Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

From Background Notes [BN] for April 21^st & 22^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Throughout the history of the Church several ways have been attempted to explain God’s presence in Communion. The Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation means the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Martin Luther’s doctrine of...

...Consubstantiation means the bread and wine do not become the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Luther believed Christ is bodily present in the elements “like heat in a red-hot poker.”

Ulrich Zwingli held to a Memorial view. This view shifts the focus from the elements to the attitudes and responses of the worshipper. The worshipper commemorates and memorializes Christ by taking part in Communion. John Calvin balanced Luther’s doctrine of Consubstantiation and Zwingli’s Memorial view without sacrificing Jesus’ presence in Communion. Calvin’s doctrine of Spiritual Presence taught that the Holy Spirit makes the bread and wine effective to give grace to the believer.

Though varying widely, these doctrinal perspectives focus on one thing—the presence of Jesus in the act of Communion. In some mysterious way, Jesus Christ is present with us, giving us grace, each time we take communion. This is called “Real Presence.”

John Wesley’s view seems a blending of Luther and Calvin’s doctrines, though Wesley is more indebted to his Anglican heritage. Though not bodily present with the elements of Communion, John Wesley believed Jesus Christ is really present when the believer takes part in Communion. This presence makes Communion a true means of grace to the believer.  [BN, 3]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at ChicagoFirstChurch of the Nazarene –

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm