Sacraments
Martin Luther and John Calvin
Christ the Victim
Did Christ die a substitutionary death in order to save us from our sins or to train us not to sin? He died to save us. This article explains, however, that this doctrine needs to be fleshed out more consistently with the realities of Christ's divine and human natures, and the Lord's Supper.
Words of Life: The Bible & Weekly Communion
How often should the Lord's Supper be celebrated? Should churches have weekly communion? This thesis considers the subject of the frequency of the Lord's Supper, arguing that it should be practiced less than weekly. The author offers an outline of the historical practice of the church (particularly the Westminster tradition), then explores the doctrine of the sacrament and worship in order to prove his thesis.
Profession of Faith and the Lord’s Supper
Different Flavors for Different Seasons: Six Service Plans for Celebrating the Lord's Supper throughout the Church Year (Page 2 of 2)
This is the second part of an article that offers service plans for celebrating the Lord's Supper throughout the church year.
Gather Us In; Taste and See; Holy, Holy, Holy Lord; Holy Is the Lord; Go, My Children, with My Blessing; Hallelujah, We Sing Your Praises
This article introduces a number of hymns that can be used in public worship that includes the Lord's Supper: "Gather Us In," "Taste and See," "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord; Holy Is the Lord," "Go, My Children, with My Blessing," and "Hallelujah, We Sing Your Praises."
Lift Up Your Hearts...and Voices: Involving the Congregation in the Communion Liturgy through Song
This article offers resources for the preparation of the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
Recognizing the Body: Discovering That the Church Is Bigger Than My Own Tradition
The liturgical form for the celebration of the Lord's Supper includes the call to "discern the body" (1 Corinthians 11). This article reflects on the significance of this biblical call for the way a church celebrates the Lord's Supper.
Different Flavors for Different Seasons: Six Service Plans for Celebrating the Lord's Supper throughout the Church Year (Page 1 of 2)
This article offers support for worship planning by providing six service plans for celebrating the Lord's Supper throughout the church year.
The Lord's Supper Is Not for "You." It's for Us.
This article stresses the corporate aspect to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. This aspect impacts how we approach the table, and how we prepare to take the Supper.
What Is a Sacrament
What is a sacrament? It is a sign and seal, a means of grace, instituted by Christ. This article considers these things, and explains the meaning of both baptism and the Lord's Supper.
No Need to Diet There are Good Reasons for a more frequent Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper – How Often?
In most Reformed and Presbyterian churches, the Lord's Supper is celebrated infrequently—usually four to six times a year. This article reflects on this practice and considers the benefit of a more frequent celebration.
Until He Comes – Six Themes for the Lord's Supper
This article considers six important themes that reflect the significance of the celebration of the Lord's Supper: remembrance, proclamation, fellowship, self-examination, thanksgiving, expectation.
On Offering the Offering
Until the tenth or eleventh century, the offering during the worship service was closely connected to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This article reflects on the self-giving character of the offerings during the worship service.
The Communion Circle
This article reflects on different practices in celebration of the Lord's Supper as part of public worship.
Response to Your Baptism: Chapter 7 – On the Way to the Lord's Supper
Belgic Confession Articles 33-35: The Sacraments (2)
The Church Around the Table The Life of the Church Series: Sermon Eight
Why Is the Lord's Supper So Rare?
Why is it that the Lord's Supper is not celebrated that often in many churches? Can it be that we miss something about the gospel? This article thinks so.
At the Table of the Covenant: The Lord's Supper
Sacramental Efficacy
This article explains the ways in which the sacraments are efficacious by virtue of participation in them. The Lord's Supper is a means by which the church manifests itself as one body, and baptism effects membership in the church and displays the shape of the church and its position over against the world.
Sip It, Don't Dip It
The practice of intinction is the dipping of the bread into the wine and then consuming both together at the Lord's Supper. This article makes the case why this practice should not be followed, in light of the instruction of the Lord Jesus.
Evangelicals & the Eucharist (Part 1)
This article explores the early church's celebration of the Lord's Supper. It addresses the question of whether they believed that the elements were actually transformed into the physical body and blood of Christ.
This Is My Body
The author provides the Lutheran understanding of partaking in the Lord's Supper. The emphasis is first on the nature of the presence of Christ in the bread and wine, and then also the significance of a real encounter with Christ in the elements of the Lord's Supper through faith.
The New Covenant Meal
The article teaches on the topic of the Lord's Supper, firstly as a meal that can also be called a covenantal meal. Thus its roots are in covenantal theology. The Lord's Supper is a place where one moves from being outside to getting into the blessed communion with the Lord.
The Eucharist: Representative Views
What was the place and understanding of the Lord's Supper in the early church? How can a recovery of the early church's practice of the Eucharist help us to live in Christ in a more profound way? How is the grace of God mediated to us through the celebration of the Lord's Supper? These questions are reflected upon in relation to the developments in the Eucharist during the Middle Ages and the Reformation.
Worthy Partaking: Examining the Heart
This article emphasizes the importance of participating in the Lord's Supper in a proper and worthy manner. Self-examination is therefore an important aspect.
Given for You
This article discusses the biblical view of the Lord's Supper, related it to the Passover feast, as well as to the death and resurrection of Christ. The author focuses on the relevance of passages like John 6:47-58 together with others.
Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper
The article discusses John Calvin's teaching on the Lord's Supper, comparing it to the doctrines of other institutions and theologians such as that of the Roman Catholic, Luther, and Zwingli. The main issue of contention discussed concerns the presence of the body of Christ in the bread and wine.
The Battle for the Table
The article deals with the main aspects of differences between the Roman Catholic, the Lutheran, Reformed (Anglican), and the Baptist views on the presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper. The Catholic view is transubstantiation, while the Lutheran view is consubstantiation. The Reformed view is that of the real presence of Christ, without the need to identify his physical body in the Supper.
Seeing Is Believing: Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace
What are sacraments? Sacraments are tokens of the Lord's love leading believers to communion with God. This article explains the meaning of sacraments as signs and seals, and as means of grace. It then looks at the meaning of baptism and the Lord's Supper and how they function as signs and seals.
The Eucharist: Representative Views
How did the early church understand the function of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist)? The paper is an attempt to recover the significance of the Lord's Supper through a renewed understanding of the practice of the Eucharist by the church in the earliest period of church history after the apostles.
The Cup of Salvation: The Lord's Supper as a Thanksgiving Feast
The Lord's Supper
This article looks at the relationship between the Lord's Supper and the Passover, as well as the Lord's Supper and union with Christ. It looks at the use of bread and wine and how to prepare for Lord's Supper.
The Birth of Israel
The article discusses the nature of God's covenant with His people from its institution in the Old Testament to the time of its fulfillment in the New Testament. The author discusses the covenant in relation to circumcision, the Passover, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
Place and Structure of the Lord's Supper
Self-Examination: Or Testing Our Response (Resonance)
Baptism, Profession of Faith, Lord’s Supper
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
What does the sacrament of the Lord's Supper signify to us? The Lord's Supper emphasizes that Christ's death is pivotal to salvation. The Lord's Supper also shows why Christ died, and how Christ's death is applied to believers.
Proclaiming the Lord's Death: The Evangelistic Value of the Lord's Supper
Sometimes pastors worry that the Lord's Supper will alienate visitors who have not yet proclaimed their faith or are not yet Christians. However, this author argues that the Lord's Supper can be an excellent tool for evangelism.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (5)
We receive the spiritual nourishment of the Lord's Supper only through faith, which is worked in us by the Holy Spirit. This article discusses the Holy Spirit's work in us, and the relationship between the Word and the sacrament of Lord's Supper.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (4)
How is Christ present in the Lord's Supper? When we eat of the bread and drink of the wine of the Lord's table, how is that eating and drinking Christ? This article discusses the Roman Catholic teaching of transubstantiation and Martin Luther's perspective, contrasting them with a different perspective on Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (3)
This article looks at the nature of the Lord's Supper - what makes it so special? How are we nourished by the Lord's Supper table?
The Lord’s Supper
Consecration and the Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper not only points believers to Christ, it also points to the claim Christ has on the believer. Working from 1 Corinthians 11:24, this article shows how Holy Communion is both evangelical and evangelistic.
Visible Signs
Working from 1 Corinthians 11:26, this article shows that the Lord's Supper is a means of God's grace. By participating in Holy Communion, believers confess their faith in Christ, commune with Christ, and receive grace from Christ.
Seals of Faith
The prayer, breaking of bread, pouring of wine, and eating and drinking of the Lord's Supper all point the believer to Christ. Holy Communion works as a seal, pointing the believer to the truth of Christ's work of salvation.
The Presence of Christ
Christ is present in the Lord's Supper through the Spirit. This spiritual presence of Christ means that partaking of the Lord's Supper is a blessing to believers. His presence should compel believers to come in order to be fed by Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:26 - Proclaim the Lord's Death
1 Corinthians 11:26 shows that the Lord's Supper is a means of proclamation. Through the Lord's Supper, Christians proclaim the death of Christ to be a necessary, sacrificial, and covenantal death. Christians proclaim this during the Lord's Supper by grieving over sin, rejoicing in deliverance, and spreading the gospel of grace.
1 Corinthians 11:28 - Self-Examination
1 Corinthians 11:28 makes self-examination an imperative for coming to the Lord's Supper. This article shows that self-examination ought to be part of the Christian life, and that self examination should not be a threat, but rather an encouragement to come to Christ as presented in the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:29 - Discerning the Lord's Body
Working from 1 Corinthians 11:29, this article shows that the Lord's Supper is a unique meal due to its spiritual nature. Partaking of it requires the believer to rightly understand its purpose and meaning. Taking it wrongfully is an insult to Christ, and deserves God's judgment. However, when taken with a rightly prepared heart, the Lord's Supper is a blessing to the believer.
1 Corinthians 10:16 - Communion With Christ
1 Corinthians 10:16 reveals that the heart of the Lord's Supper is communion with Christ as a result of His redemptive work. Understanding Holy Communion in this way has implications for those partaking in it. The Lord's Supper must be viewed as a seal of the covenant of grace.
The Body of Christ
This article looks at the implications of the Lord's Supper on church membership. Through the Lord's Supper we are taught that communion with Christ results in communion with other believers. This is what it means to be the body of Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:17.
Collections at the Lord's Supper?
Lord's Supper
Self-Examination
1 Corinthians 11:28 highlights the importance of self-examination before taking the Lord's Supper. This should be done in such a way that our focus is on our identity in Christ, not in ourselves.
The Scottish Communion Season
How Should I Benefit from Communion?
This article discusses how Christians can participate in the Lord's Supper for their benefit.
Music With Bread and Wine
The Festive Meal in Christ's Congregation
Protestant Transubstantiantion: Origins Of And Reasons For The Rejection Of Wine
This article examines the use of wine for the Lord's Supper. The author outlines the reasons given for rejecting the use of wine for the Lord's Supper, and provides responses to these arguments.
Protestant Transubstantiantion: Historic Reformed & Baptist Testimony
This article supports the use of bread and wine in the Lord's Supper. The author is convinced that the replacement of wine with grape juice for the Lord's Supper is unbiblical, and gives reasons based on the historical Reformed and Baptist churches' testimony.
Protestant Transubstantiantion: Historial Testimony
This article supports the use of bread and wine in the sacrament of Lord's Supper. The author is convinced that the replacement of wine by grape juice is unbiblical, and gives reasons for this based on the history of the early church.
Protestant Transubstantiantion: Thesis; Biblical Witness
Some Protestant Churches have the idea of transubstantiation in that when the crackers and grape juice are blessed by the pastor, they are mysteriously transubstantiated into the proper elements of the Lord's Supper. This article discusses the biblical reasons for the use of wine for the Lord's Supper, rather than just using grape juice.
Children at the Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper in Christian Experience
"The Bread Which We Break" – What Does That Mean?
Zwingli on the Unity of the Church
How Should the Lord's Table Be Fenced?
How Frequently Should Communion Be Celebrated?
Communion: How Frequent?
Wine or Grape Juice?
Common Cup or Separate Cups?
An Accursed Idolatry
This article is about the words in Lord's Day 30 that call the Roman Catholic mass an accursed idolatry. It also shows the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:1
This article on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:1 is about Lord's Supper and sacraments.
What is Latria?
This article is about Q and A 80 Heidelberg Catechism (Lord's Day 30 HC) and focuses on the difference between the Lord's Supper and the Roman Catholic Mass. How should we view the sacrifice and presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper?
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:5 and 6
This article on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:5 and 6 is about the Lord's Supper and sacraments.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:7 and 8
This article on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:7 and 8 is about the Lord's Supper and sacraments.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:3 and 4
This article on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:3 and 4 is about the Lord's Supper and sacraments.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:2
This article on the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29:2 is about Lord's Supper and sacraments.
Paedocommunion and the Reformed Confessions
Church Membership and Participation in the Lord's Supper
Lord’s Supper: An Attitude of Service
Open Communion?
Individual Cups for the Lord’s Supper?
It Is Right to Give Thanks A Thanksgiving Meditation on the Eucharist
Reformation in Switzerland
Partake Unworthily?
Jesus at the Supper
The Lord's Supper in History
The Meaning of the Lord's Supper
This is an extensive article on the Lord's Supper.