Topic outline
General
The Lord's Supper: The Agape Love Feast
By Stephen E. Atkerson
Have you ever wondered why the Lord’s Supper is called a “supper,” when you only sip a little bit of grape juice, and when you eat just a few crumbs of bread? Have you ever pondered over the somber atmosphere, the funereal organ music, and the long, sad, serious faces you see in a communion service? Have you ever wondered why the Lord’s Supper was called “Communion”? In this course you will learn how the traditions of men have obscured the meaning and practice of the most important Christian ritual. You will learn how the Lord’s Supper was originally a feast of joy, an instrument of unity, a weekly reminder to the Lord of his promised return, and how the Agape Love Feast is, in fact, the chief reason that Christians should gather together.
Course Objectives:When you have completed this course, you will be able to:
- Assess the value of the Lord’s Supper as a full meal compared with the Lord’s Supper as a sip and a snack
- Share with others the joy of celebrating the Lord’s Supper as a banquet
- Identify the Scriptures which show that Christians celebrated the feast at least once per week
- Explain how the Lord’s Supper is a sign to remind God of His New Covenant
- Justify a forward-looking focus of the Lord’s Supper which focuses on the Messianic Banquet
- State the Scripture which indicates that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper will hasten Jesus’ return
- Explain that the chief purpose for which the New Testament church gathered was to eat the Lord’s Supper
- Testify to practical ways eating the Lord’s Supper together helps a church grow as a community
- Identify a Scripture that says that the Lord’s Supper actually CREATES unity
Forums:
Post in 3 Forums. You will get a completion check indicating you have posted reflections. Read and engage with the comments of others.
Quiz:
After you complete viewing the materials and posting your reflections, there is a feedback quiz. The quiz will help evaluate the effectiveness of the mini-course.
Content Provider:
This course is provided by NTRF - Small Churches, BIG Impact!"For over twenty-five years, we have provided church leaders in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania with resources and training in how the early church met together in community. The essential tenets of the faith to which we subscribe are identical to those found in the doctrinal statements of any sound evangelical institution. Our favorite statement of faith is the First London Baptist Confession of 1646. In short, we advocate historic, orthodox Christianity poured into the wineskin of New Testament church practice as seen on the pages of Scripture. Our goal is to be Christ honoring and thoroughly biblical in every area concerning our church life."
Topic 1
1. In what ways have you experienced the Lord's Supper? What response has this experience generated in your faith walk?
2. What benefits and drawbacks do you see in celebrating the Lord's Supper as a full meal today?
3. In your opinion, why is the process of reflecting back and looking forward to the future important in the context of the Lord's Supper?
Topic 2
1. How can you fuse fellowship and the breaking of bread in your life?
2. Have you ever experienced a Lord's Supper that included an aspect of fellowship? If so, describe it.
3. What is the importance of the distinction made between 'remembrance' and 'reminder'? How does this impact your view of the Lord's Supper, particularly as a covenant?
Topic 3
1. Why do you think the church's emphasis on eating together weekly for fellowship has diminished in many cases?
2. In your own words, how does 1 Corinthians 10:17 impact the practice of the Lord's Supper?
3. How does this course's description of the Lord's Supper compare to your church's communion?
4. What are your takeaways from this mini-course?
Other Resources