Thematic Expressions for the Lord's Supper

Paul A. Hansen

Description

Making the Lord's Supper come alive and digging deeper into the lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Enable people to get to know Jesus as Lord and Savior better.
Thematic expression of communion is a book designed to do two things. First, it challenges us to rethink a memorial understanding of the supper which equips us to consider celebrating the feast more frequently. Second, this book provides a wealth of information on themes that can be pursued and how to pursue them and make them live for members of the congregation.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Biblical Meditations
• Philosophie et théologie
• Lord's Supper

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 20 avril 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664295759
• Langue: English

Extrait

Thematic Expressions for the Lord’s Supper
 
 
Comprehensive Practice of the Eucharist: Themes of Scripture that Reflect God’s Grace
 
 
 
Paul A. Hansen
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2023 Paul A. Hansen.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9574-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9576-6 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9575-9 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023905135
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 03/25/2023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jesus Christ, the only Spiritual nourishment for our soul.
from
A Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper
John Calvin
For the Church of the Christ of God,
For the Glory of God
Contents
Preface
Introduction
I       The Need for Thematic Communion: preparation and Worship
II       The Deficit of Confession and Preparation, Filled
III     The Deficit of the Whole Counsel of God in Worship, Filled
IV     Biblical Foundation for Regular Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
V       What does Eucharistic-inclusive worship look like During Special Weeks and Seasons?
1. Advent
2. Lent
3. Holy Week
4. Pentecost
VI       Themes for Communion
VII     How to…
VIII     A Suggestion on How to Lead Your Leaders into a More Frequent and Discipled Lord’s Supper Celebration
IX       Sample Devotions
X       The Difference a more regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper can make!
XI     Frequently Asked Questions
Bibliography
Preface
This book espouses a radical idea for the twenty-first century Protestant and Evangelical Church. Since the onset of a set, official, liturgy, the Holy Catholic Church, that is the Universal Church across time and geography, has followed a set pattern for its worship experiences. In many denominations, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant have all codified these liturgies according to the respective theologies they follow. This book breaks into that tradition and heritage of the Church and proposes something new and different for one aspect of that liturgy, the Lords Supper.
While based on scripture, first, it also attempts to realign the liturgy to follow the practice of examination and preparation that is prominent in Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians. This is part of the liturgical practice of Churches in the Reformed tradition. It borrows from the Roman Catholic confessional before taking the Mass.
I realize that this effort can appear to be dabbling into the set character of denomination or even a congregation’s worship experience, as evidenced by Church history and nature of the Eucharist as attested to in the various strands of theologies of the Church. While challenging to church liturgical orthodoxy, I do believe that what I propose in the pages that follow, is very much in line with scripture and with Churches through history regardless of location. I also believe it is in line with what Jesus calls us to be, by being Spirit-filled and clothed, and to do, by following the call He gives in Matthew 5-8 in the sermon on the Mount, which is to say to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Matthew 5:48 (NASB ).
If this book sets your teeth on edge, ask yourself why? Is it because what it asks for is heretical, that is does it deviate from the Biblical norm? Jude 5-16 (ESV) 5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs [ c ] at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. 14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage .
Does it propose something that would detract from the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, (follow me) and make disciples that follow the Word of God, Jesus Christ? Matthew 28:17-20 (ESV) 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Does it offend scripture of the Old and New Covenant, twisting it and bending it away from the revealed will and person of God? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Does it distort the gospel to the extent that it calls people to a different means of salvation other than the call, and gift of Jesus on the cross for our salvation and sanctification? (Galatians 1:6-7 ESV ) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. )?
If your answer is no to all the above, then I would ask you to consider reading further, look carefully at your liturgy and worship you provide weekly and then what I believe and pray will transpire if we take seriously what the next pages propose. What follows does not add to the gospel. What follows does not pursue a different path to walk to know God and receive His grace.
After considerable research from 2002 through 2005, I could see based on what God did in scripture, the Church was missing out on the benefits that scripture describes regarding the Eucharist. Luke 24:13-35 was a case study in this search and the foundational text that reflects what follows. While the results of this encounter with Jesus that was experienced by these disciples in their encounter with Him after the resurrection, were plain and manifold, they were in line with other experiences that are outlined in scripture when people encounter the living God. Simply put, they drew these disciples closer to God, transformed them from fearful weak creatures to bold enthusiastic disciples. I wanted to experience those same consequences of the closeness of God in my own life.
The school I attended celebrated the Eucharist numerous times during the two weeks I was there twice a year. As I researched and read, prayed, and discussed this aspect of worship with my professors, I began to experience something akin to what is succinctly described in the road to Emmaus story in Luke 24. My eyes were opened I began to see Jesus more and more