Detail of
"The Institution of the Eucharist" (1640) by French Baroque
painter Nicholas Poussin (1594-1665), oil on canvas, Musée du
Louvre, Paris.
Larger image.
Having grown up in the church from infancy, I've probably partaken of the Lord's Supper nearly a thousand times. Some of you from traditions that partake once a week or more, your total could be over 2,500 -- plenty enough times to have become
boring, repetitious, or practically meaningless, though a sentimental anchor that feels right to you. But communion, or Eucharist or Mass, as some call it, should be more than a ritual. It should be invested with great meaning for you and me.
My goal isn't to impose my practice on you, but help you
draw from the
Scriptures themselves an understanding of the Eucharist which will
enrich your experience of Christ as you partake according to your own tradition.
I am an ordained American Baptist pastor, currently serving
in an Evangelical Covenant congregation. -- Dr. Ralph F.
Wilson. About the
leader.
In this 10-week online Bible study series, we'll meditate on a dozen of the rich themes that underlie the Lord's Supper. My background is Protestant. Yours may be Catholic or Orthodox. And though
we may disagree on a few points of practice, we are united on this one thing: That Jesus has called us to partake of
the bread and the cup regularly as part of our worship. Moreover, both Jesus and his Apostle Paul give us rich insights into the meaning of the Lord's Supper. Those we seek to explore, so that the Lord's Table can be for each us a fresh occasion of faith, worship, and love.
This won't be a doctrinal study, if you mean by doctrine that I'll give you several dogmatic propositions to believe. Nor will it be sectarian in nature.
I know that sometimes Christians fight about the Lord's Supper.
Shame on us! There isn't a argumentative spirit in this Bible
study, but a spirit of love and peace and acceptance of our
brothers and sisters. Instead of intellectual sparring, we
have a hunger to experience more of Christ. If you want to fight,
go elsewhere!
However, since "doctrine" really means "teaching," I will instruct you in
what the Scriptures themselves teach. My goal -- both
for my own soul and yours -- is to so illuminate the rich themes
of communion so that the next time -- or 100 times -- you and I partake of the sacrament, we'll recall with joy and love what it really means.
So we're off on a spiritual adventure together, not unlike scuba diving. Communion, you see, is not a fixed doctrine, but
a wonderful and holy mystery into
which we immerse ourselves, as we explore and probe its depths. If you're a priest, pastor, or preacher,
a deacon, elder, or lay leader, you'll find the makings of many sermons
and communion meditations here. But my prayer for you is that you first feed your own soul on the heavenly bread so that you may be spiritually nourished to feed your people.
Now available as a modestly-priced e-book and
printed book. Why don't you purchase a copy today.
Learn more.
I invite you to come with me on a journey through time and spirit as we explore together the Lord's Supper. Here are the topics we'll look at week by week:
Remembering and Proclaiming Christ's Death (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
Being Sharers in the Sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10:16, 18)
My Body Given for You (Luke 22:19b)
My Blood Poured Out for Many (Matthew 26:28)
A New Covenant in My Blood (1 Corinthians 11:25)
The Cup of Blessing and the One Loaf (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
Eating His Flesh, Drinking His Blood (John 6:53-57)
The Lord's Supper and the Great Banquet (Luke 22:16, 18; Matthew 26:29)
Preparing for the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians
11:17-22, 27-34)
Here's how we'll study together over the next 11 weeks (with a
couple of planned breaks):
Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the week
. Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help you understand it better.
On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
, and maybe Thursday, you'll receive a question from that week's lesson to think about and answer. This is designed as a "total immersion" approach to Bible study, since I believe God wants to use it to work real and permanent change in your life. (You can opt out of the daily questions if you like, however, and just receive the weekly lessons.) You'll be thinking about these passages constantly for over these weeks -- long enough for God to work his Word into your life and lifestyle.
You can respond to the questions
using the
Joyful Heart Bible Study Forum -- and read others' answers to reinforce your own understanding.
With each lesson you'll receive a link to a 20- to 30-minute audio teaching that sums up the passage you've been studying that week. Some who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.
As of
May 25, 2006, we've had 1,915 sign-ups from more
than 83 countries, including: United Arab
Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, Netherlands
Antilles, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Barbados,
Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Bahamas, Botswana, Canada,
Chile, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt,
Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Fiji, Micronesia (Federal States of),
France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, HongKong, Croatia/Hrvatska,
Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, India, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica,
Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri
Lanka, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Malta, Maldives,
Mexico, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico,
Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan,
Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Taiwan,
Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands
(British), South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 15% specify text
format, 85% HTML format. 35% selected the weekly format, 65% the
daily format.
Sign up today! You'll receive the first lesson
this coming
Friday. There is no cost to participate in
the study, though donations
are encouraged so we can create more studies and reach
more people. We respect your
privacy and never sell or rent our lists.
Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. Each of them is pretty intensive. Also, please don't sign up for your friends; let them decide for themselves.
One big favor you can do for me:
Please link to this Bible study in your blog, personal
webpage, ministry or church website, as follows:
Lord's Supper: Eucharist and Communion Meditations for
Disciples www.jesuswalk.com/lords-supper/ The
number of people who will find this on the Internet is
directly related to the number of links you and others place.
If you can't link, that's okay, too. I understand.
Bible Study
Audio (10:34)
As of
May 25, 2006, we've had 1,915 sign-ups from more
than 83 countries, including: United Arab
Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Albania, Netherlands
Antilles, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Barbados,
Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Bahamas, Botswana, Canada,
Chile, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt,
Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Fiji, Micronesia (Federal States of),
France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, HongKong, Croatia/Hrvatska,
Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, India, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica,
Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of), Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri
Lanka, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Malta, Maldives,
Mexico, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico,
Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan,
Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Taiwan,
Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands
(British), South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 15% specify text
format, 85% HTML format. 35% selected the weekly format, 65% the
daily format.
One big favor you can do for me:
Please link to this Bible study in your blog, personal
webpage, ministry or church website, as follows:
joyfulheart.com
Christmas Incarnation