The Sacraments - Doctrine in Twelve Weeks
A Study on the Sacraments - Leader Guide and Handout
Consider beginning your study with a devotional reading of 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and Matthew 28:19-20, reflecting on Christ's institution of these sacred practices for His church.
As we conclude our twelve-week journey through Christian doctrine, we turn to the sacraments - those sacred practices Christ instituted for His church. While Christian traditions vary in the number of sacraments they recognize and in their interpretations thereof, all agree on their profound significance in the life of faith. In this lesson, we'll focus primarily on the two ordinances that churches universally recognize: Baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called Communion or the Eucharist).
What are the Sacraments? (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19-20)
Ask a participant to read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and Matthew 28:19-20. Help the group recognize the significance of Jesus Himself establishing these practices.
In these two passages, we see Jesus instituting the core practices that we call sacraments. In Matthew 28, He commands His disciples to baptize new believers "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul recounts how Jesus established the Lord's Supper, saying "do this in remembrance of me." These practices aren't mere traditions - they are divine appointments Christ Himself ordained for His church.
These passages show us that sacraments are both commands and gifts from Christ. When Paul says, "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you," he emphasizes that these practices come with divine authority and carry profound spiritual significance. They are visible signs of invisible grace, where ordinary elements become extraordinary means of experiencing God's presence and promises.
What Does Baptism Symbolize? (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38-41)
Have someone read Romans 6:3-4 and Acts 2:38-41. Lead the group in exploring how baptism represents our union with Christ and incorporation into His church.
In Romans 6:3-4, we find a key account for understanding the deep symbolism of baptism. Put simply, this passage shows us that baptism represents our union with Christ in both His death and His resurrection—when we go under the water, we're identifying with His death, and when we come up, we're participating in His resurrection.
In Acts 2:38-41, we see an example of how the burgeoning early church practiced baptism as the right response to the reception of salvation. After Peter's powerful sermon at Pentecost, those who accepted his message were baptized immediately—about three thousand in one day. Peter's words connect baptism with both repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
While Christians today differ on the mode and timing of baptism, these passages show us its essential meaning—identification with Christ's death and resurrection, public profession of faith, and incorporation into the church community. As Peter declares, this promise is "for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
What Does the Lord's Supper Symbolize? (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Invite participants to read Luke 22:14-20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Guide conversation about how Jesus transformed the Passover meal into the Lord's Supper and what this reveals about its meaning, emphasizing the aspects all Christians share: remembrance, proclamation, and anticipation of Christ's return.
Luke's account shows Jesus transforming the Passover meal into what we now call the Lord's Supper. Just as Passover celebrated God's redemption of Israel from slavery, Jesus gives this meal new meaning by connecting it to His impending sacrifice: "This is my body given for you... This cup is the new covenant in my blood." The timing is significant—Jesus chooses this moment, on the night of His betrayal, to establish this new covenant meal.
Paul's recounting in 1 Corinthians adds that we are to continue this practice "until he comes." Every time we share this meal, we're not just looking back to Christ's death but also forward to His return. Paul emphasizes that this is more than individual remembrance—it's a corporate proclamation of the gospel: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
This meal also reveals our unity in Christ. Later in the same passage, Paul corrects the Corinthians' practice of the Supper precisely because their divisions were contradicting its meaning. The shared bread and cup symbolize our common participation in Christ's body and blood, making the Supper both a powerful testimony to church unity and a means of strengthening that unity.
How Should We Approach the Sacraments? (1 Corinthians 11:27-29; Acts 2:42)
Ask someone to read 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 and Acts 2:42. Encourage practical reflection on how we can approach these sacred means of grace with both reverence and joy.
Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 shows us the seriousness of these sacred practices: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup." This examination isn't meant to paralyze us with fear but to ensure we approach these moments with appropriate reverence and self-reflection.
Acts 2:42 presents a beautiful picture of early church life, where "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Notice how the sacramental practice of breaking bread is integrated with other aspects of Christian community. Indeed, following this example means that sacraments aren't meant to be isolated religious rituals but part of the fabric of shared church life.
These passages teach us to approach the sacraments with both reverence and joy. While we should examine ourselves and confess our sins, we shouldn't let our preparation become a source of anxiety. After all, these are means of grace—gifts from God to strengthen our faith and deepen our love for Christ and His church. When we gather around the baptismal waters or at the Lord's table, we're joining with believers across time and space in celebrating the core realities of our faith: Christ's death and resurrection, our need for grace, and our unity found only in Him.
Conversation Starters:
How does understanding baptism as both death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4) change how you view your daily walk with Christ—What does it even mean to "walk in newness of life"?
When Paul speaks of "discerning the body" in communion (1 Cor 11:29), he refers both to Christ's physical body and His church body. How do the sacraments help us better understand this duality?
The early church practiced the Lord's Supper as part of a shared meal (Acts 2:42, 1 Cor 11:17-22). How might this context deepen our understanding of communion's meaning for church unity?
What role do the sacraments play in your personal spiritual growth? How do they help make invisible spiritual realities more tangible and meaningful?
Jesus chose physical elements—water, bread, wine—to convey spiritual truth. What does this teach us about God's approach to revealing Himself to humanity, and his understanding of and concessions to our human nature?
As we conclude this study of doctrine, consider how the sacraments are not mere rituals but profound means of grace that connect us to Christ and each other, uniting the body of Christ. In this spirit, reflect on how your church practices these sacraments, and how you can best participate in them as a Christian.
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