The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion)
As taught in the Pentecostal / Charismatic tradition
Celebrating the memorial of Christ's suffering and the prophecy of His second coming.
Within the Pentecostal tradition, the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) serves as a vital intersection between memory, presence, and expectation.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the distinctives of the Pentecostal "Spirit-Presence" view of the Lord's Supper in contrast to strict memorialism and transubstantiation.
- **Distinguish** between the "memorial," "communion," and "prophetic" aspects of the ordinance as articulated in 1 Corinthians 11.
- **Explain** the theological connection between 2 Peter 1:4 and the practice of Holy Communion within the Pentecostal tradition.
- **Articulate** the role of the Holy Spirit in making the Lord’s Supper a "means of grace" that provides spiritual and physical nourishment.
- **Trace** the historical development of the ordinance through the writings of Myer Pearlman and the early Assemblies of God confessions.
- **Defend** the practice of the "Open Table" and its implications for global mission and the unity of the Spirit.
- **Apply** the discipline of "discerning the body" to both the physical elements and the local congregation to prevent spiritual stagnation.
- **Compare** the eschatological weight of the Lord’s Supper with the Pentecostal emphasis on the "Soon-Coming King."
Scripture
The full lesson, its study guide and questions, and an AI tutor that answers from Scripture with citations are free with an account.