Study Outline for Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord's Supper

This outline is for a six-session study of Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context by Mark W. Stamm. The session numbers correspond to the six chapters of the book. This study could be used with youth or adult classes, worship committees, and new member classes. Please treat these questions and exercises as guidelines.

Session One
"The Methodist Way: Sacramental Living in Accountable Communities of Faith"

Materials Needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context (Discipleship Resources, 2001)
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal

1. The first chapter begins with two stories, "The Story Behind a Photograph" (about sacramental nurture) and "Let the Little Children Come . . ." (about sacramental witness). Invite people to think about their own stories. Ask: "How have family members and other significant people helped shape your faith? At what points has your congregation witnessed to the values embodied in the sacraments? What similarities emerge in these stories?"
2. Read Hebrews 11: 1-16; 12: 1-2. Sacraments and Discipleship insists that "Methodist practice is rooted in tradition." What does it mean to be accountable to a great "cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1)? to the faith tradition (Sacraments and Discipleship, p. 14) ? What are the benefits of standing in this tradition?
3. Review the meaning of ecclesiology (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 17-18). The author says that a Methodist understanding of the church is characterized by "An Open Invitation to a Disciplined Life" (pages 19-21). Do you agree? Why or why not? How did the early Methodists embody these dynamics in their life and work? How does your congregation do so?
4. Review the concept of "sacramental validity" (pages 21-22). Why is this concept so important?
5. In preparation for the next session, encourage the class to review the Scriptures mentioned in the book and to read "The Baptismal Covenant I" in The United Methodist Hymnal (pages 33-39).

Session Two
"Our Work in the Covenant: Renouncing our Sin and Professing Our Faith"

Materials needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal
• Copies of "Easter Vigil" from The United Methodist Book of Worship (pages 368-376)

1. Read I John 4: 7-12 and use it to discuss the Wesleyan concept of prevenient grace (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 28-30). Note that our discipleship, our work in the covenant, is always based on what God has first done for us.
2. Review the three questions from "The Baptismal Covenant I" noted on pages 30-31 of Sacraments and Discipleship. Divide the class into three groups and assign one of the questions to each group. Paraphrase the question and discuss its implications. What, specifically, is each question asking of you? What help would you need to fulfill those implications?
3. Remind group members of the story "I Needed a Teacher" (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 32-33). Ask people to name and describe someone who has served as a mentor for them in the life of discipleship.
4. Discuss: "How would your local church have to organize itself to take seriously the concepts of mentoring and baptismal sponsorship outlined in this chapter?
5. In preparation for the next session, ask the class to review "The Easter Vigil" service in The United Methodist Book of Worship, pages 368-76. Suggest that class members read John Wesley’s sermon "The New Birth." (See http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-45-the-new-birth/.)

Session Three
"God’s Work in Baptism: We Are Incorporated into God’s Mighty Acts of Salvation"

Materials needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context (Discipleship Resources, 2001)
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal
• Copies of "Easter Vigil" from The United Methodist Book of Worship (if not distributed in previous session)
• Newsprint and markers

1. Ask the class, "What does God do for us in baptism?" Record the responses.
2. Review Wesley’s concept of the "new birth." Review John 3:1-21 and its discussion of the "new birth." What images remind you of baptism? How is the new birth related to baptism? Why was Wesley somewhat ambivalent about this relationship of new birth and baptism?
3. Describe a recent baptism. What was said? What was done? How much water was used? How was the baptismal rite related to the rest of the service? Do these things matter?
4. According to Sacraments and Discipleship, what is the relationship of the proclamation of the Word to baptism? (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 47-50). What does this relationship teach us?
5. Review the concept of initiation rites (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 61-64). Into what are we initiated in baptism?
6. In preparation for the next session, ask the class to read and review "A Service of Word and Table I" in The United Methodist Hymnal (pages 6-11). Suggest that class members read John Wesley’s sermon "The Duty of Constant Communion." (See http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/sermons/101.htm.)

Session Four
"Preparation for Communion: Christ’s Invitation"

Materials needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context (Discipleship Resources, 2001)
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal

1. Review the two classic forms of the Communion invitation (See Sacraments and Discipleship, page 68). What values are expressed here? Why are these important? How can the church practice these values in a way that is life giving?
2. Discuss the section on Wesley’s sermon "The Duty of Constant Communion" (Sacraments and Discipleship, 72-78). What are the key arguments?
3. What barriers would have to be overcome in order to hold "constant Communion" in your congregation? Could these be overcome?
4. In preparation for the next session, ask the class to read and meditate on Luke 24:13-35.

Session Five
"Christ Present in Our Midst: On the Meaning of the Great Thanksgiving"

Materials needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal

1. Read Luke 24:13-35 and note the key ideas. Invite people to think of their own experiences, and ask: "Have you experienced the risen Christ in the midst of Holy Communion? How so?"
2. Review the structure of the Great Thanksgiving (see The United Methodist Hymnal, pages 9-11). Point out that this is a corporate prayer led by the pastor in concert with the congregation. How do you respond to this idea? How is this idea embodied in your congregation? (See Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 92-95)
3. Review the concept of remembrance/anamnesis. (See Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 97-99.) Note the difficulties and questions. Key question: "How have you experienced God’s grace in the proclamation and reenactment of God’s saving acts?"
4. Review the concept of the epiclesis and the change that God works in us and the elements (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 97-99). Review Charles Wesley’s hymn "O the Depth of Love Divine" (United Methodist Hymnal, 627), singing it if possible. Over time, what happens to us as we faithfully participate in the Lord’s Supper?

Session Six
"One Loaf: The Missional and Evangelistic Implications of Sharing Communion"

Materials needed:

• Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in a United Methodist Context
• Bible
• Copies of The United Methodist Hymnal

1. Sacraments and Discipleship reminds us that Methodism was founded as a missionary society (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 111-112). How will accepting this fact affect our practice of the sacraments?
2. In what ways do the sacraments form us for sharing the gospel?
3. Review the story of the youths who became home Communion servers (Sacraments and Discipleship, pages 112-114). How do you respond to this story? Does your church (adults and/or children and youth) practice the ministry of taking Communion to the unwillingly absent? What are the benefits? If your church is not involved in this ministry, what could be gained by practicing it?

   For information on this form of ministry, see "A Service of Word and Table V, pages 51-53 in The United Methodist Book of Worship and Laurence H. Stookey’s article "The Distribution of Communion by the Laity to Those Who Cannot Attend Worship," pages 147-154 in Worship Matters: A United Methodist Guide to Ways to Worship, edited by E. Byron Anderson

4. Sacraments and Discipleship insists that we should not dilute the faith to make it more palatable to the culture. Do you agree? Why or why not? How does the answer to this question affect the church’s practice?
5. Remind the class that, like good jazz musicians, the healthy church improvises within the Christian sacramental tradition. Ask class members, "How will our congregation help seekers appropriate this way of life?" and "How does what we have learned prompt us to rethink the ways we worship God and live our faith?"

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This study guide is copyright © 2001 by Mark W. Stamm. Churches may reprint this study guide in classes and groups as long as they use the following credit line:
Copyright © 2001 Mark W. Stamm. Used with permission.