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About the Household Faith Series
Calvary’s Household Faith Series is a collection of lessons on a series of important faith formation topics designed for parents to lead their children through as they teach them the faith. God has given every parent the gift of being the greatest influence on the faith life of their children. The church’s role is to partner with them as they pass on the faith to their children. This Series is an attempt to do that by equipping parents with the necessary resources and lessons.
The Household Faith Series includes
First Communion Preparation
Remembering Baptism
Reading the Bible
Learning to Pray
Confessing the Creed
Learning the Liturgy
About First Communion Preparation
First Communion preparation consists of five lessons following the questions and answers Martin Luther puts forth in his Small Catechism.
These lessons seek to help children and students learn what Holy Communion is, what its benefits are, how Holy Communion can do what it does, and who is worthy to receive Holy Communion. It also aims to teach them about various aspects surrounding Holy Communion, like the other names it is called and what other Christian traditions teach about Holy Communion.
Each lesson makes use of readings from the Bible and Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, videos, important vocabulary words to know, and questions to reinforce and solidify learning.
In the end, we hope these lessons will help parents prepare their children and determine if they are ready to receive their first communion.
Lesson Two: What is the Benefit of Holy Communion?
Review the following before you begin Things you’ll need for this lesson:
Bibles for those going through the lesson
A copy of Luther’s Small Catechism. If you don’t have or can’t find a physical copy, you can download the Small Catechism app in your smart device’s app store or go to https://catechism.cph.org/ to view it online.
An electronic device that can play YouTube videos. We’ll be using videos from BibleProject www.youtube.com/c/bibleproject/
A pen or pencil for recording your student’s answers at the end of the lesson
LEARNER GOAL: At the end of this lesson, students should have a basic understanding of the term “sin” and know what we receive in Holy Communion through Jesus’ body and blood under the bread and wine; that is, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
NOTE TO PARENTS: Your student (and maybe even you) might be wondering or already asked how Holy Communion is bread and wine and Jesus’ body and blood at the same time, especially since all we see and taste is bread and wine. While this is ultimately a mystery that can’t be fully explained, we will explore this in future lessons.
Introduction
PARENTS SAY: In our last lesson, we learned that Jesus turned the Passover meal (celebrating God’s rescue of his people out of slavery in Egypt) into Holy Communion by saying, “This is my body, which is given for you….This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
We also learned that Jesus instituted—remember, that means to start something that continues—that he instituted Holy Communion for us.
Even more, we learned that in Holy Communion Jesus gives us his body and blood under the bread and wine. To say it a different way, Jesus gives us himself. But why would Jesus do that? Why does he give us his body and blood to eat and drink? What is the benefit of receiving Jesus himself in Holy Communion? That is what this lesson will help you learn.
Small Catechism Reading
Open your copy of Luther’s Small Catechism (or go to https://catechism.cph.org/) and turn to the sixth chief part entitled, “The Sacrament of the Altar” and read the second main question, “What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?” and Luther’s answer.
Review the vocabulary word below, then ask the following questions:
VOCABULARY: Sin, To fail or miss the mark; the most common word in the Bible to describe humanity’s fallen condition and the actions that result from it.
What is the main benefit promised in Holy Communion?
A: The forgiveness of sins
Is this the only benefit given?
A: No. With forgiveness of sins comes life and salvation.
Who needs these benefits and why?
A: We do because we are sinners and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)
BibleProject Video
Watch the Sin video on the BibleProject Youtube page (https://youtu.be/aNOZ7ocLD74). This video will cover the basic definition of the word sin and how the Biblical authors use it to talk about humanity and Jesus. If your student has a smart device like a tablet or Chromebook, you can have them look it up; then, watch it together.
Discuss what you saw in the video. If you need to, you can use some of the following questions:
What is the basic meaning of the word sin?
If the basic definition of sin is to fail or miss the mark or goal, what is the goal?
Why is the story of Jesus such good news for sinners?
What was something new that you learned?
Parents, feel free to share something you learned
Was there anything in the video that was weird, confusing, or that you didn’t understand?
Parents, don’t hesitate to share something that was weird or confusing to you or that you didn’t understand.
Also, feel free to write down these questions and try to find the answers throughout the week.
PARENTS SAY: Sin is more than minor mistakes or accidents. It’s also more than outward action—things we think, say, or do. It is something that lives within us and enslaves us (see Romans 6:6). It is such a part of us that it affects everything we think, say, or do. No matter how hard we try, we can’t stop sinning (see Romans 7:15-16). This sin that lives within us, we call original sin. Original sin is the sinful condition you received from us (your parents) and which we received from our parents (your grandparents) and so on all the way back to Adam and Eve, the first sinners. Original sin causes us to distrust God and dislike those he has put in our lives—parents, friends, teachers, and others.
The mean and harmful things we think, say, or do to those around us because we don’t trust God we call actual sin. We need forgiveness for the things we do and the sinful condition that leads us to do them. Thankfully, God sent Jesus!
Bible Reading - Matthew 26:26-29
Grab your Bibles and turn to Matthew 26:26-29. Read it aloud, either you, your child, or take turns; then, discuss what you read. Use some of the following questions:
What did Jesus do in this passage?
What does Jesus say his blood is poured out for?
Whose sin is forgiven by Jesus’ body and blood?
BibleProject Video
Watch the Sacrifice and Atonement video on the BibleProject YouTube page (https://youtu.be/G_OlRWGLdnw). This video discusses God’s “covering” over human evil through animal sacrifices that ultimately point to Jesus’ death and resurrection. As with the last video, if your student has a smart device like a tablet or Chromebook, you can have them find it and then watch it together.
Discuss what you saw in the video. If you need to you can use some of the following questions.
To what do the previously commanded animal sacrifices point?
What does Jesus’ death provide?
Why do Jesus’ followers (that’s us!) regularly participate in the Lord’s Supper?
What was something new that you learned?
Again, feel free to share something you learned
Was there anything in the video that was weird, confusing, or that you didn’t understand?
Again, parents, don’t hesitate to share something that was weird or confusing to you or that you didn’t understand or to write down these questions too and try to find the answers throughout the week.
Bible Reading - Mark 2:1-12
Grab your Bibles again. This time, turn to Mark 2:1-12. Read it aloud, either you, your child, or you can take turns. Then, review the vocabulary word below and discuss what you read using some of the following questions:
VOCABULARY: Forgiveness, To let go or release from punishment; to cancel a debt
What did Jesus say when he saw the faith of the friends of the man who was paralyzed?
See verse 5
How did some of the scribes (religious leaders) react to Jesus’ words and why do you think they responded this way?
See verses 6-7
What did Jesus prove by healing the man who was paralyzed?
See verses 8-11
How might this story about Jesus forgiving sins help us understand Holy Communion?
PARENTS SAY: As the Son of God (and therefore God), Jesus has the power and authority to forgive our sins and the sin of the whole world. Like the Israelites trapped in slavery in Egypt, we are trapped in slavery to sin. Like the man who was paralyzed, we can’t come to Jesus on our own or do anything to earn God’s love. This is why we brought you to be baptized and bring you to church. And why we are teaching you about Holy Communion right now.
Even though we sin so much, God loves us even more! He sent his Son, Jesus, who was without sin, who loved God and his neighbors perfectly, to die on the cross for all your sin and to rise from the dead to give you new life and salvation.
In Holy Communion, God gives us, here and now, the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection which happened over 2,000 years ago. He forgives our sin and gives eternal life and salvation. He gives these things to us because he always loves us, no matter how much we sin or what we’ve done since the last time we received Holy Communion.
Some questions to see what you learned
Review the following questions with your child to see what they learned and reinforce the information; grab a pen or pencil to record their answers
What else do we receive with Jesus’ body and blood under the bread and wine?
Whose sin is forgiven by Jesus’ body and blood?
What’s the difference between original sin and actual sin?
What do the words “sin” and “forgiveness” mean?
Why did Jesus heal the man who was paralyzed?
Closing Prayer
Close your time of study with the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, continually shepherd us through the valley of the shadow of death to the table of Holy Communion where we need not fear but humbly receive the body and blood of your Son for the forgiveness of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.