The Lord's Supper as a Means of Grace
As taught in the Methodist / Wesleyan tradition
The sacrament of nourishment where Christ is spiritually present to the believer.
The question of how a holy God communicates His life-transforming power to a fallen humanity lies at the heart of the Methodist tradition. Within this theological framework, grace is not merely a legal status or a distant sentiment, but an active, "preventing" (prevenient), justifying, and sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit. For John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, the central question was: By what channels does God ordinarily convey this grace? The answer is found in the "Means of Grace"—outward signs, words, or actions ordained of God and appointed for this end. Among these, the Lord’s Supper stands as a paramount "instituted" means of grace, a "converting ordinance" and a "confirming" seal that offers a direct, spiritual encounter with the living Christ.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the specific definition of "Means of Grace" as articulated by John Wesley and its application to the Lord's Supper.
- **Distinguish** between the Methodist view of "Real Spiritual Presence" and the doctrines of transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and memorialism.
- **Explain** why John Wesley referred to the Lord's Supper as a "converting ordinance" and how this shapes Methodist practice today.
- **Articulate** the biblical basis for the Lord's Supper using the four primary Scripture anchors provided.
- **Trace** the historical development of the Articles of Religion, specifically Article XVIII, and its role in defining Methodist identity against the Roman Catholic and Zwinglian positions.
- **Defend** the Methodist practice of "Constant Communion" using both scriptural mandates and historical precedents.
- **Apply** the theology of the Eucharist to the concept of "Social Holiness," demonstrating how the communal act of the table leads to outward acts of mercy and justice.
- **Compare** the Methodist "Open Table" theology with the "Closed Communion" practices of other Christian denominations.
Scripture
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