power of Rememberance

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To the Jewish mind, the understanding of God is not achieved by referring to a Greek way to timeless qualities of Supreme Being, to ideas of goodness and perfection, but rather by sensing the living acts of His concern, to His dynamic attentiveness to man. We speak not of His goodness in general but of His compassion for the individual man in a particular situation"

Abraham Heschel

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To try to distill the Bible, which is bursting with life, drama, and tension, to a series of principles would be like trying to reduce a living person to a diagram

Abraham Heschel

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"For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard." (Psalm 22:24)

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalm 9:9-10)

"I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;" (Psalm 31:7)

"Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever;" (Psalm

136:23)

Remembrance as Power

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To Remember (zakar) is not an intellectual or theoretical pursuit, nor is it a separate event from its source (that which you are remembering), instead: To remember is to bring to completion To remember is to keep it existing To remember is to continue the reality of it (one event,

continual benefits and atmosphere) To remember is to DO SOMETHING (living for the event or

to keep it mind while working everyday). Just as God remembers the Israelites continually

in the midst of suffering, in protection from the angel of death, in the proclamation of true living and right teaching,

So also, we remember Him in the Lord’s supper continually: Proclaiming the reality of Christ’s death once for sins Recognizing the Body of Christ which is both for us, in us,

and is us The active unity and doing of true living and right teaching

Rememberance as Power

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This can be especially important to us as recovering alcoholics. We have felt in the past,and sometimes even now, estranged from the fellowship of believers, and of our local churches.Perhaps we feel especially unworthy of that fellowship. Perhaps some of our more manifest pastsins involved other church members or hurt them (for which we may owe some future amends).Or perhaps we can not help comparing our lack of Christian life with someone else’s obviouslyexemplary life and character—with the result that we become filled with self-hatred and loathing,and begin to be plagued by an accusing conscience.It is just then that we must realize that

communion is open to all who confess theirpenitence and in faith look for the assurance of the forgiveness of their sins that is here offered.God does not open Holy Communion up to only those who have reached a certain level ofsanctified life. He says, “Take, drink, ye all..”, yes, all of you! Come! God does not ‘grade’sinfulness (as you and I sometimes do). Very few of us could say that we ever felt “better” thanthose “others” who come to the Lord’s Table. Rather, we have felt that we were the “worst” whocame (if we did come) because we could not lick our alcoholism and kept repeating the samesinful behaviors over and over, and over again. But we must remember that all come forforgiveness. All are equally in need in God’s sight. All come for the same assurance and thestrengthening necessary to fight against sin (which is indeed the “disease” that infects us all)

David Schottey, Recovering Alcoholic and Holy Communion

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URL List from Friday, May. 11 2012 0:29 AM

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Google Search Results | Essay File

http://www.wlsessays.net/search/google/power%20of%20communion?query=power%20of%20communion&cx=000220049578489321948%3Ag6kssmfinge&cof=FORID%3A11&sitesearch=&safe=high

www.wlsessays.net/files/Encouraging Frequent Reception.pdf

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/Encouraging%20Frequent%20Reception.pdf

www.wlsessays.net/files/SchotteyAlcoholic.pdf

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/SchotteyAlcoholic.pdf

www.wlsessays.net/files/MicheelCommunion.pdf

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/MicheelCommunion.pdf

Rom 12:5, Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 119, Romans 10:8-18, John 6:60-63, Romans 10:17,Matthew 26:26-28 NIV - so in Christ we, though many, form one - Bible Gateway

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%2012:5,%20Numbers%2021:4-9,%20Psalm%20119,%20Romans%2010:8-18,%20John%206:60-63,%20Romans%2010:17,Matthew%2026:26-28%20&version=NIV

jewish mind on the importance of writing -

Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=jewish+mind+on+written+word#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=jewish+mind+on+the+importance+of+writing&oq=jewish+mind+on+the+importance+of+writing&aq=f&aqi=q-w1&aql=&gs_l=serp.3..33i21.16204.19583.0.19684.26.26.0.0.0.0.270.3853.1j19j5.25.0...0.0.XvlX4H7lLwQ&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=356e729b7a15c7f0&biw=858&bih=842

www.lcje.net/papers/1993/Bjoraker.pdf

http://www.lcje.net/papers/1993/Bjoraker.pdf

The Hebrew Mind vs The Western Mind

http://www.godward.org/Hebrew%20Roots/hebrew_mind_vs__the_western_mind.htm

Paedocommunion: A Biblical Examination

http://www.reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/Paedocommunion.htm

holy communion « The Word 4 Life

http://theword4life.wordpress.com/tag/holy-communion/

the word remember in hebrew mind - Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=the+word+remember+in+hebrew+mind

Hebrew Word Study | Skip Moen » remember

http://skipmoen.com/tag/remember/

What It Is To Remember (and Forget)

http://www.victorshepherd.on.ca/Sermons/newpage13.htm

night wiesel god remember - Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=night+weisel+god+remember#hl=en&sa=X&ei=RKOsT4rWIMSbiQKeyM3ABw&ved=0CCUQvwUoAQ&q=night+wiesel+god+remember&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=356e729b7a15c7f0&biw=858&bih=842

Elie Wiesel's Relationship with God

http://www.stsci.edu/~rdouglas/publications/suff/suff.html#SECTION0005000000000000000

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?

http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/10-16.htm

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

http://bible.cc/galatians/2-20.htm

Google Image Result for http://www.livinglutheran.com/seeds/Evangelical-Lutheran-Worship-ENTRY.jpg

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hebrew worship - Google Search

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Psalm 115:12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,

http://bible.cc/psalms/115-12.htm

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Communion

Say Mean Matter

Key phrases Own words Answer the questions/Personal application

•How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? •How can forgiveness, life, and salvation be obtained through the bodily

eating and drinking? •Does everyone who eats and drinks the Sacrament also receive forgiveness,

life, and salvation?

•______________________________

SS Given and shed M Words together T Forgiveness, Life, Salvation W Righteousness Th Blessing

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Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

SS Given and shed

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Not simply the eating and drinking, but the words of Christ together with His body and blood under the bread and wine are the way through which these blessings are given.

"We do not claim this of bread and wine-since in itself bread is bread-but of that bread and wine which are Christ's body and blood and with which the words are coupled. These and no other, we say, are the treasure through which forgiveness is obtained" (Large Catechism V 28).

Christ's words of promise have put these gifts into the Sacrament, and the believer receives them there through faith.

• Pray: O Lord, You ordained

mysteries in our holy religion, to exercise our faith, and raise our profoundest adoration of Your divine majesty. You did not ordain them to encourage a bold arrogance in us to search into the depths of Your incomprehensible nature. Your presence in the elements of the bread and wine, by the influences of Your Spirit, and by the application of Your merits to the soul of the truly penitent, shall be sufficient for me to adore Your love, to revere Your Sacrament, and come to Your table. O blessed Jesus, I beg the assistance of Your grace, and a happy communion between You and my soul. Amen. (Johann Gerhard, 1582-1637).

M Words together

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Forgiveness, life, and salvation are truly offered to all who eat the Lord's body and blood in the Sacrament, but only through faith can we receive the blessings offered there.

Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.

Luke 11:27-28 "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

T Forgiveness, Life, Salvation

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Note: To "keep" or "obey" God's Word of promise is to believe or trust it. "For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith'" (Rom. 1:17).

1 Cor. 10:3-5 They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

W Righteousness

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Bible narrative: There was a blessing in touching Jesus or being touched by Him, and faith received it (Matt. 9:20-22, 27-29).

• Pray: I thank You, Lord God

Almighty, for the wondrous gift which You bestow on me in the Holy Supper. And I beg Your mercy that You would cause it to strengthen my faith toward You, to make me abound more and more in true holiness and in fervent love toward my neighbor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. (Zorn).

Th Blessing

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LSB 623  1 Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray

That we may feast on You today;Beneath these forms of bread and wineEnrich us with Your grace divine.

2 Give us, who share this wondrous food,Your body broken and Your blood,The grateful peace of sins forgiv'n,The certain joys of heirs of heav'n.

3 By faith Your Word has made us boldTo seize the gift of love retold;All that You are we here receive,And all we are to You we give.

4 One bread, one cup, one body, we,Rejoicing in our unity,Proclaim Your love until You comeTo bring Your scattered loved ones home.

5 Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray:O keep us steadfast till that dayWhen each may be Your welcomed guestIn heaven's high and holy feast.

Sing it!

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ConclusionCertainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins." Not simply the eating and drinking, but the words of Christ together with His body and blood under the bread and wine are the way through which these blessings are given. "We do not claim this of bread and wine-since in itself bread is bread-but of that bread and wine which are Christ's body and blood and with which the words are coupled. These and no other, we say, are the treasure through which forgiveness is obtained" (Large Catechism V 28). Christ's words of promise have put these gifts into the Sacrament, and the believer receives them there through faith.

Forgiveness, life, and salvation are truly offered to all who eat the Lord's body and blood in the Sacrament, but only through faith can we receive the blessings offered there.Note: To "keep" or "obey" God's Word of promise is to believe or trust it. "For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith'" (Rom. 1:17).• 

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How to Receive Communion Worthily

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