The Catechism

Agenda

• Agenda• Introduction• Objective• Discussion• Closing• Next Week

IntroductionsWho am I and who are these people sharing the table with you

Who are we?

• Turn to someone you don’t know and tell them• Your Name

• Ask them their name and one of the following questions:• What is the greatest thing you accomplished in the last year• What is the biggest thing you are looking forward to in the

next year• What city were you born in• What does your first and last name mean?• Where did you get your education and what did you focus

on or what was your favorite subject• What is your favorite time of year and why

ObjectiveWhy am I here today

Objective: For The Course

• To gain a greater understanding of the Creator of the Universe

• To Gain a greater understanding of the Lutheran understanding of the Christian Faith

DiscussionThe Essence of the Thing

Schedule

Notes Sun Mon Tue WedThu

rFri Sat

The Bible 9 10† 11 12 13 14 15

The Ten Commandments 16 17 18* 19 20† 21 22

The Apostles Creed 23 24* 25* 26* 27† 28 29

The Lord’s Prayer 30 31 1 2* 3 4 5†

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism 6 7 8 9 10† 11 12

The Office of the Keys & Confession 13† 14† 15† 16† 17 18† 19

Sacrament of the Eucharist 20 21 22 23† 24* 25 26

“The Christian Life” 27 28

*Feast or Festival†Commemorations

Notes Sun Mon Tue WedThu

rFri Sat

The Bible 9 10† 11 12 13 14 15

The Ten Commandments 16 17 18* 19 20† 21 22

The Apostles Creed 23 24* 25* 26* 27† 28 29

The Lord’s Prayer 30 31 1 2* 3 4 5†

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism 6 7 8 9 10† 11 12

The Office of the Keys & Confession 13† 14† 15† 16† 17 18† 19

“The Christian Life” 20 21 22 23† 24* 25 26

Sacrament of the Eucharist 27 28

Prayer Prior to Studying the Bible

• Almighty God, heavenly Father, you give all the gifts of life and living, and you bid us to love you with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. During this time of study and learning and writing, grant to us the protection of your Holy Spirit, that we become neither weary nor proud, and that in all things we might, with our words, bring honor and glory to your Word, Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Some Ontology: the study of being, existence or reality.

Substance (an object)

• A property-bearer

• Substance is distinct from its properties

Accident (not Essential)

• An attribute which has no necessary connection to the essence of the thing described

• Quantity, Quality, Relation, Habitus, Time, Location, Situation (or position), Action, and Passion ("being acted on").

Ontology: An Example: The chair & The bachelor

The chair

• The Chair has 4 legs• The chair is metal• The chair has a back• The chair has a seat

The bachelor

• The Bachelor is unmarried

• The Bachelor is a brun (masculine augmentative of brunette)

Some Greek: Anaphora

• ἀναφορά – Anaphora, 1. to carry back2. to carry up3. An offering

• Septuagint (Greek Old Testament)• προσφέρειν - Used to describe offering

or brining a victim to the altar• ἀναφέρειν – Used to describe offering

up the selected portion upon the alter

Roman Catholic Church

• “This is my body…”• “This is my blood…”• This has the Substance of “my body”• This has the Substance of “my blood”• This has the accidents of bread• This has the accidents of wine

• The Body and Blood are really present• The Bread and Wine are really absent

• Genuflecting • Votive Candle / Sanctuary Lamp

• Includes the Anaphora - Think of going back to be with Christ through holy week as a faithful disciple

Eastern Orthodox Church

• Same as the Roman Catholic Church

• Unlike Roman Catholic Church use leavened bread to symbolize the Holy Spirit (except the Armenian Apostolic Church)

• At the end of the Anaphora the bread and wine are held to be the Body and Blood of Christ

Calvinism

• “This is spiritually my body…”• “This is spiritually my blood…”• This has “my body” in a spiritual way with the

Bread• This has “my blood” in a spiritual way with the

Wine

• Excludes the Anaphora – Think of You going up into heaven to visit Christ sitting at the Right Hand of God and having a foretaste of the final feast

Anglicanism

• High Church• See Roman Catholic

• Low Church• See the Calvinism

Baptists

• “This is my body…”• “This is my blood…”• This is to be done to remember “my body”• This is to be done to remember “my blood”• This is actually bread• This is actually fruit of the vine (and in some cases this isn’t wine)

• The Body and Blood are not actually present• The Bread and the fruit of the vine are really present

• Excludes the Anaphora and the sacrament – Think of the church getting together to remember what Christ did during holy week for you.

Methodism

• “This is my body…”• “This is my blood…”• This is an effectual sign of “my body” that died for all humanity• This is an effectual sign of “my blood” that died for all humanity• This is actually bread• This is “pure unfermented juice of the grape, or an equivalent”

• The Body and Blood are not actually present• The Bread and the pure unfermented juice of the grape, or an

equivalent are really present

• Excludes the Anaphora – Think of the church getting together to remember what Christ did during holy week for all humanity.

The Lutheran Church

• “This is my body…”• “This is my blood…”• This has “my body” in, with, and under the Bread• This has “my blood” in, with and under the Wine

• The Body and Blood are really present• The Bread and Wine are really present

• Excludes the Anaphora – Think of Christ coming down from the Right Hand of God to be with YOU Today, a sinner

Heat and the Horseshoe

• A Blacksmith has a horseshoe• A Blacksmith has a horseshoe in the forge

• The Horseshoe is the Property Bearer• The Horseshoe is shaped like a horses hoof is an accident of the

horseshoe

• The Horseshoe in the forge is also hot and red. – The Horseshoe doesn’t have the accidents of red and heat.

• The Horseshoe doesn’t become the forge or the fire. – No Change in Substance

• The Horseshoe has heat and redness in, with, and under it. While in the presence of the forge the horseshoe is more.

• While the Bread and Wine are in the Presence of Christ Body and Blood they are more.

The Lutheran Church

• We call this• Real Presence (formally)• Sacramental Union• In, With and Under

• We reject Consubstantiation• the Lollardy or Lollards were followers of John Wycliffe• This has the Substance of “my body” spiritually present• This has the Substance of “my blood” spiritually present• This has the Substance of bread• This has the Substance of wine• This has the accidents of bread• This has the accidents of wine

The Lutheran Church

• Not a valid sacrament unless the elements are used according to Christ’s mandate and institution• Consecration• Distribution• Reception

• The excess (reliquæ ) are consumed, poured onto the ground, or reserved

The Lutheran Church

• Not Lutheran • Private (Catholic) – Only the Priest partakes in the

mass• Open – Come one, Come All! (sorry ELCA)• Closed – Must be a confirmed member of the Church

(Sorry WELS)

• Lutheran • Close – Those who have acknowledged their sins and

believe that this body and blood is shed for them• “Private” (Other) – Administered to an individual,

generally sick or feeble

What is the Sacrament of the Alter?

• It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in and under the bread and wine which we Christians are commanded by the Word of Christ to eat and to drink. And as we have said of Baptism that it is not simple water, so here also we say the Sacrament is bread and wine, but not mere bread and wine, such as are ordinarily served at the table, but bread and wine comprehended in, and connected with, the Word of God. It is the Word (I say) which makes and distinguishes this Sacrament, so that it is not mere bread and wine, but is, and is called, the body and blood of Christ. For it is said: Accedat verbum ad elementum, et fit sacramentum. If the Word be joined to the element, it becomes a Sacrament. This saying of St. Augustine is so properly and so well put that he has scarcely said anything better. The Word must make a Sacrament of the element, else it remains a mere element. -- Luther’s Large Catechism

What are its benefits?

• Now examine further the efficacy and benefits on account of which really the Sacrament was instituted; which is also its most necessary part, that we may know what we should seek and obtain there. Now this is plain and clear from the words just mentioned: This is My body and blood, given and shed for you, for the remission of sins. Briefly that is as much as to say: For this reason we go to the Sacrament because there we receive such a treasure by and in which we obtain forgiveness of sins. Why so? Because the words stand here and give us this; for on this account He bids me eat and drink, that it may be my own and may benefit me, as a sure pledge and token, yea, the very same treasure that is appointed for me against my sins, death, and every calamity. -- Luther’s Large Catechism

Who is to receive it?

• Now we must also see who is the person that receives this power and benefit. That is answered briefly, as we said above of Baptism and often elsewhere: Whoever believes it has what the words declare and bring. For they are not spoken or proclaimed to stone and wood, but to those who hear them, to whom He says: Take and eat, etc. And because He offers and promises forgiveness of sin, it cannot be received otherwise than by faith. This faith He Himself demands in the Word when He says: Given and shed for you. As if He said: For this reason I give it, and bid you eat and drink, that you may claim it as yours and enjoy it. Whoever now accepts these words, and believes that what they declare is true, has it. But whoever does not believe it has nothing, as he allows it to be offered to him in vain, and refuses to enjoy such a saving good. The treasure, indeed, is opened and placed at every one's door, yea, upon his table, but it is necessary that you also claim it, and confidently view it as the words suggest to you This, now, is the entire Christian preparation for receiving this Sacrament worthily. For since this treasure is entirely presented in the words, it cannot be apprehended and appropriated in any other way than with the heart. For such a gift and eternal treasure cannot be seized with the fist. Fasting and prayer, etc., may indeed be an external preparation and discipline for children, that the body may keep and bear itself modestly and reverently towards the body and blood of Christ; yet what is given in and with it the body cannot seize and appropriate. But this is done by the faith of the heart, which discerns this treasure and desires it. This may suffice for what is necessary as a general instruction respecting this Sacrament; for what is further to be said of it belongs to another time. -- Luther’s Large Catechism