The Sacraments
Worship
THE WINGS OF WORSHIP
Opening Activities
1. Prayer
2. Sing "The Church's One Foundation"
3. Are baptism and communion important?
Information
The foundation for the sacrament of baptism and sacrament of the Lord's supper is the creation of the church by Jesus. Participation in these sacraments is mandatory because Jesus commanded it and they are a means of grace.
Baptism is the initiatory means of grace and the eucharist (communion) is an ongoing means of grace. Baptism is God's act of self-giving to humanity. It does not guarantee a life of faith. It is not baptismal regeneration. It is the initiation into the church at whatever age the person is when it is administered. God's Spirit is active in baptism in the initiation and lifelong journey. Baptism and confirmation is, indeed, one act and ought to be handled as such with affirmation, reaffirmation and renewal occurring later and periodically. Unless the Holy Spirit of God is present and active (invited in), there is only form.
When the Holy Spirit is present and active, there is no reason to re-invite that presence again in baptism - regeneration. But there may, indeed, be the need to confess our sins and to ask forgiveness from God for our waywardness, and perhaps to remember our baptism, anamnestically - allowing the spirit of God to be in control in our lives again.
Baptism is an event received as pure gift; no one deserves baptism. The one being baptized is the passive recipient of what God does through the action of others. God incorporates a person into the church through the act of baptism.
There is a unity in water baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but one is not to hold a stopwatch as to the time of God's activity. The human side of baptism is allowing the Spirit to take control - to come in.
Jesus said to baptize. The one who is baptized experiences union with Jesus and his work, incorporation into the church, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sin and re-birth. It is an action done to me, for me, rather than by me.
The sacrament of the Lord's supper was instituted by the Lord on the night that he was betrayed. Unlike baptism, which is not repeated, the communion is a repeated experience of God's self-giving that Christians observe from baptism until death. The self-giving of God occurs through the bread and the wine.
Communion shows our oneness with Christ and each other. It shows our hope of the return of Christ. It is for those who are members of the Body of Christ regardless of age.
There are those who think that communion ought to be a part of every Sunday morning worship service. They believe that word and table go together to make a worship service. However, it would seem to me that the key is real worship whether you have word and table (service of the Word and communion) or just word or just table. The key is "worship in spirit and in truth."
Jesus did not say to have communion every time we meet, but he did say to do so in remembrance of him. Yes, apparently, the beginning church in Acts had communion daily. At least several of the reformers wanted communion weekly in the worship service. The early Methodists had communion quarterly at the quarterly conferences, where a qualified (ordained) clergy person was present to administer it.
Discussion Questions
1. At what age should a person be baptized? Should infants be baptized?
2. Should a person be rebaptized?
3. How often should we have communion?
4. Let's discuss the baptism and communion rituals.
Evaluations
Have course participants complete the weekly evaluation form from page 63 (you may make copies) and hand it in at the end of the class period.
1. Prayer
2. Sing "The Church's One Foundation"
3. Are baptism and communion important?
Information
The foundation for the sacrament of baptism and sacrament of the Lord's supper is the creation of the church by Jesus. Participation in these sacraments is mandatory because Jesus commanded it and they are a means of grace.
Baptism is the initiatory means of grace and the eucharist (communion) is an ongoing means of grace. Baptism is God's act of self-giving to humanity. It does not guarantee a life of faith. It is not baptismal regeneration. It is the initiation into the church at whatever age the person is when it is administered. God's Spirit is active in baptism in the initiation and lifelong journey. Baptism and confirmation is, indeed, one act and ought to be handled as such with affirmation, reaffirmation and renewal occurring later and periodically. Unless the Holy Spirit of God is present and active (invited in), there is only form.
When the Holy Spirit is present and active, there is no reason to re-invite that presence again in baptism - regeneration. But there may, indeed, be the need to confess our sins and to ask forgiveness from God for our waywardness, and perhaps to remember our baptism, anamnestically - allowing the spirit of God to be in control in our lives again.
Baptism is an event received as pure gift; no one deserves baptism. The one being baptized is the passive recipient of what God does through the action of others. God incorporates a person into the church through the act of baptism.
There is a unity in water baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but one is not to hold a stopwatch as to the time of God's activity. The human side of baptism is allowing the Spirit to take control - to come in.
Jesus said to baptize. The one who is baptized experiences union with Jesus and his work, incorporation into the church, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sin and re-birth. It is an action done to me, for me, rather than by me.
The sacrament of the Lord's supper was instituted by the Lord on the night that he was betrayed. Unlike baptism, which is not repeated, the communion is a repeated experience of God's self-giving that Christians observe from baptism until death. The self-giving of God occurs through the bread and the wine.
Communion shows our oneness with Christ and each other. It shows our hope of the return of Christ. It is for those who are members of the Body of Christ regardless of age.
There are those who think that communion ought to be a part of every Sunday morning worship service. They believe that word and table go together to make a worship service. However, it would seem to me that the key is real worship whether you have word and table (service of the Word and communion) or just word or just table. The key is "worship in spirit and in truth."
Jesus did not say to have communion every time we meet, but he did say to do so in remembrance of him. Yes, apparently, the beginning church in Acts had communion daily. At least several of the reformers wanted communion weekly in the worship service. The early Methodists had communion quarterly at the quarterly conferences, where a qualified (ordained) clergy person was present to administer it.
Discussion Questions
1. At what age should a person be baptized? Should infants be baptized?
2. Should a person be rebaptized?
3. How often should we have communion?
4. Let's discuss the baptism and communion rituals.
Evaluations
Have course participants complete the weekly evaluation form from page 63 (you may make copies) and hand it in at the end of the class period.
