COURSE SYLLABUS

Cincinnati Christian University

TTH 451 01 DS and PMW 382 01: Worship at the Lord’s Table

February 2-March 1, 2012

Thursdays 3:20-6:00 p.m. --1 credit hour

Professor: Gary J. Gregory (513) 244-8174

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Course Description: A study of the Biblical and historical foundations surrounding the Lord’s Supper, providing practical helps for presiding at the Table in the contemporary church. Through the process of biblical and historical inquiry students are challenged to reconnect to the ancient, deep meanings of the Lord’s Supper and experience anew its application for today’s church. Some attention is given to developing students’ abilities in planning worship at the Table within the setting of the contemporary church.

Rationale: In today’s church, a great emphasis has been placed on creating worship assemblies that are attractive the postmodern community. As churches have adopted contemporary music, streamlined their services and catered to seeker audiences in worship, the Lord’s Supper has often been de-emphasized as a focus in worship. On the other hand, in long-established congregations that have favored traditional worship, the Lord’s Supper has sometimes become nothing more than a private cerebral exercise dissociated from the rest of the congregation and from the deeper implications of what it means to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Others are seeking the authenticity that can be cultivated in smaller house churches where community, spiritual growth and mission are the motivating issues. In each of these models the question must be asked, what is the significance of the Lord’s Supper in worship?

This course is intended to help bring together relevant biblical passages and theological insight to answer the questions of the role and purpose of the Lord’s Supper, and to search for ways to discover the power and depth of worship at the Table. It will affirm the importance of the Lord’s Supper in Sunday worship in the midst of changing worship styles and practices in the contemporary church.

Objectives:

A. Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Describe the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, its symbolism, and its purpose in Christian worship.
  • Explain some of the major historical influences in worship that have brought about confusion in the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.
  • Provide biblical/historical understanding to the Lord’s Supper that will enrich its celebration as a community event of God’s people.
  • Plan worship at the Lord’s Table that reflects both biblical authenticity and relevant application for the contemporary worshiper.

B. In addition to gaining a deeper knowledge of the Lord’s Supper the following attitudes and commitments are objectives for each student:

  • A deeper desire and commitment to weekly participation in the Lord’s Supper
  • Sensitivity to the experiences of hope and reconciliation that the Table embodies
  • Renewed awareness of God’s communication through symbol and action at the Lord’s Table

Overview of Course Topics:

Central meanings behind the meal

Sacrifices and covenant meals - Old Testament /New Testament connections

Key biblical understandings of the Lord’s Supper

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians

The testimonies of Justin Martyr and Hippolytus

The changing scene after the Early Centuries

The Middle Ages

The Reaction of the Reformers

The Restoration Movement – restoring the weekly observance

Contemporary questions (connecting ancient practices with 21st century worship)

Conducting and participating in the Lord’s Supper

Requirements: In-Class Assignments

A.Worship at the Lord’s Table Seminar

In class you will be exposed to the primary core of the course content so as to inform your present context. This will be accomplished through lectures, small group work, in-class practicum, videos, etc.

B.The Assignments.

  • Attend and participate in class February 2 – March 1, 2012
  • Due to the five-week format of the class, one absence exceeds the absence limit. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from attending class you must contact the professor immediately to work out a solution. If you exceed the absence limit you will be dropped from the class and receive an FA (Failure due to absences).
  1. Reading assignments
  2. The required book for this class:
  3. Hicks, John Mark. Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord’s Supper. Orange, CA: New Leaf Books, 2002.

Readings Schedule

  • February 9 – Chapters 1-3
  • February 16 – Chapters 4-6
  • February 23 – Chapters 7-10
  • March 1 – Chapters 11-13
  • The following book is recommendedfor purchase, but it can also be found on reserve in the CCU Library:
  • Stookey, Laurence Hull. Eucharist: Christ’s Feast with the Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993.
  • Read chapters 1-4 by the end of the course.
  • Recommended schedule
  • February 9– Chapters 1,2
  • February 16 – Chapter 3
  • February 23 – Chapter 4

Written Assignments:

A. Purpose of the assignments:

  1. To analyze, interpret, and process the findings of the course content and readings

2. To engage in appropriate spiritual growth to allow God’s guidance to be central in your deliberation. The written assignments are about both information (what you have learned) and formation (how you have changed) (Rom. 12.2).

B. Create two Communion Services (Due March 1, 2012)

Design two observances of the Lord' Supper that incorporate concepts from the class discussion.

  • One service must contain a traditional communion meditation and prayer that is appropriate to lead the congregation in participation at the Table. Write a prayer that would be appropriate for a Communion Service in a church setting. What would you pray about? Incorporate the elements that you studied in the prayers of the early church. Analyze these prayers and incorporate into your prayer the same kinds of things that are addressed in these ancient prayers, but in today’s idiom
  • The second service should be creative in providing a postmodern setting for the Lord’s Supper. Your outline of this should include as complete a picture as possible including the prayers, music, other creative elements and any instructions on serving the elements.

C. Write a paper (Due on or by March 30, 2012)

Write a paper that thoroughly reflects upon and integrates the content of the course (class content as well as course readings). The paper should articulate new insights that you have received, identify the ways in which you have been stretched or challenged, the ways in which you have grown, and the questions that remain.

The paper should be constructed in three sections and clearly titled:

Section 1 –Title: Come to the Table. The first section should include a two-to-three page report on the required text, Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord’s Supper. This should include your best understanding of the main thesis of the book and should cite information that has been of particular help in your understanding of the Lord’s Supper.

Section 2 –Title: Eucharist. The second section should include a two-to-three page report on the additional reading from Eucharist: Christ’s Feast with the Church (Ch. 1-4). This should include your best understanding of the main thesis of the book and should cite information that has been of particular help in your understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Include a statement in the paper that you have completed the readings that are assigned.

Section 3 –Title: Reflections on the Lord’s Supper. The third section of your paper should give evidence of "thinking out-loud on paper." This is your opportunity to discuss the class content as well as course readings. Identify the ways in which you have been stretched or challenged, the ways in which you have grown, and the questions that remain.

1)What you are learning/wrestling with?

2)How you are attempting to reconcile course information with your own biases, training, tradition, etc.?

3)Consider including some carefully well-thought-through questions, which remain for further consideration.

Conclude your paper with a statement of some new assumptions about the Lord’s Supper, which you are willing to make as a result of your participation in the course. How are they different than the assumptions that you held prior to taking the class? On what basis/authority are you now willing to make these assumptions?

The total length of this post-class paper may vary from seven to ten pages.

Grading

15% two communion services

25% each for section one and two of the post-class paper assignment

35% section three of the post-class paper assignment

All work is due by March 30, 2012 and may be submitted in hard copy or email format to Professor Gregory.

Course plans are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

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