Next Steps for Kids Lesson 3: Communion: Choosing to Remember

Let’s talk about it… Who has the closest birthday? Why do we celebrate birthdays? What do you like about Birthday parties? What are other ways that we try to remember important things or events?

Where did we get the word “COMMUNION”? We find this term in the King James Version and the American Standard Version as a translation of a Greek word k___________ (which primarily means f_____________ ) in 1 Cor 10:16. In the RSV it is translated as s____________, and in the NIV as p______________. Based on common usage in the KJV and ASV the term became the common term used for the Lord's Supper in some churches where it was the practice to speak of the Communion Service.

What the bible says about COMMUNION… Three of the Four Gospel tell the story of the Last Supper. READ THEM: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20 What does each story have in common? Can you fill in all these blanks? J_______ T______ B______, G______ T_______, B_______ it, and G______ to his D_______ saying T_____ and E_____, this is my B______ that is B________ for you. Then he T______ the C_______ saying D_______ from it, this is the B__________ of the C_____________ which is P_________ out for the F____________________ of S_______. Do this in R_______________ of me. WHO CAN TAKE COMMUNION? READ Acts 2:41-42, Acts 20:7 It seems that only B___________ C_________________ celebrated this. While this is not a strict rule, it is assumed that people 1) Got Saved 2) Got Baptized and then 3) Celebrated Communion regularly. BAPSTISM meant entrance into the body of Christ, but the LORD’S SUPPER meant participating in or remaining in the body of Christ. WARNINGS ABOUT COMMUNION: READ 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 Anyone who celebrates the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner will be guilty of: S__________ against Jesus Christ! Uh, On! Therefore, a man ought to E__________ H_____________ before he takes communion. Otherwise you may bring J_________________ on yourself! It’s kinda like… BREAD and WINE We often use object lessons to teach children. Sometimes things we can’t see are easier to understand when we can relate them to something we can see. Jesus did this a lot. We did not get to see his death or his resurrection, and we can no longer see Jesus in person. So he gave us an object lesson to help remember him by, Bread and wine were as common then as bread and milk are today.

This is my B________ B_________ for you. READ JOHN 6:35;48; -Jesus said that he was the B_______ of L______. What do this word and Jesus have in common? Why would he call Himself that? What happened to his body? It was B_______ for us.

This is my B________ P__________ out for you. READ Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7-8; (Col. 1:19-22; Rev. 1:5-6) Jesus shed his blood to take our place. We are saved because Jesus died for us. The wine, which was red, was a reminder of his S_______ B_______.

“Do this in remembrance of

me...” Luke 22:19

HOW DOES A PERSON TAKE COMMUNION? We do not believe that a priest has to serve communion. We believe that Jesus is our High Priest and the only priest we need. (READ: Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:1-2) We all now are priests (I Peter 2:9) and so we serve each other communion. Pastors may lead the Communion Service, but they are taking it right along with everyone else. First the bread is passed and then someone (usually a pastor, but it doesn’t have to be) reads about the bread. Next the wine (or usually grape juice, since it is the color that is more important than the drink) is passed out and Scripture about the wine is read. Before each is eaten or drank, there is a time of silence so that people can take time to reflect and think about what Jesus did on the cross. Then

usually a leader will say “Take and eat” or “Take and drink this in remembrance of me” and everyone eats the bread or drinks the wine/grape juice together. It is a time to think seriously about what Jesus did for us, and how our relationship with Him is today. It is a time to examine your life and confess (admit to God) your sins and ask Him to help you start again clean and forgiven because of Jesus death for you.

IF history is his-story, there is some his-story here! The Passover Since Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper with his disciples during the celebration of the Jewish Passover, understanding the meaning of the Passover celebration will greatly enrich your understanding of what was going through the minds of the disciples while Jesus celebrated the Passover with them. The story of the Passover is found in Exodus Chapter 12. The Passover was an annual Jewish ceremony in which the Jews remembered and celebrated their deliverance form Egypt by God during the days of Moses. The Passover ceremony was associated with a feast of Unleavened Bread that reminded the Jews of the bitterness of their captivity and hardship in the wilderness. Bitter herbs were eaten with the bread, and several cups of wine were drunk as part of the ceremony. The major emphasis of the Passover ceremony was thanksgiving to God for their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The connection between the Passover ceremony and the Lord's Supper is the eating of bread and drinking of grape juice (or wine) in memory of God's deliverance from sin. As in the Passover celebration of deliverance, so in the Lord's Supper, God's deliverance from sin through the death of Jesus is celebrated.

Hide it in your heart… Read Acts 2:40-47 / Memorize Verse 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Take the next step… Have you every taken communion? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, soon you should be baptized. But whether you are baptized or not, if you understand what communion means, and if your parents agree that you are ready, you might want to think about starting to celebrate communion. If your parents or church do not allow you to participate, no one can stop you from celebrating in your heart – that is what counts! Think about what Jesus did for you – all the pain and suffering he went through FOR YOU. Thank Him sincerely, and determine you will live a life of gratitude for Him by remembering and by seeking to live for Him!

HOME WORK • Review this lesson with your parent(s) Look up any verses we skipped during the class time. • Write a thank you note to Jesus and in it specifically thank Him for the things you are thankful for

from the cross to today. • Memorize Acts 2:42

Next Steps for Kids Lesson Three: TEACHER GUIDE

Let’s talk about it… Who has the closest birthday? (Sing to them!) Why do we celebrate birthdays? (Isn’t just being born enough?) What are other ways that we try to remember important things or events? (pictures, souvenirs, anniversaries, etc.)

Where did we get the word COMMUNION? We find this term in the King James Version and the American Standard Version as a translation of a Greek word koinonia (which primarily means fellowship ) in 1 Cor 10:16. In the RSV it is translated as sharing, and in the NIV as participation. Based on common usage in the KJV and ASV the term became the common term used for the Lord's Supper in some churches where it was the practice to speak of the Communion Service.

What the bible says about COMMUNION… Three of the Four Gospel tell the story of the Last Supper. READ THEM: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20 What does each story have in common? Can you fill in all these blanks? JESUS TOOK BREAD GAVE THANKS BROKE it, and GAVE to his DISCIPLES saying TAKE and EAT this is my BODY that is BROKEN for you. Then he TOOK the CUP saying DRINK from it, this is the BLOOD of the COVENANT which is POURED out for the FORGIVENESS of SINS Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me. WHO CAN TAKE COMMUNION? READ Acts 2:41-42, Acts 20:7 It seems that only BELEIVERS CAN celebrated this. While this is not a strict rule, it is assumed that people 1) Got Saved 2) Got Baptized and then 3) Celebrated Communion regularly. BAPSTISM meant entrance into the body of Christ, but the LORD’S SUPPER meant participating in or remaining in the body of Christ. WARNINGS ABOUT COMMUNION: READ 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 Anyone who celebrates the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner will be guilty of: SINNING against Jesus Christ! Uh, On! Therefore, a man ought to EXAMINE HIMSELF before he takes communion. Otherwise you may bring JUDGEMENT on yourself! It’s kinda like a… BREAD and WINE We often use object lessons to teach children. Sometimes things we can’t see are easier to understand when we can relate them to something we can see. Jesus did this a lot. We did not get to see his death or his resurrection, and we can no longer see Jesus in person. So he gave us an object lesson to help remember him by, Bread and wine were as common then as bread and milk are today.

This is my BODY BROKEN for you. READ JOHN 6:35;48; -Jesus said that he was the BREAD of LIFE What do this word and Jesus have in common? Why would he call Himself that? What happened to his body? It was BROKEN for us.

This is my BLOOD POURED out for you. READ Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7-8; (Col. 1:19-22; Rev. 1:5-6) Jesus shed his blood to take our place. We are saved because Jesus died for us. The wine, which was red, was a reminder of his SPILLED BLOOD for us.

“Do this in remembrance of me...” Luke 22:19

HOW DOES A PERSON TAKE COMMUNION? We do not believe that a priest has to serve communion. We believe that Jesus is our High Priest and the only priest we need. (READ: Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:1-2) We all now are priests (I Peter 2:9) and so we serve each other communion. Pastors may lead the Communion Service, but they are taking it right along with everyone else. First the bread is passed and then someone (usually a pastor, but it doesn’t have to be) reads about the bread. Next the wine (or usually grape juice, since it is the color that is more important than the drink) is passed out and Scripture about the wine is read. Before each is eaten or drank, there is a time of silence so that people can take time to reflect and think about what Jesus did on the cross. Then

usually a leader will say “Take and eat” or “Take and drink this in remembrance of me” and everyone eats the bread or drinks the wine/grape juice together. It is a time to think seriously about what Jesus did for us, and how our relationship with Him is today. It is a time to examine your life and confess (admit to God) your sins and ask Him to help you start again clean and forgiven because of Jesus death for you.

IF history is his-story, there is some his-story here! The Passover Since Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper with his disciples during the celebration of the Jewish Passover, understanding the meaning of the Passover celebration will greatly enrich your understanding of what was going through the minds of the disciples while Jesus celebrated the Passover with them. The story of the Passover is found in Exodus Chapter 12. The Passover was an annual Jewish ceremony in which the Jews remembered and celebrated their deliverance form Egypt by God during the days of Moses. The Passover ceremony was associated with a feast of Unleavened Bread that reminded the Jews of the bitterness of their captivity and hardship in the wilderness. Bitter herbs were eaten with the bread, and several cups of wine were drunk as part of the ceremony. The major emphasis of the Passover ceremony was thanksgiving to God for their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The connection between the Passover ceremony and the Lord's Supper is the eating of bread and drinking of grape juice (or wine) in memory of God's deliverance from sin. As in the Passover celebration of deliverance, so in the Lord's Supper, God's deliverance from sin through the death of Jesus is celebrated.

Hide it in your heart… Read Acts 2:40-47 / Memorize Verse 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Take the next step… Have you every taken communion? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, soon you should be baptized. But whether you are baptized or not, if you understand what communion means, and if your parents agree that you are ready, you might want to think about starting to celebrate communion. If your parents or church do not allow you to participate, no one can stop you from celebrating in your heart – that is what counts! Think about what Jesus did for you – all the pain and suffering he went through FOR YOU. Thank Him sincerely, and determine you will live a life of gratitude for Him by remembering and by seeking to live for Him!

HOME WORK • Review this lesson with your parent(s) Look up any verses we skipped during the class time. • Write a thank you note to Jesus and in it specifically thank Him for the things you are thankful for

from the cross to today. • Memorize Acts 2:42