Church History
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class examined the historical development of the Lord’s Supper and baptism, emphasizing that a sacrament is primarily God’s gracious action toward believers rather than a ritual that confers power. The teacher explained how early Christians practiced these ordinances as memorials, referencing 1 Corinthians 11:21 to stress that partaking without genuine faith brings judgment. The discussion moved into the third through sixth centuries, where the rise of a hierarchical clergy and the belief that the priest alone could consecrate the elements introduced a sacrificial theology that diverged from New Testament teaching. The session also addressed early heresies, such as the denial of Christ’s incarnation, using 1 John 4:1‑3 to demonstrate how the apostolic forewarning about false spirits still applies. The teacher traced the political consequences of clerical control, noting how the power struggles between the papacy and secular rulers culminated in the formation of the Church of England. Throughout, the class reinforced that the Lord’s Supper remains a remembrance of Christ’s atoning work, to be observed orderly on the first day of the week, while warning against treating it as a magical or salvific rite.
Key Scriptures
anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God