Presbyterian Church of Ghana Akropong Christ Church

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Presbyterian Church of GhanaAkropong Christ
Church

• Teaching Service
• Sunday, January 21st, 2007

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The Relevance of the Eucharist
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Introduction

• The Eucharist is one of the known Sacraments of
  the church. A Sacrament could be defined as "a
  holy sign and seal of the covenant of grace". See
  Rom.4 11 cf. Gen.17 1-10.
• A Sacrament is a visible sign to us that God,
  whom we cannot see is gracious to us and saves us
  from our sins and by receiving them, we indicate
  openly, our faith in Him. Sacrament could be said
  to be an outward sign of an inward grace. In Twi,
  we call it 'Adomenade' (adom no ade), meaning, a
  means of grace.

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The Eucharist

• What are the myths surrounding this?
• What is the Eucharist?
• How important is it for us?
• How do I get involved in it?

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The Eucharist

• There are 4 accounts of it in the New Testament
  (Matt.26 26-30 Mk.14 22-26 Lk.22 14-20 and
  1Cor.11 23-26).
• The Eucharist is a must for every professed
  member of the Presbyterian Church Here I shall
  refer you to see page 107 of the 2000 PCG
  Constitution.

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MYTHS REGARDING EUCHARIST

• PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
• What is the Eucharist?
• Why do you partake in it if you do?
• If not why?
• Who qualifies to partake in it and who does not?

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WHAT IS THE EUCHARIST?

• The Catechism gives us very interesting insight
  into what the Eucharist is all about.
• Page 82 (Question 43) Awurade Yesu Kristo adidi
  no ne dn?
• Awurade adidi no ne adommenade a Onyankopn asm
  ne nsnkyerne bi w mu a Kristo nam mu de ne
  honam ne ne mogya ky yn, abodoo ne bobesa mu,
  na de di yn nokware s yw bne fafiri ne daa
  nkwa.

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Names of this Means of Grace

• 1. The Lord's Supper.
• 2. The Holy Communion.
• 3. The Eucharist.
  These names have
  significant meanings.

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Names

• The Lord's Supper
• As the name implies it is not a meal set by the
  officiating minister and his or her assistants.
  As a church, we believe that the Lord Himself
  sets it. He is the Host and we are rather His
  guests.

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Names

• 2. Holy Communion
• Communion, which has its root in the Greek word,
  koinonia, means fellowship. During the communion
  service, it is believed that we have fellowship
  with the Triune God.

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Names Communion

• At the same service, we see ourselves as one
  people with a common destiny, a common Saviour,
  with a common means of grace.
• 1John 1 7 2 7-10 3 14-15.
• And so at every communion service, we the
  partakers have koinonia with our Lord and also
  with fellow brothers and sisters.

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Other Names

• 3. The Eucharist
• Eucharist means thanksgiving. Much as we take
  Communion as a means of coming to the Lord's
  Table, and also as a means of having fellowship
  with the Lord and with one another, it is also a
  means of thanking God for what He has done for us
  through the Lord Jesus.

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Names Eucharist

• Before every communion service comes to an end,
  we either sing the Presbyterian Hymn 64 or recite
  part of Psalm 103 "Mekra hyira Awurade, na me mu
  ade nyinaa nhyira ne din kronkron no " (See also
  Rev.5 11-13).

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The Significance of the Eucharist

• The significance of the Lord's Supper could be
  explained in these three very important ways,
  Retrospective, Present, and Futuristic or
  Eschatological.

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Retrospective

• The Lord's Supper has a historical
  significance. That is to say, as I take the bread
  and the wine today, I believe that the Lord Jesus
  came to this world to die for me.
• Gal.4 4 Gen.6 6 Heb.9 11-18, 22-25
  1John 5 9-13.

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In Retrospect

• Not only did He die, but He also arose from the
  dead for my sake. In the Presbyterian hymn
  numbered 462, which can also be found in the old
  hymn, 232

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In Retrospect

• Twi 232, the hymnist writesMmborhunu Nyame
  gyaa me, nde maka aky me. Saa smpa kyekye me
  wer ma me gyide ani gye. Me kra, da Onyame ase
  ndeky yi y kse nahummb na ayi me duam ne
  afiase.
• Maka no nhaw me bio, Yesu bedii mgyinam. Me
  Yesu de ne mmogya abetua ne nyinaa. Me kaw a mede
  me Wura so boro mpempem na s wbdan me kaw a,
  anka mehu daapem yaw.
• Afei mede meho foforo, na tn bi ntu me bo na
  Onyame gye me bio Yesu ne me patafo. Mede anigye
  miwu po a, gyidim na mkamfo s Mmbrhunu
  Nyame gyaa me, na me were akyekye.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

• Present
• The blood cleanses, heals and protects me (Ex.24
  6-8) even today. It also shows the unity and the
  togetherness of Christians. The communion binds
  us together. It reminds us that we are not only
  one with the Triune God, but with ourselves (See
  the Presby. Hymn 306)
• L.K. Buamah argues interestingly that, the
  Lords Supper is not an empty ritual or a delayed
  funeral/ memorial service for a tragic hero
  (Jesus the Christ). It is basically a living
  theological drama which involves a vivid
  recollection, active participation and a joyful
  anticipation6

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

• Futuristic or Eschatological
• I believe that just as He rose from the dead, I
  shall also rise from the dead and be with the
  Lord forever.
• Once again the Presbyterian Hymn offers an
  explanation Kristo mmogya ne ne trenee ne me
  ntama, mahyehyde, na da a Nyame bfr me no mede
  benya n'anim mak.
• 2.

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Eschatological Significance

• The Communion is also a reminder to us believers
  that we anticipate the return of Christ. 1John
  3 16-18.

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Thank You!

• Send your comments to our Pastor at
• gokwapong_at_minister.com
• or
• Visit our website at
• http//www.akropongcpc.faithweb.com

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• G. O. Kwapong
• Akropong Christ Church,
• P. O. Box 9,
• Akuapem Akropong.
• Ghana.