Grace Upon Grace - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Gregory S. Neal is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and Duke University, where his studies included extensive work in Biblical Criticism, Languages, Systematic Theology, Worship, and the Sacraments. As an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church, he has served as the pastor of churches in North Carolina and North Texas. As a popular teacher, preacher, and retreat leader, Neal is known for his ability to translate complex theological concepts into common, everyday terms.

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An Excerpt from Chapter Five: Holy Communion as a Means of Grace

The Principle Question

"When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight." --Luke 24: 30-31

Holy Communion the Eucharist the Lords Supper the terms that we use for the "Holy Meal" all reflect its character as a means of grace. Take a moment to think about each term. When we speak of the Sacrament as being "Holy Communion," what we are doing is highlighting the unity that we receive through it. When we eat and drink of the elements, we are brought into a "holy communication" with God and are made one with each other in the Body of Christ. When we use the term "Eucharist," we highlight the powerful joy and the spirit of thanksgiving that we receive through the transforming grace of our savior. When we receive the Eucharist, we celebrate the feast of joy and offer our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of the presence of Jesus in our lives. And, finally, when we use the term "the Lords Supper," we lift up the truth that this Holy Meal is really Gods gift to us. It is his meal, not ours, and we are honored to be invited to receive it along with his disciples. Just as Jesus blessed and broke the bread in Emmaus and the Disciples eyes were opened to his real presence, so also today we are invited to his meal to have our eyes opened to his real presence in our own lives. It truly is "the Lords Supper;" it is his supper, in which he gives himself to us.

Through these three common terms we can see and know the meaning of the Sacrament, and its nature as a means of grace for the life of the Church. And that is our principle question in this chapter. How is the real presence of Jesus communicated to us through this principle means of grace, and what does this wonderful gift mean for us all?

Frequently it is said that there are many different ways to understand the meaning and role of the Lords Supper for the life of the Church. This is both true and false. It is true in that there are many different ways to think and talk about the Eucharist; it is false in that these many different ways can all be reduced to two fundamental approaches. We will begin with the one that is popular among those who reject the very means of grace/sacramental concept that this book is all about, and then we will proceed to the approaches of Sacramental Christianity.